NNews April 2024

34 April 2024 hard to find. So, Inroads created TransitionsPLUS for 21-year-olds who’ve graduated high school, but are not quite ready for employment. It’s an amazing program. We startedwith serving young adults, five people and in two years, we’re already serving 25 individuals with further room for growth. Participants become more independent and employment-ready at their own pace. NJAMHAANews: How do you engage employers in working with Inroads and the individuals you serve? Angela Calzone: Inroads does a remarkable job partnering with the community, including large organizations, such as ShopRite, Burlington, andWalmart, andmom-and-pop businesses, including pharmacies and bookstores. We make sure employers knowwhowe are andwhat we do, that we serve our neighbors and families, andwe explain the benefits of working with our population. Our staff collaborate with employers when our individuals are on the job. We strategized to overcome employers’ objections, such as the concern about having a job coach there and possibly interferingwith customers. We proactively address issues and explain that our staff are there to supervise the individuals, which helps themand the employers. NJAMHAANews: Has mental health services always been a part of Inroads or was this added later due to the high prevalence of co-occurring mental health disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD)? Angela Calzone: The organization was founded in 1959, and the mental health programwas added in the 1980s when we started to recognize co-occurring mental illnesses and I/DD. Our partial care program serves people with and without co-occurring conditions. Inroads partial care has a psychiatrist and full-time nurse on staff and may also have a work component for those who are interested and qualified. For so many of us, work is tied to self-esteem and positive mental health. People with appropriate funding (usually from the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services) can participate in partial care in the mornings and work in one of our training programs in the afternoons. NJAMHAANews: Please highlight your partnerships with mental healthcare and/or substance use service providers. Angela Calzone: I started at Inroads just before COVID hit. I learned that in the past, Inroads had received referrals from other providers, including Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, SERV Behaioral Health System, Greystone and Trenton Psychiatric Hospitals and others. Since the pandemic ended, we’ve been trying to rebuild engagement with these and other referral sources. NJAMHAANews: What specific goals do you have for the agency and individuals you serve? Angela Calzone: We will continue to growpartial care andwe’re looking to offer additional mental healthcare services. All of our vocational programs are also poised for growth, and we’re bringing on more staff. My goal is growth, agility and sustainability because I know there are so many out there not getting the resources and support they need and deserve. (continued from page 33)