Mount Holly, NJ- As part of Governor Christie’s $200 million commitment to combat the devastating opioid crisis in New Jersey, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services awarded Oaks Integrated Care $9.7 million to provide Enhanced Care Management (ECM) for individuals with an opioid use disorder in the southern region (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties). The program will bring essential recovery support services and 80 new jobs to South Jersey with sites based in Camden, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties as well as in-community mobile response teams.
ECM provides a holistic approach to care that combines care management, care coordination, wraparound and recovery services for individuals being discharged from licensed treatment facilities that provide residential, halfway house, inpatient withdrawal management, and ambulatory withdrawal management. Wraparound services address each aspect of life including behavioral and primary health needs, housing, vocational and educational support, legal, financial, skills development and more so individuals can focus their energy on recovery.
Derry Holland, Oaks Integrated Care CEO, shares, “Expanding our mission and continuum of care through addiction programs gives individuals and families in our communities increased access to critical services. By focusing on integrated care, it becomes possible to treat the whole person to achieve both mental and physical wellness.” Holland adds, “We all know someone impacted by substance abuse- a family member, friend, neighbor, colleague- the disease has no boundaries. ECM offers people hope for recovery and a chance to end the ‘revolving door’ of cycling in and out of treatment.”
According to data from the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office, of the top 5 counties in New Jersey with the highest heroin related death rate, 4 are in the southern region. To help address this important issue, the State projects ECM to serve at least 1,800 individuals annually per region with support available 24/7, 365 days of the year. This includes connecting individuals to the recovery community for mutual support from people with shared experiences.
Throughout their 50 year history, Oaks has cared for individuals and families with substance use and/or co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders in multiple New Jersey counties. Additional addiction programs include outpatient substance abuse and co-occurring treatment, Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) in Burlington County, Substance Use Navigator program and partial care programs.
Oaks Integrated Care offers over 230 health and social service programs for vulnerable adults, children and families throughout New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.oaksintcare.org or call the Development Office at 609-267-5928.
