A significant boost in federal funding is on its way to the greater Lakewood area to help combat substance addictions and mental illness, two conditions made worse during COVID-19 lockdowns—Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04 announced today.

“This $4 million federal grant comes at a crucial time for people who are struggling from addictions or facing mental illness in the northern Ocean County area,” said Congressman Smith. “For recovering addicts, COVID-19 has created added isolation, brought about by social distancing, extended quarantines and the closing of many mental health service offices during the pandemic. The programs funded by this grant will enable this local mental health organization to grow its outpatient mental health and addiction services in order to provide more help to even more people in need.”

The $4 million grant was awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It will pay for addiction services between Aug. 31, 2021 and August 30, 2023. Provided via SAMHSA’s Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service (MHSAS) Grant program, the funding was awarded to Lakewood Community Service Corporation run by President Rabbi Moshe Z. Weisberg and Executive Director Sarah Gelbwachs.

Said Executive Director Gelbwachs, “Lakewood Community Services Corp. (LCSC) has been awarded a grant from SAMHSA to expand its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic – CCBHC. This program will expand access and increase the capacity of community mental health and substance abuse services through person-and family-centered integrated services. The impact of COVID-19 has exacerbated the need for behavioral health services and this CCBHC will fill that gap using a holistic model of care coordination and wraparound services.”

The funding follows other grants boosting ongoing federal support in fighting addiction in NJ04 and across New Jersey, including a $4 million MHSAS grant to Preferred Behavioral Health Group in February to serve Ocean and Monmouth county residents, $2 million MHSAS grant awarded to Eatontown-based CPC Behavioral Healthcare and a $200,000 MHSAS grant awarded to CFC Loud N Clear Foundation in Howell in 2020.

Residents in need of addiction and mental health services for themselves, their families or loved ones, can visit providers websites for information about services, including: Preferred Behavioral Health Group, Lakewood Community Service Corporation, CPC Behavioral Healthcare or CFC Loud N Clear Foundation.