For
Immediate Release:
February 25, 2020
Monmouth
County takes step to “End the Stigma”
Renames Division of Mental Health & Addiction
Services to Division of Behavioral Health
FREEHOLD, NJ –The Monmouth County Board of Chosen
Freeholders unanimously voted to change the name of the Division of Mental
Health & Addiction Services to the Division of Behavioral Health in an
effort to end the stigma surrounding mental health.
Freeholder Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley, who
spearheaded the name change, thanked the Freeholder Board for their support in
addressing one of the biggest hurdles anyone who suffers from mental illness is
overcoming, which is the stigma attached to it.
“Combining the offices of mental health and
addiction services is another first in the state for Monmouth County and it is
a great step towards becoming stigma free,” said Freeholder Deputy Director
Kiley. “This helps us to be able to provide better services to the two
populations, mental health and addiction, which really aren’t two separate
populations, but one woven together. So I am thrilled that this is the
direction we are taking.”
The resolution to change the name of the Division
was passed at the Freeholder’s regular public meeting held on Thursday, Feb. 13.
“Here in Monmouth County, we pride ourselves on
taking action when we say we are going to do something,” said Freeholder
Director Thomas A. Arnone. “We said we were going to do our part to end the
stigma around mental health and better serve our residents, and that is exactly
what we are doing by renaming this Division and through the creation of
Monmouth ACTS.”
“Monmouth ACTS is another example of something being
done in Monmouth County that is not being done in anywhere else and a first of
its kind,” added Freeholder Deputy Director Kiley. “I am very proud to be a
part of this County and work alongside so many people who are devoted to making
a positive impact on our communities.”
Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services) was
created by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2018 to carry out
recommendations of a Human Services Needs Assessment. This innovative
public-private partnership brings together County employees from the Department
of Human Services and community/private partners on the Monmouth ACTS Advisory
Council (MAAC) to enhance access to services for County residents. For more
information, visit www.MonmouthACTS.org.
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