Linda’s Law will prohibit electric public utilities from discontinuing service for 90 days due to nonpayment for medical customers who rely on electric-powered medical equipment to survive. Utilities shall request information as to whether any residential customer qualifies as a medical customer on a semi-annual basis.

 He was awarded a $150 grant by the GATE program to develop a poster and class video with his peers to educate others about autism.  Diego’s teacher, Mrs. Amy Wood, encouraged Diego to turn the project into a book, 

There’s a new superhero entering the comic book world and she’s a teenage girl with Tourette Syndrome. Twitcha is the brainchild of Sarah Baldwin of Mantua, NJ who illustrated and wrote the book based on her own experiences with the neurological disorder. 

The Rutgers Initiative for Youth Behavioral Health and Well-Being will provide comprehensive mental health care and support to young people – including youth in underserved and underrepresented communities who have behavioral health disorders, and it will foster innovation, research and learning in the field. 

 Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced the creation of Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services). Monmouth County government and nonprofit service agencies will provide a coordinated approach to addressing homelessness and drug addiction and meeting other needs of county residents of all age groups.

New Jerseyans will be able to visit participating pharmacies and anonymously obtain naloxone at no cost on June 18, without an individual prescription or an appointment. 

The Directive is intended to draw a clearer distinction between state, county, and local law enforcement officers, who are responsible for enforcing state criminal law, and federal immigration authorities, (including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE), who enforce federal civil immigration law.

New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is an 8-month leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities (over age 21) and family members of young children and transition age youth. The goal of this program is to prepare the next generation of disability advocates to work toward meaningful change in our state.  

Check out this video courtesy of Betty Jean, MA, LPC, from MHANJ's Call Center with Marilyn Feliciano from Community Education for some great Mental Health Monday tips useful for all days of the week! Catch Betty onFacebook next Monday, May 20, where she will launch our Pets for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Project SEARCH, which provides high school students with disabilities a one-year immersive skill-building experience, is now accepting applications from Monmouth County high school students. The program will begin this September at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.