NJ4S to Provide Critical Mental Health Services to NJ Kids

By Dr. Tara Chalakani, CEO, Preferred Behavioral Health Group

New Jersey children and teenagers desperately need our help. In the Garden State alone, 38,000 more youth are facing depression and anxiety now than 6 years ago, according to a recent study.  We’ve seen suicide-linked hospital admissions jump 95% from 2019-2021. And according to recent CDC data, nearly 3 in 5 (57%) U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021.

We, as a society, need to take our children’s mental health as seriously as we do their physical wellness.  Mental health is health, and our children are facing a crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  It’s time to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health issues and get our children and teens the treatment they need and deserve.

Fortunately, greater resources are now on the way for New Jersey students and families with the implementation of the NJ4S program by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJ DCF). This a first-in-the-nation, statewide student mental wellness support system that uses a hub-and-spoke model to meet students and their families where they are, in 15 different regions of the state. NJ4S was designed as an evolution of the existing 86 School-Based Youth Services (SBYS) programs to offer statewide reach in the delivery of wellness and prevention services.

Preferred Behavioral Health Group is proud to have been selected by the state to provide mental health services for NJ4S in Vicinages 9 and 14 in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Under NJ4S, we will provide kids, teens and families with prevention and intervention services to help address issues such as suicide, teen pregnancy, substance use, and bullying.

Prevention specialists and mental health clinicians will offer services at schools as well as other trusted sites within the community, such as public libraries, churches, or community centers.

Now more than ever, New Jersey students of all ages deserve universal access to mental health services provided by trusted, compassionate professionals. With over 45 years of experience serving the community, Preferred Behavioral Health Group is committed to providing the most comprehensive counseling, prevention, and wellness services to children and families through the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services Network.

Finally, April is National Counseling Awareness Month, and we support and celebrate the important work that professional counselors do to keep our communities healthy. Professional counselors, at all levels, play a central role in mental health and their contributions deserve to be honored. Preferred Behavioral Health Group recognizes that counseling is both an invaluable profession and a life-changing mental health service.  We thank our dedicated counselors for the work they do every day to help improve the lives of individuals, families and communities.

If you or someone you love needs help, Preferred Behavioral Health Group is here for you with compassionate, trained therapists, in-person or through telehealth. Contact us for more information – www.preferredbehavioral.org or 732-367-4700.

ABOUT PBHG:

Founded in 1978, PBHG’s mission is to deliver quality and compassionate behavioral health services to individuals and families through a Trauma Informed Care philosophy and approach. With a focus on the values of compassion, honesty, accountability, integrity, respect, and cultural competence, PBHG strives to be a center of excellence that focuses on innovative wellness through compassionate care. PBHG changes lives and saves lives through a strengths-based approach, helping individuals achieve their full potential and enhancing their quality of life. In 2017, PBHG became an affiliate of Oaks Integrated Care.Searc