Oaks Leads the Way as New Jersey’s Premier Mental Health and Addiction Services Provider
Mt. Holly, NJ | May 1, 2021 – Oaks Integrated Care officially announced a merger with COPE Center, a behavioral health nonprofit located in Essex County, on May 1, 2021. The new partnership expands Oaks’ geographic reach in North Jersey and brings together two organizations dedicated to serving vulnerable children, adults and families. Even with challenges brought on by the pandemic, both organizations feel confident that the merger presents a strategic opportunity to grow and provide critical services in a changing healthcare environment.
COPE Center will become a part of the Oaks Integrated Care family of services. The merger furthers Oaks’ strategy to give more people in communities across New Jersey improved access to essential mental health and addiction services. With a budget of 126 million dollars, over 230 programs serving 35,000 people, and 2,100 employees, Oaks Integrated Care is one of New Jersey’s largest, most comprehensive human service providers.
The State of New Jersey and both organizations’ Boards of Trustees approved the merger. Derry Holland, Oaks Integrated Care CEO, shares, “We’re thrilled to welcome COPE Center to our family of services. Individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges in our communities need our help now more than ever. Together, we can offer a stronger continuum of care, improve access to services and ultimately create greater impact to meet the growing need.”
Oaks offers a comprehensive array of integrated health and social services for individuals in 21 New Jersey Counties living with a mental illness, addiction or developmental disability. COPE Center provides affordable and accessible behavioral healthcare throughout Essex County to help people overcome challenges with drugs, alcohol, family and AIDS. Joining forces with Oaks allows COPE Center to integrate operations such as technology, compliance, finance, human resources and fundraising to achieve maximum efficiencies.
“I could not be more excited about the partnership,” says Diana Fennelly, Board President of COPE Center. “The merger is a positive progression for our organization and represents our strong commitment to the people we serve in Essex County. I wholeheartedly believe that joining forces will enhance our mission, advance best practices and create a greater impact to meet the growing needs of our community.”
Over the last eight years, Oaks Integrated Care has successfully navigated two additional mergers (Steininger Behavioral Care Services and Greater Trenton Behavioral Healthcare) and an affiliation (Preferred Behavioral Health Group). Holland explains, “Working together gives us an advantage and allows us to expand our continuum of care. For example, a mother who is recovering from an addiction can receive not just substance abuse treatment, but also mental health counseling, help with parenting skills and connection to basic needs such housing, food, job training and primary medical care.”
David Gaskin, Oaks Integrated Care Board Chair, adds, “Partnerships with organizations like COPE Center allow us to enhance our geographic footprint and diversify services to better serve individuals and families who need our help the most. It also ensures that we all remain fiscally secure during turbulent economic times so our clients continue to receive the support they rely on without disruption.”
About Oaks Integrated Care
For more than 50 years Oaks Integrated Care has offered compassionate care to individuals living with a mental illness or developmental disability. The organization provides over 230 unique health and social service programs for vulnerable adults, children and families in 25 locations throughout New Jersey. By focusing on integrated care, the organization strives to treat the whole person to achieve both mental and physical wellness.
For more information, visit www.oaksintcare.org or call the Development Office at 609-267-5928.
COPE Center has been strengthening communities by helping people overcome challenges with drugs, alcohol, family and AIDS since 1971. Headquartered in Montclair, NJ, they provide affordable and accessible behavioral healthcare throughout Essex County. Their four tenets – Counseling, Outreach, Prevention and Education – spell out COPE.
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