NJAMHAA is pleased that the Legislature’s $60.7 billion budget bill reflects its substantial advocacy efforts to restore funding to the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) program with $40 million in funding restored to this critical program serving students across the state. The budget bill also moves Governor Mikie Sherrill’s newly proposed program, School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with $8 million in funding. We believe that is the appropriate setting for SPARK to be able to work closely and collaboratively with all existing children’s mental health programs.
NJAMHAA works toward sustained and expanded funding to ensure its members can serve all children, youth and adults who need their services and is therefore gratified to see the following in the budget bill. Significant in the budget bill are the appropriations made to the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness to bring behavioral health services to shelters, and other programs addressing homelessness, including an additional $10 million for Homelessness Response that brings that funding to $35 million. Reentry services, which also serve many New Jerseyans with behavioral health needs, saw $4 million appropriated to Volunteers of America, $7 million to the New Jersey Reentry Corporation (for a total of $9 million) and $7 million to Hudson County’s Reentry Pilot Program. Other funding was appropriated by the Legislature to support substance use treatment programs in jails in numerous counties. These and several other increases to all types of community programs, many of which are operated by NJAMHAA members, speak to the continuing high levels of demand for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and supportive services and the excellent services provided despite continuously growing caseloads.
NJAMHAA is also grateful for funding for behavioral health programs and other programs that individuals with mental health, substance use disorders and/or with an intellectual or developmental disability rely on. Some of these were maintained from the Governor’s proposed budget, such as the $154 million increase for the Division of Developmental Disabilities; increased funding all 21 counties for the Family Connects NJ and Cover All Kids programs; and $3 million for the Division of Consumer Affairs to upgrade its licensing system and complaint database – an item NJAMHAA has long advocated for. This is but one of many critical components needed for efforts to build the workforce.
Other welcome items in the budget bill that support behavioral health are found throughout many Departments. These include the $513.5 million appropriation for the Children's System of Care, an increase over the FY2026 level of $498.75 million, and the maintenance of $20 million for the ARRIVE (Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence & Escalation) Together Program.
NJAMHAA looks forward to working collaboratively with Governor Sherrill, her Administration and state legislators to identify additional funding for the critical behavioral health needs of New Jersey’s children, youth and adults during FY2027 and beyond. New Jersey's behavioral health system is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of residents living with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. A strong, well-funded community behavioral health infrastructure is not only the right thing to do for New Jerseyans; it is also among the most fiscally sound investments the state can make. NJAMHAA remains committed to serving as a constructive and engaged partner to the Sherrill Administration, the Legislature, and all stakeholders as we work together toward best serving all New Jerseyans.
