NNews December 2023

11 December 2023 NJAMHAA congratulates Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction and the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS) on reaching their 45th and 20th anniversaries, respectively, this year. Both organizations have been successful through multiple meaningful alliances and a variety of innovative programs. Mercer Council and NJCTS Reach Milestone Anniversaries Mercer Council Partners to Provide a Full Continuum of Care Mercer Council works with individuals, families, schools, communities, businesses and professionals to provide programs and services. In fact, the team follows the Continuum of Care model, offering programs for health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery. The team has established annual agreements with K-12 schools throughout the county to provide programs, which include development of positive health- related attitudes for the youngest students; and prevention of drug use, violence including dating abuse and Life Skills Training for older students. Mercer Council also operates a School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP) at Ewing High School; hosts weekly All-Recovery Meetings; offers a Strengthening Families Program; delivers Healthy Outlooks for Older Adults: Alternative Approaches to Managing Pain presentations; and much more. In collaboration with the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County, Mercer Council established a partnership with local law enforcement to operate Project Medicine Drop-Off locations; created an Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) that responds through a 24-hour hotline and includes a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist; and launched a public awareness campaign about the municipal ordinance that prohibits adults from serving alcohol to individuals under the age of 21 on private property. This cooperative agreement also enabled Mercer Council to provide Narcan training and town hall meetings about substance use, as well as continue the SBYSP. In addition, Mercer Council recently expanded its staff who provide prevention education. The organization recently hired additional clinical providers for the Metro Employee Assistance Service, an employee assistance program for the staff at businesses throughout the county. “We are continuing our mission and focus on substance abuse prevention and early intervention, but as the new Executive Director, I believe it is also important to add behavioral health to our mission,” saidMargarita Leahy, NCC, PLC, LCADC, ACS, pictured above. (continued on page 12)