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Paramus-based Care Plus NJ Inc. announced on Monday the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has awarded the integrated primary and behavioral health service provider for adults and children an expansion of over $1 million in grant funding to provide case management and peer recovery support to individuals coping with opioid use disorders in three northern New Jersey counties.

The funding has been allocated through the Support Team for Addiction Recovery (STAR) program that DMHAS is expanding throughout the state. The development will allow CarePlus to provide the full spectrum of STAR services in Passaic, Morris and Warren counties, including both case management and peer recovery support.

With a footprint in the six northern counties through the Family Support Center, CarePlus is well equipped to also serve families affected by opioid use disorders. In a statement, CarePlus said it has supported the Bergen County STAR program since 2017, providing the case management component of the program.

The lives of countless individuals coping with opioid use disorder will be changed through the expanded funding and further implementation of the STAR program.

– Joseph Masciandaro, president and CEO, CarePlus

The STAR program was developed by the DMHAS to address the high rates of recidivism and relapse among individuals who cycle in and out of treatment for opioid use disorders. It is designed to aid in the State of New Jersey’s goal to address the opioid crisis by removing barriers to care, increasing access to treatment, addressing gaps in social support services, and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through the provision of prevention, intervention, treatment and support for those with opioid use disorder and their families. The services delivered through the STAR program will enable those with opioid use disorder to establish meaningful recovery and lead a self-directed life.

“The lives of countless individuals coping with opioid use disorder will be changed through the expanded funding and further implementation of the STAR program,” said Joseph Masciandaro, president and chief executive officer of CarePlus. “This initiative will help us substantially increase the volume of vital addiction recovery support services we are able to provide to the surrounding community and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those afflicted with this disease,” Masciandaro said.

Through a team-based approach, CarePlus Case managers and recovery specialists will ensure individuals receive the support they need to reach their recovery goals. Case managers will address concrete needs of each individual, including housing stability, employment, or access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and recovery specialists will provide peer coaching to empower individuals to engage in their personal recovery and improve their overall health and wellness.