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NJ Commits $10 Million to New Treatment
February 13, 2004

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Communities in Action 


Last week, the New Jersey Department of Human Services committed $10 million to fund treatment for 2,500 families involved with the child welfare system, part of major transformation of the state's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).

Trenton Demand Treatment! played a role in these sea changes, supporters believe.

"While the problems in our child welfare system are at the crux of all of these changes, I fully believe that the Demand Treatment! initiative in Trenton was a driving force in actions that eventually became a statewide endeavor" said Marygrace Billek, program manager for the Partnership for Children in the NJ Department of Human Services. (Billek is the former Demand Treatment! project manager.)

Trenton Demand Treatment focused on improving health outcomes for pregnant women, because the rates of substance use among pregnant women in Trenton were 4-5 times higher than the rest of the state. The group established screening programs at the city's prenatal clinics, which increased referral rates.

With Children's Futures, a public/private partnership to provide a comprehensive approach to early childhood development in Trenton, the team was able to bring its positive outcomes to the attention of people at the state level. The data, combined with the state's child welfare problems, forced the state to address its problems with addiction. Children's Futures now oversees Trenton's Demand Treatment! work, as part of its overall commitment to improve health outcomes for Trenton's children.

"With all of the movement and commitment of a number of key people in Trenton and then within the state, there has been a tremendous change in the recognition and concern for addicted women and their children," said Billek.

"Although we certainly can't take full credit for this awesome development," Billek said, "it doesn't take anything away from the groundwork we laid. Our small storm has paid off in a big way."

The new funding increases total addiction spending statewide by 33 percent. Of the $10 million total dollars, $3 million comes from a class-action lawsuit brought by Children's Rights, and $7 million in welfare funds will be redirected to provide treatment for parents who are on public assistance and involved with DYFS.

Overall, 862 new inpatient, intensive outpatient, and methadone treatment slots will be available for DYFS involved parents.

For more information, visit www.childrensfutures.org.