Community Resource Development Funds

• 54.1% of youth with major depression do not receive mental health treatment in NJ ⁽¹⁹⁾
  • Asian youth with a major depressive episode are least likely to receive mental health services, followed by multiracial and Black or African American youth ⁽¹⁹⁾
• Youth resiliency ⁽⁷⁾
• Stigma for seeking treatment, substance use/mental health/culturally competent ^(2,3,5,11)
• Prevention Education with young children ⁽¹¹⁾
• Identity affirming spaces and services for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth, who have particularly high rates of suicide and self-harm ^{(10, 17)}
• Peer support programs for those with mental health needs and to reinforce academics ^(7,10)
  • Online communities, not limited to social media, that promote healthy conversations about mental health ⁽¹⁰⁾
• Summer programming ⁽¹⁾
  • Summer programming that teaches swimming skills and offers financial assistance ⁽²⁰⁾
• Services for Intellectual / Developmentally Disabled youth, especially in languages other than English. ^(1,3)
  • After school programs for the I/DD population ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Community-based Social Skills programming ^(14,15)
• Outpatient Services accepting Medicaid (Counseling, Intensive Outpatient, Partial Hospitalization Program, Groups, Medication Management) ^(1,3,15)
  • Mental health services for youth in Spanish and Portuguese ^{(3, 14,15)}
• Transition to adulthood including youth housing, employment, and training opportunities ^(3,9,11,15)
• Transportation to services (specifically western and southern areas where services are lacking) ^{(1,3,9,11,15)}
• Community-based mentoring programs ⁽¹⁴⁾
• After-school programming ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Clinicians with Eye Movement Destabilization and Reprocessing and Trauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certifications who accept Medicaid ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Programming for youth regarding self-care and how to take care of their own mental health, including time management, and how to maintain balance with school requirements and life ⁽¹⁶⁾
• BIPOC communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic ⁽¹⁰⁾
• Social isolation due to physically not being in school and social distancing ^(1,7,10)
• Domestic Violence increased 65% ^(3,4)
• Students are faced with challenges returning from virtual instruction ⁽⁸⁾
• Learning loss due to not being in school ⁽⁷⁾
• Young people are facing fatigue due to the pandemic and the use of online conferencing that replaced in-person services ⁽⁷⁾
• Undocumented people’s mental and physical health and their access to services ⁽¹¹⁾
• Interpretation and translator services that can be utilized when a family is connected to a service but cannot access it due to language barriers ^{(14, 15)}
• Suicide Prevention ^{(1,7, 10, 11)}
• Self-care for youth and families ⁽⁸⁾
• Programs that integrate and normalize social-emotional learning and mental health self-care through all activities (such as sports and clubs). ⁽¹⁰⁾
  • Parental education on substance use disorders, warning signs, treatment and support for those in recovery ^(5,6)
• Alcohol, Marijuana, Heroin, Tobacco and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices, prescription medication all identified as priorities for prevention, education, and treatment ^(6,7,9)
• Increased screening for substance use among youth and adolescents ⁽²⁾
• Anti-stigma resources for substance use that are culturally competent ^(2,3,5,11)
• In-patient substance use services that accept Medicaid ⁽³⁾
• Delinquency prevention programs specifically in Asbury Park, Neptune Twp, Ocean Township, Long Branch, Eatontown, Freehold Township, Howell Twp, Middletown Twp, Holmdel Township, Wall Township ⁽⁹⁾
• Programming and resources for Gang prevention and escape ^(1,11)
• Parent education regarding services and treatment available ⁽¹¹⁾
• Parent education and support specifically for bi-lingual families targeting bullying, education and prevention, and intervention ⁽²⁰⁾
• Stigma for seeking treatment, substance use/mental health/culturally competent ^(2,3,5,11)
• Prevention programs that teach parenting skills that promote peaceful alternatives to conflict resolutions ^(3,9)
• Community education on ACES and the impact on substance use and mental health ^(5,9)
• Affordable programs before/after school and in the evenings ^(1,3,7,11)
• Caregiving issues related to youth not being physically in school and managing virtual education ⁽⁷⁾
• School avoidance and truancy ⁽⁹⁾
• Mental Health training for teachers and other school support staff ⁽¹⁸⁾
• Eating disorders have seen a significant rise since the beginning of the pandemic ⁽¹³⁾
• Nutritionists/Dietitians and other nutrition education services that have bi-lingual staff and the capacity to render culturally competent services for various populations ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Dentistry services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Medicaid funded specialty services such as Gastrointestinal, Endocrinology, and other related services ⁽¹⁴⁾

Data Sources:

The needs identified above are fully referenced in the full 2023-24 MonmouthCares Community Resource Development Fund Request for Proposals, which can be downloaded below.