December 16, 2024
Significantly Increased Funding Is Needed in the FY2026 State Budget to Give All New Jerseyans Opportunities for Strong Health and Opportunities for Success
Behavioral Healthcare Providers Are Leaving the Field while Many More People Require Services
Michael's commitment as a licensed clinical social worker is demonstrated by serving in the field for more than 20 years and securing a second full-time job during the pandemic when the cost of living continued to rise and his salary was not increased to supplement his finances. Also during this time, Michael's caseload more than doubled because many of his coworkers resigned and the number of individuals in need continued to increase.
The significant number of additional hours Michael worked to serve his new and existing clients ultimately had an adverse effect on his physical and mental health and would have prevented him from keeping the second job.
Michael had to make the difficult decision to leave the behavioral healthcare agency to safeguard his wellbeing and meet his fiscal responsibilities.
Michael feels bad about leaving his clients. The staffing change means they will likely experience difficulties adjusting to new counselors or have their care disrupted due to the clients' decisions to no longer receive services or staff's inability to keep up with their increasing caseloads.
With adequate funding and supportive legislation, New Jersey will see many more successes such as Eileen's:
Eileen grew up with an uninvolved mother who had a drug addiction and later developed an addiction herself. She was in a physically abusive relationship, overdosed on heroin and then was hospitalized, rescued from a suicide attempt and moved into a sober living home. She later became pregnant and did not receive any support from the baby's father.
"I felt like a failure. I didn't know what to do," Eileen said.
A friend referred Eileen to the For My Baby and Me program, which is operated by Rescue Mission of Trenton, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, HomeFront and Trenton Health Team. She received housing, substance use treatment, and mental and medical health care.
Today, Eileen is employed as the Ambassador for the For My Baby and Me program, and her one-year-old daughter Ellyanda is thriving.
"I like who I am today. Before, I just wanted to run away from myself. I now see a whole different future and my daughter gets to see that there is another way to live. Together, I know we will create new possibilities," Eileen shared.
NJAMHAA urges Governor Phil Murphy and the State Legislature to keep in mind Michael and Eileen's stories and others featured in NJAMHAA's campaign, Untold Stories, as they develop and vote on the FY2026 State Budget and legislation that impacts behavioral healthcare services - and most importantly, the many children, youth and adults who depend on them.
Please click here to see details and more success stories, as well as the adverse experiences of service recipients and behavioral healthcare staff, in NJAMHAA's Untold Stories campaign.
