When you walk in at 177 Hudson Street, Hackensack; the new home of Collaborative Support Programs of NJ’s new "Bergen County Wellness Center", you can sense excitement in the air. Just 2 blocks from the bus terminal and close to the Courthouse, the brightly-lit, freshly-painted space is sparsely furnished now, but staff are buzzing with plans for an upgraded center that will actively embrace the community and invite them in to really get to know CSPNJ's clients; especially the youth population.
Originally known as ”On Our Own”, the Hackensack center for people with lived experience of mental illness and addiction was started in the 1980’s by SFZ Members, Judy Banes and Irene Sanborn. It is taking on a new name and adding value to the county by offering unique programs. The new location is clean and accessible, surrounded by parking spaces and thriving businesses, very safe and roomy, but it still needs some sprucing up.
They definitely need the community's help.
The Grand Opening is scheduled January 26 from 2 - 4 at 177 Hudson Street, Hackensack. The SFZ News encourages readers who have time, talent or services to volunteer to attend, meet the agency leaders and offer your help. Christie Moss, Center Manager, is eager to make new contacts and can be reached at 347-451-0735 or through email (at the link at the end of this article).
CSPNJ employs 200+ people statewide and are being guided in community integration by Temple University in Philadelphia. This means they aim to bring future supports to clients both inside and outside of the Hackensack Center hub. (Read more about that in our Quicklinks to News section).
The Hackensack Center is 1 of 25 in NJ and 2 in Bergen County (the other is "For Us By Us" in Englewood) that CSPNJ operates, mostly on a peer-led basis. 60% of their employees are people in mental illness or addiction recovery.
Not a day program, or clinic, their fully- credentialed staff plan to bring the best in career and financial counseling, integrated health education, art/music therapy, counseling and social supports and programming to a diverse clientele. CSPNJ also provides safe and affordable housing for over 750 persons with mental illness or addiction across the state.
The Hackensack Center serves about 30 clients a day (and they aim to add more) from all backgrounds and income levels, ages 18 to late 50’s. Above all, their peer to peer mission is "to promote responsibility, recovery and wellness". “We also aim to reduce the isolation of living with a stigmatized condition” said Ms. Moss; a challenge many in the SFZ agree is a much too-common problem to overcome.
Center Manager Christie Moss and Scott Long, the Director of CSPNJ’s Northern Region, are working with Elizabeth Brier, CSPNJ's Wellness Center Director to find the best combination of services for their clientele. They may combine the Bergen Centers, citing the financial impact of Fee for Service. “It’s really a positive thing for us”, said Brier, “hubs of service are now a trend and when day treatments get cut, clients tend to turn to peer services.”
When asked about their wish list, Long mentioned that they have been forced to cut back from 5 days a week to 3. He wants to rebuild services, especially for young clients (who currently have so few supports available to them). “Young adults need something to do”, he stressed, citing that 70% of the Center’s clients are fighting co-occurring substance abuse issues. Providing music, speakers, gaming, and social activities through local community is key in preventing relapse.
Center Wellness Mentors, counselor John Fuchida and Paula Malone, MSW, told the SFZ News providing services that appeal to all ages is difficult, and the young adults in recovery for the first time don't always appreciate being advised by the older clients at the Center.
“We really need volunteers of all ages and with any skill set to offer their programs and interact with all of our clients”, Moss said.
Long has support groups, exercise, weight loss and yoga classes in mind, and hopes that the Bergen CHIP program will come to aid those struggling with weight gain from psychiatric medication. He wants the Center to be a “safe zone for friends; a sanctuary to meet like-minded people and a place to get education and coping skills.”
"It's a new beginning here for us, we will be offering a new level of services. We are looking forward to becoming an integral part of Bergen County", Long added.
Moss spoke of some frustrations, in particular, having difficulty in getting on the radar of Bergen non-profits such as United Way and Easter Seals and a lack of follow-up from some Bergen agencies. “We haven’t struck upon all of the right contact people yet”, she stated, adding that other counties have provided CSP's clients much more individualized follow-through.
Peer services are an invaluable resource, but cannot operate without community support. Most immediately, along with volunteers and financial support the Hackensack Center needs in-kind donations, including:
A full size refrigerator, microwave ovens, crockpots, a vacuum, computer lamps, desks and chairs, a long, rectangular dining table and chairs, bookcases, art work, lamps and décor, rugs and kitchen supplies (dishes, utensils, cleaning supplies) and art supplies.
Along with programming and donations, any company or individual volunteer who can help CSPNJ finish the kitchen and computer room, or set up technology (gaming and computers) or provide free, healthy snacks is also needed.
