Providing emergency assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic -- SERV Centers of New Jersey Inc.

The Foundation's New Jersey Health Initiative was designed to support innovative community-based projects in New Jersey that address one or more of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's interest areas in health and health care.This grant will support SERV Centers of New Jersey, Inc. (SCNJ) in providing direct emergency assistance to individuals and families in Hudson, Union, and Passaic Counties, N.J., during the COVID-19 pandemic. SCNJ provides residential, outpatient, and community-based partial care services for children, youths, and adults with mental illness, as well as medication-assisted treatment for individuals with substance-use disorder. Since the start of the pandemic, SCNJ has received an increase in calls from referring agencies, individuals, and families seeking mental health services. Many families are struggling financially, experiencing food insecurity and unable to meet their most basic needs in the counties of Passaic, Hudson, and Union. To assist in meeting those needs, RWJF funds will support the purchase and distribution of 320 $50 gift cards to individuals who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrate financial need.