Wellness & Recovery 

Programs

Community Advocates Program 
​Wellness & Recovery Support Services 
Our Wellness Navigators partner with consumers to work towards addressing the needs of an increasing number of consumers who lack the resources, knowledge or skills needed to the make those next steps on their road to recovery.  Staff offer mental health consumers assistance in linking to concrete services, advocate with consumers on both an individual and systems level, and serve as role models.

​Peer Support is not a new concept.  The field of addictions introduced the concept of integrating peer workers into the service delivery team.  This concept formally expanded to the mental health field during the 1980's when mental health consumers began demonstrating the value of the peer worker’s input in programming, support services, and policy development.  NJ consumers began working and volunteering throughout the state.

The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County [MHAAC] has a long history of creating job opportunities for consumers of mental health services, who are people who have themselves experienced mental illness.  In 1986, the first Peer Outreach Support Team was created, by consumers working with MHAAC.  This program employs trained staff, who provide outreach services to those unwilling, unable, or unmotivated to leave their homes.  They also provide in-home peer counseling to consumers in crises and assist them on their road to recovery.  Home visits and referrals mimic existing professional services with a twist, peers helping peers. 

The Atlantic County POST team gained a reputation for providing services to consumers needing assistance, which enabled them to remain in the community. There is an increasing number of consumers being referred who do not meet the criteria for PACT or ICMS.  However, these referrals do need some concrete services.  Many of these referrals need short-term interventions to stabilize a current crisis or to overcome a roadblock, while the smaller number are in need of more intense long-term services. 

Peers who currently work on the POST teams in our Community Advocates & ICE Wellness Center have demonstrated that, they are sometimes better able to engage consumers in services, due to their knowledge of the mental health system from a consumer perspective.  Peer staff allow consumers to see that mental illnesses are cyclical, that consumers can do things that in the past were only within the scope of the “professional,” and that having a mental illness does not diminish their ability to do a job.  This is empowering for consumers who have not worked or are not in the workforce.  Providing consumers with positive role models is a real advantage of our POST team.
For more information contact Emily McCall, 609-652-3800 ext. 0308, emccall@mhanj.org 

ICE Wellness Programs
The purpose of our Wellness Programs is to provide an environment of support and empowerment that promotes wellness and recovery. Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential. For more information on the programs offered through ICE, please contact: Yvonne Tran, Wellness Center Coordinator, at 609-652-3800 ext. 0308 ytran@mhanj.org

Individuals Concerted in Effort (ICE) began in 1983.  Our current programs offer a variety of recreational activities, self-help groups, individual advocacy, and education/training in several areas.  Our programs currently meet at a variety of sites throughout Atlantic County as well as virtual activities happening each day, please visit our support groups page on this website for our monthly calendar. 

Boarding Home Outreach
The Boarding Home Outreach Program has a history of providing services to persons living with mental health disorders, who reside in one of Atlantic County's' Boarding Homes or Residential Health Care Facilities. Our team schedules activities for each home to offer social and recreational opportunities.  The residents are also encouraged to become members of the county Wellness Center, ICE.  During the year special trips are arranged such as visits to local cultural events, attendance at sporting events etc. 

Family Services

Intensive Family Support Services 
Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) is a county-wide program, administered by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County for families and friends of people living with a mental health disorder.  Throughout NJ, many families take an active role in caring for a relative or friend who has a mental health disorder. This can be an especially difficult and challenging task resulting in a feeling of frustration, embarrassment, anger, fear, hopelessness, and grief.   IFSS provides tangible coping skills to address these challenges.

IFSS services are open to all Atlantic County families with a relative or friend with mental health disorder; the family member does not have to be in treatment for the family to receive services. IFSS was designed with extensive input and assistance from families caring for relatives with a long history of serious mental health challenges.

When your loved one is diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bi-polar disorder, finding appropriate medical and psychiatric care is your priority. But once treatment begins, you and your family members soon discover that the illness affects many aspects of life, and you need more than medical help.  We can provide you with the knowledge, skills and support necessary to improve your family’s overall well-being.

The goal of Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) is to improve the quality of life of people caring for an adult with a mental health disorder.  The program strives to improve caregivers’ overall functioning by offering individualized information, education, and therapeutic support.  Through IFSS, families learn to be supportive in ways that promote wellness, recovery, and independence. 

IFSS is a comprehensive program of supportive services and activities designed to assist families and friends who provide support to a loved one living with a mental health disorder.  
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Services available:
  • Bi-Monthly Support Groups: Families/friends of those living with a mental health disorder meet with a mental health professional for mutual support and information exchange.
  • Individual Family Consultation: Family members meet with a mental health professional to develop strategies for coping more effectively with problems resulting from their relative's illness. 
  • Respite Care: Families are offered opportunities to have a break from the responsibilities of caretaking.
  •  Psycho-Educational Series: Informational programs provide up-to-date information about mental health disorders and treatment options and also teach skills that enable caregivers to better manage their loved one's illness and improve the functioning of the family. 
  • Advocacy:  Family members learn effective ways to obtain and maximize available resources. 
  • Referral & Linkage: IFSS staff assist families in locating additional relevant programs and services. 
  • Transportation: IFSS staff provide transportation to Ancora to visit a loved one, to other provider agencies for family meetings or to public entitlements providers to assist in securing benefits.         
For more information and to begin participation contact Gail Christian IFSS, Coordinator, 609-652-3800 ext. 0301
gchristian@mhanj.org

Acute Care Family (ACF) Program
Acute Care On-Call Phone Number: 609-517-8614
The ACF Program assists families when their family member is in crisis and in need of treatment from the behavioral health acute care system.  Our staff engage families who are often navigating the mental health system for the first time.  Staff educate families about mental health disorders and offer resources and referrals that can help their loved one.

Any family member in need of help can ask the screening center staff to connect them to our Acute Care Family Program in order to find support.  While listening empathetically, our staff can provide families validation, encouragement and understanding during a challenging time with their loved one who may not see themselves as ill.   

​Acute Care staff are available on site at the Atlantic County Screening Center, also known as PIP, set hours weekdays and weekends.   When staff are not on site, family members can phone the On-Call Acute Line at 609 517-8614.  The hours are 8 am to 8 pm daily, including weekends. After 8pm, leave a message and staff will return the call the next morning.  Help is just a phone call awaThe ACF Program assists families when their family member is in crisis and in need of treatment from the behavioral health acute care system.  Our staff engage families who are often navigating the mental health system for the first time.  Staff educate families about mental health disorders and offer resources and referrals that can help their loved one.

Any family member in need of help can ask the screening center staff to connect them to our Acute Care Family Program to find support.  While listening empathetically, our staff can provide families validation, encouragement and understanding during a challenging time with their loved one who may not see themselves as ill.   

​Acute Care staff are available on site at the Atlantic County Screening Center, also known as PIP, set hours weekdays and weekends.   When staff are not on site, family members can phone the On-Call Acute Line at 609 517-8614.  The hours are 8 am to 8 pm daily, including weekends. After 8pm, leave a message and staff will return the call the next morning.  Help is just a phone call away.