Through a collaborative partnership, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Children's System of Care and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services have developed the NJ PROMISE program to provide outreach and intervention for youth and young adults up to age 25, who may be experiencing early symptoms of psychosis. Youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis will benefit from early outreach and intervention, to fundamentally change the trajectory and prognosis of psychosis and to mitigate the impact to overall functioning and wellbeing. Through extensive outreach, NJ will be able to connect with youth and young adults who are at clinical high risk for psychosis and provide them with education and interventions to delay, if not prevent, the onset of psychosis.
The NJ CSOC DMHAS partnership offers a robust care continuum throughout the state, utilizing established behavioral health agencies who have provided treatment services for persons experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP) sine 2016, and treatment for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis since 2019. For FFY 2023 through 2026, NJ DCF will administer the program NJ PROMISE 2.0, and anticipates partnering with the existing CHRP clinics that have been operational for the last four years. NJ anticipates providing intervention to approximately 36 youth and young adults across the state annually, and 144 youth and young adults over the four year grant period. Through extensive outreach, coordinated care, the use of evidence based, evidence informed, best, and promising practices as well as the expertise of a team of professionals, participants and their families will have the tools necessary to lead productive lives in their homes and communities. In NJ PROMISE 2.0, we will add a Care Manager to each clinic site, to assist the clinical staff in collaborating with school personnel and other involved providers. The project's measurable goals are to: Reduce the occurrence of psychotic disorder in youth and young adults who are at clinical high risk for psychosis; Increase the functioning of youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis at school and employment settings; Reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in program participants who develop psychosis. By achieving the goals of the program and meeting the outcomes desired, the NJ PROMISE program will lead to significant positive outcomes including the improvement in social, educational, emotional, and vocational activities for youth and young adults which will not only improve the lives of the youth and young adults, but of their families as well.