CPNJ's Youth and Family TREE: Treatment Recovery Engagement and Expansion - Care Plus NJ, Inc. (CPNJ) will launch the Youth and Family Treatment Recovery Engagement and Expansion (YF-TREE) project through SAMHSA’s TI-26-011 funding opportunity. This comprehensive program is designed to deliver critical behavioral health care and substance use treatment to children, adolescents, and young adults ages 0-25 experiencing substance use disorder (SUD) and/or co-occurring disorders (COD), along with their families and primary caregivers. This initiative will target Bergen and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey, a high-needs region characterized by elevated rates of SUD and COD, socioeconomic hardship, and limited access to behavioral health care for youth, with a dense population of approximately 1.5 million individuals. Over five years, the YF-TREE project will serve a total of 345 children, adolescents, and young adults, reaching 25 participants in Year 1 (allowing for startup and ramp-up) and 80 participants annually in Years 2 through 5. This population makes up a significant portion of the geographic area, including 35% of Bergen County’s population and 39% of Passaic County. The service population consists of youth and emerging adults at higher likelihood for SUD/COD due to trauma exposure, socioeconomic challenges, transportation issues, and a lack of early behavioral health interventions. Clinical characteristics are defined by mood and anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related conditions, SUD, and severe prevalence of COD, as well as high rates of suicidal ideation, self-harming behaviors, and secondary health risks such as obesity, binge drinking, and smoking/vaping. YF-TREE will incorporate trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and cost-effective behavioral health and substance use recovery services. CPNJ’s comprehensive continuum of care includes screening, early intervention, outpatient treatment, overdose prevention, and care coordination. CPNJ will deliver these services via telehealth, at its Fair Lawn facility, or directly in the community. By leveraging established partnerships with local school districts, social service agencies, and community organizations, CPNJ will ensure rapid referrals and seamless continuity of care. The program will implement evidence-based practices, including Seeking Safety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and tobacco cessation. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be available and coordinated through CPNJ’s outpatient system. All services are expected to commence within four months of the award. Goals include: 1) expanding access to evidence-based SUD/COD treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults; 2) improving behavioral health, substance use, recovery and functional outcomes for children, adolescents, young adults, their families, and pregnant/parenting women; 3) strengthening family engagement; and 4) strengthening cross-system coordination. Anticipate outcomes are screening, enrolling, and developing individualized treatment plans for 90% of eligible referrals; ensuring 75% of enrolled clients participate in 3 brief intervention activities within the first 90 days; improving behavioral health outcomes, reducing substance use, and strengthening service retention rates; conducting 15 educational workshops on overdose prevention; and formalizing partnerships with a total of 20 community and youth-serving organizations. The project supports SAMHSA’s Strategic Priorities by addressing SUD/COD needs among youth, reducing overdose risk, and strengthening regional care systems. YF-TREE aims to remove obstacles to care and create sustainable recovery pathways for disconnected youth in northern New Jersey.
