Garden State Times

Grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will fund Mental Health and Cancer Prevention services and programs

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) announced today a combined total of $4,949,896 to the City of Newark and the New Jersey Department of Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These grants will provide funds for mental health and substance abuse services in Newark and cancer prevention and control programs at the NJ Department of Health.

“Cancer, mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders can impact anyone – no matter their age, race, religion, or economic background. Everyone deserves access to the health care programs and services that can assist them,” said Sen. Menendez. “The nearly $5 million in grants for Newark and the New Jersey Department of Health will help address these challenges by creating a community crisis response partnership and continuing the critical research and trials to prevent cancer while improving survivorship.”  

"These grants will bolster our efforts to combat substance abuse, promote mental health services, and advance cancer prevention and control,” said Sen. Booker. “These investments will have a positive impact on the well-being and health outcomes of our communities. I will continue advocating for federal resources to support vital programs that improve lives and promote wellness for all New Jerseyans."  

“Although cancer is among the leading causes of death in New Jersey, many cancers are preventable. Screening continues to be the most effective tool in identifying some types of the disease early during highly treatable stages, leading to improved outcomes for cancer survivors,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “We are grateful for this funding that advances our ongoing efforts in cancer prevention and control through education and outreach, early detection and screening, and surveillance through data collection and analysis in New Jersey. Using this comprehensive approach, we will continue to identify and reduce health disparities and provide necessary intervention among populations at higher risk for cancer.”

“Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, increased societal pressures of every kind, and the lingering effects of generational neglect caused by racial injustice, the mental health of our residents requires more attention than ever before,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “As we systematically analyze and treat trauma and other mental health issues in our community, we see its safety and overall health and wellbeing improve. I’m grateful to Senators Menendez and Booker for their efforts on behalf of Newark and their understanding of how deeply mental health is connected to all aspects of life in any city.”

The City of Newark will receive $727,740 to create a Community Crisis Response Partnership to support mental health and substance use services in the area. The New Jersey Department of Health will receive $4,222,156 to provide cancer prevention and control programs.

Sen. Menendez has been a strong proponent for the mental health services, programs and support New Jerseyans need. The Senator joined with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Congressman Andy Kim (D-N.J.-03), mental health practitioners and advocates for a roundtable discussion and listening session at Rider University. The three lawmakers discussed the ongoing mental health crisis, specifically its impact on children, veterans, and seniors. They also spoke about the cost of mental health inequities, the need to alleviate the health and economic burdens of unmet mental health care, and efforts to create a more inclusive and comprehensive mental healthcare system.

Earlier this month, Sen. Menendez, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.-31) reintroduced the Pursuing Mental Equity in Mental Health Act. Originally introduced in 2020, the legislation would authorize $995 million in grants and other funding to support research, improve the pipeline of culturally competent providers, build outreach programs that reduce stigma, and develop a training program for providers to effectively manage disparities.

In April, Sen. Menendez and Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-09) celebrated the launch of the CDC’s National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, an online enrollment system for firefighters across the nation to help support and understand the link between cancer and the fire service. The CDC was directed to create the registry by legislation sponsored by Senator Menendez and Congressman Pascrell in 2018 that was signed into law in the 115th Congress.

Original source can be found here.