Community Impact Zone - New Jersey

For many years, communities have used their deep understanding and experiences to overcome systemic barriers such as marginalization, poverty, and exclusion. These communities have developed innovative solutions to address their urgent needs and improve outcomes for themselves and others.

Community-led and community-designed initiatives are rooted in the identities, cultures, and languages of the communities they serve. Many of these initiatives aim to bridge the mental health access gaps that exist in under-resourced spaces. However, too often, these kinds of solutions are unfunded or underfunded, and communities are left without the capacity to implement or sustain them.

Recognizing these barriers, in 2024, Mental Health America and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. established the inaugural Community Impact Zone (CIZ-NJ) in Burlington County and the city of Trenton, New Jersey. Building on the success of this first year, in September 2025 the initiative expanded with a second cohort of grantees in Atlantic County, New Jersey, further extending its reach to address mental health access gaps. This initiative is designed to uplift and amplify community-driven solutions. Through dedicated multi-year financial support and technical assistance, it aims to support long-term sustainability and break through systemic barriers that impede progress and mental health access.

Young Audiences Arts for Learning – New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania

Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania (YA) is the leading arts-in-education resource in the region, offering teaching artist-led performances, workshops, residencies, and professional learning programs to schools across New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. YA is using the CIZ grant in support of their Arts Impactive Initiative program, which addresses youth mental health in schools through artmaking in various forms. Partnering schools in Burlington County and Trenton participate in workshops, performances, family programs, and professional learning for teachers to better integrate social emotional learning into their lesson plans.

Mental Health Association in New Jersey

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. MHANJ, one of MHA’s 143 affiliates across the country, is using their grant to support the creation of a multi-level program at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) to engage those using their services through access to peer navigators and treatment services, a mental health support community, and mental health training.

Angels in Motion

Angels in Motion (AIM) is a grassroots nonprofit that provides peer-led outreach, case management, and recovery support services to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use. AIM’s model is grounded in compassion, dignity, and meeting people where they are no matter the environment. With support from the CIZ-NJ grant, AIM will expand its Roots to Recovery initiative—building toward a 7-day-a-week operation that offers walk-in access to peer support, basic needs such as clothing, toiletries, and food bags, and meaningful connections to mental health resources and support.

Mental Health Association in Atlantic County

The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County (MHAAC), one of Mental Health America’s 143 affiliates nationwide, has been awarded a grant to launch the Ambassadors 4 Mental Health Access (A4MHA) program. This innovative initiative will engage trusted community leaders as Ambassadors to connect residents with critical mental health supports, including peer networks and community-based skill-building opportunities. By leveraging trusted community voices, the program aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and expand access to behavioral health supports. Ambassadors are everyday leaders embedded in community spaces such as barbershops, bodegas, churches, community centers, and neighborhood associations.