Burlington County Gets $134K Grant For Resource Recovery Center

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County is receiving a $134,615 grant for a resource recovery center that will provide peer support services for county residents who are battling addiction, officials announced.

“The Resource Recovery Center will be an environment where residents can benefit from peer support, access services to help treat substance abuse, and receive information about other community resources in a supportive substance free environment,” Burlington County Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson said. “This new center will integrate into our network of services and provide a space for individuals and families struggling with addiction.”

Construction of the center, which will be located at the Human Services Building on Woodlane Road in Westampton, is expected to begin in the coming weeks. According to the county, the center will provide the following services:

Peer Recovery Services
Recovery specialists are the core services provided in a peer-based setting including:

• Peer mentoring or coaching—developing a one-on-one relationship in which a peer leader with recovery experience encourages, motivates, and supports a peer in recovery.
• Peer recovery resource connecting—connecting the peer with services and resources available in the community.
• Recovery group—facilitating or leading recovery-oriented group activities, including support groups and educational activities.
• Building community—helping peers make new friends and build healthy social networks through emotional, instrumental, informational, and affiliation types of peer support.

Wellness Classes (examples)

• Recovery Advocacy

• Criminal Justice System issues such as the issue of overcoming a criminal record
• Illness Management/Craving Reduction and Relapse Prevention Skills

• Smoking Cessation
• Relaxation and Meditation
• Nutrition
• Anger Management
• Yoga
• Resume writing

• Workshops by our American Job Center

Weekly Groups (examples)

• Medication Assisted Treatment
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Family Support Groups

Housing

• Links to sober living
• Links to Housing Hub (located in same building)
• Links to housing initiatives

Educational/Recreational Events

• Mindfulness
• Social programs

The funding is part of $1.67 million in County Innovation Awards to Address the Opioid Epidemic that are being awarded throughout the state. It is the first round of $3 million worth of grants to be distributed to counties by the state in the battle against the opioid epidemic, according to state officials.

"The Department of Human Services is committed to working with local leaders to turn the tide of the opioid epidemic," New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson said. "Today, we are announcing new awards that will support local innovative projects that were designed by and reflect the needs of local communities in combating this public health challenge."

The New Jersey Resource Project said it is happy to see the funding being dispersed, but questioned who is getting the funding, how members of the community will get access to these new services, and if these programs will lead to a decrease in overdose deaths.

"While it's great news that the Murphy administration has begun disbursing funds to some of the hardest hit communities by the overdose crisis, it's unclear where the remaining $98.4 million in funds is going to address this crisis," Resource Project spokesperson Priscilla Robinson said. "Our communities deserve full transparency and accountability about how NJ is spending these funds and oversight of funded programs. We want to see all of our family members, friends and neighbors survive this crisis. That means everyone everywhere needs access to life-saving overdose reversal drug Naloxone and Medically Assisted Treatment, especially for people on Medicaid and without insurance."

In January, 280 people died due to an overdose in New Jersey, according to the state's preliminary data. That's a 2.8 percent decrease from December.

"These numbers are a reminder we must stay vigilant in our work," Gov. Phil Murphy said. "Each resident lost to the epidemic is a loved one gone too soon. This crisis requires us to pursue smart and compassionate policies laser-focused on solutions — increased availability of medication-assisted treatment, greater access to Naloxone, education and outreach to residents in need, and enhanced social supports for those on the path to and working to maintain their recovery, like housing and employment services."

Murphy announced the grants during a roundtable with people in recovery and health professionals at Ocean Mental Health Services in Bayville.

During the roundtable, Murphy Administration officials also discussed increasing access to prevention and treatment programs, supporting anyone on the way to or already in recovery, supporting data-driven work and strengthening system-wide infrastructure, and using robust law enforcement to stem the supply of illicit drugs.

They announced the relaunch of Reach NJ, a public service initiative managed by the Department of Human Services, to encourage people to seek help for addiction, with messaging based on input from individuals in recovery and families of individuals with addiction.

New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson announced that to date more than 53,000 free doses of Narcan, the lifesaving antidote naloxone, have been distributed to approximately 424 police departments statewide, as well as approximately 400 free doses of naloxone to the staff of New Jersey public libraries.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Resource Project and the New Jersey Organizing Project are launching the "Fighting for Solutions: Ending the Overdose Crisis" tour. The goal of the tour is to tell the stories of people most impacted and highlight the need for more transparency, accountability and oversight of state programs and addiction services meant to address the overdose crisis and expand access to lifesaving public health interventions in our communities.

The first tour stop will be on April 8 at the Toms River Library, 6 p.m. People who use drugs, people in recovery, loved ones, advocates, and nonprofit service providers are encouraged to attend. For more information email Priscilla Robinson at priscilla@newjerseyop.org.