Is New Jersey’s Revamped Mental Health Program for Students Working?

At the beginning of the 2023 school year, New Jersey launched a program to increase mental health services for students.

The plan created 15 hubs, or treatment service centers, throughout the state, in an effort to provide preventive and “brief intervention” mental health services to more public-school students.

That program, known as the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, or NJ4S, was a response to the “sharp increase” in the rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among New Jersey teenagers and young adults that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state budget recently signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy dedicates $43 million to the program, which keeps funding flat for the program.

So far, nearly three years into the state’s plan, the program has been responsive and effective in helping to address the mental health needs of children, according to school employees who spoke with NJ Spotlight News.

To read more, as reported on Chalkbeat, click here.

National Back-to-School Prep Day. Do You Have Mental Health In Mind?

August 15 was National Back-to-School Prep Day, as parents and caregivers begin preparing for the new school year in earnest.

As the new school year kicks off, Mental Health America has created a webpage filled with resources that can support this exciting time of year.

Explore their new Back to School with Mental Health in mind webpage here. They break down common concerns for students and caregivers into plain-language information that can be shared throughout the school year.

You’ll also find printable handouts to share in the community, covering depression, anxiety,

psychosis, trauma, and suicide prevention. Print them for school events, clinics, libraries, or anywhere families gather.

Scholarships Available for the 2025 SPAN Parent Leadership & Advocacy Conference

We know money might be tight for some interested families or youth/young adults at this time, so in order to ensure that as many as possible can attend the 2025 SPAN Parent Leadership & Advocacy Conference, SPAN is offering a limited number of scholarships for the conference, providing you the opportunity to register with a promo code at no cost.

In order to apply for the scholarship, all that is required is for you to complete a short application, which you can access by clicking here.



We hope to see you at the Conference in September!