Community Recovery Champion Program Expands to Bernards Township

Submitted by Mike Mannion, Community in Crisis

The Community Recovery Champion (CRC) program continues to strengthen its presence and impact across Somerset County. The initiative, led by Mike Mannion and CiC for Prevention and Recovery, focuses on promoting community engagement, harm reduction, and connection through recovery support.

The CRC program continues to host community tabling events and engage with individuals throughout the county, distributing Narcan kits and sharing information about local recovery resources. The program’s efforts were featured in TAPinto Bridgewater and highlighted in the Bridgewater Township Newsletter Spotlight following a presentation by Mike Mannion and Ken Musgrove at the Bridgewater Township Council meeting.

In addition to ongoing work in Bridgewater, the CRC program expanded into Bernards Township, where a presentation at the Bernards Township Municipal Alliance meeting helped strengthen collaboration and awareness of local recovery resources.

The program continues to grow across Somerset County, reinforcing that recovery thrives through connection, compassion, and community support.

 CENTRAL JERSEY HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER (CJHRC)

FREE WEBINARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY!!!

BASICS TO KNOW TO PURCHASE A HOME:  January 5, 2026 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

CJHRC has created a brand-new 60-minute FREE webinar where you will learn how to get prepared for the homebuying process.  Perfect for first-time buyers or anyone curious about homeownership.  The webinar will cover the following:
   ✅ Budgeting and credit basics
   ✅ How much home you can afford
   ✅ Pre-approval letter and why it’s important                                         

   ✅ Downpayment and closing cost assistance grants

   ✅ Counseling services CJHRC provides

Click here to register

2-DAY HOMEBUYER CERTIFICATE WEBINAR – January 20 & 22, 2026 from 5:30 pm-8:15 pm

Buying a home is a big step. Join our FREE 2-day webinar to learn the full homebuying process from industry experts who will be presenting the following topics :

     ✅ Credit

     ✅ Mortgage process

     ✅ Role of a real estate attorney

     ✅ Homeowners insurance & inspections                                            

     ✅ Affordable housing programs

     ✅ Down payment & closing cost assistance

Click here to register

3-PART FINANCIAL LITERACY WEBINAR SERIES – February 12, 19 & 26, 2026 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES IN 2026?

Join our 3-part webinar series in February – this series is designed to help you learn about essential financial literacy skills to assist in working towards financial stability.  Each Thursday evening, expert speakers will discuss the importance of budgeting and tracking monthly expenses, provide an in-depth understanding of credit, and explain how to calculate your debt-to-income ratio.
Attendance is required for all 3 sessions to earn a Financial Literacy Certificate required by some housing programs and CJHRC’s Savings Match Program.

     ✅February 12, 2026:  Budgeting

     ✅February 19, 2026:  Credit                                                               

     ✅February 25, 2026:  Debt to Income (DTI)

Click here for links to register

NOTE:  Participants who complete the full program and an authorization form can receive a FREE tri-merge (soft pull) credit report & schedule an appointment to review it with a counselor.

Need Help or Have Questions?

Contact a CJHRC Counselor at 908-446-0036 or email 2cjhrc@gmail.com. Visit www.cjhrc.org to learn about our services, access resources, and see how we can assist you:

Follow us, CJHRC shares helpful tips and updates weekly -- like us on Facebook: Central Jersey Housing Resource Center or follow us on Instagram: @cjhrc_housing

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Submitted by Cynthia Holtzman, LCADC, Program Administrator

Intoxicated Driver Resource Center

What is Impaired Driving?  Impaired driving, often known as driving under the influence (DUI), is when someone operates a vehicle when one’s ability to do safely is compromised by the effects of alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal.  This can include prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Driving under the influence (DUI) remains one of the most significant and preventable public safety issues. Despite decades of awareness campaigns and stricter laws, impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities with one third of all motor vehicle fatalities involving an impaired driver.

Such statistics emphasize the importance of recognizing risks and seeking guidance when needed.  When the consequences of your use creates problems in your life and the lives of those you care about, it may be time to start examining more closely your relationship with alcohol and other drugs.

Click below for a quick, interactive self-test on your alcohol consumption.

https://auditscreen.org/check-your-drinking

If you scored between 8-14 this would typically indicate a need for a brief intervention.  For those with a score of 15+, options include referral for specialist treatment, withdrawal management, enrollment in a therapy program and pharmacotherapies (medication), and engagement with a self-help fellowship. 

Help is available.  The Behavioral Health System Navigator serves as a point-of-contact for individuals who live or work in Somerset County in need of accessing an often complex behavioral health system. The Navigator will help any resident or community partner by providing information, brief support, referral, consultation, and liaison services. If you or a loved one are seeking help with connecting to substance use and/or mental health treatment, or support, please contact Stephanie Billitz at SBillitz@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-203-6130. 

Have a Safe and Enjoyable Holiday Season!

4-H:

• Hot Cocoa with the Calves

• Somerset County 4-H Gingerbread Contest

• Holiday Craft Festival

• 4-H Alumni Agriculture Career Night

December 16 | 6–8 PM

Join us for an exciting evening exploring careers in agriculture with inspiring 4-H alumni as guest speakers! Held at the Somerset County 4-H Center or join via Zoom

Hear from professionals in ag science, research, and the USDA about their career journeys and advice for future leaders in agriculture.

Guest Speakers:

Sarah Lally – USDA Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Program Specialist

Sylvia Calabrese – Program Analyst, Farm Service Agency

Dr. Alanna Homan – Dairy Cattle Research Scientist

Cait O’Sullivan – Student, SUNY Cobleskill

Open to youth in grades 7th–13th

FREE event! | Register by December 15th! | Questions Call (908) 526-6644

                Register here: https://4histops.org/events/alumni-career

• Community Holiday Dinner

• NJEP: We are enrolling for NJ Empower to Prevent, a virtual National Diabetes Prevention Program. If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with prediabetes, register for this FREE, year-long program by contacting us or completing the registration link https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2soUa9t5kfhGfIO  
• Wellness Wednesdays: December Wellness Wednesdays: Join us for this month’s series of FCHS Wellness Wednesday webinars! These webinars take place every Wednesday at 12:30pm. Registration is required, but is free. To see all webinars, please visit: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/wellness-wednesdays/
• Tune in to the Facebook Live videos from Somerset County Family & Community Health Sciences (RCE) this December! By doing so, you can earn up to 5 LiveWell points (Metric 14)! Be sure to check out https://www.facebook.com/SCNJFCHS/ for updates and videos! 

• Rutgers Environmental Stewards - Registration Open

• Native Plant Propagation Workshop: Would you like to grow your own native plants at home? In this two-part series, join the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County to learn about the importance of native plants and how easy it is to grow them from seed then incorporate them in the home landscape.

Part 1: Winter Sowing in Milk Jugs

We'll discuss the benefits of native plants and how sowing seeds in the winter works. Participants will have the opportunity to make and take home milk jug mini-greenhouses

Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 7:00-9:00 pm

Part 2: Transplanting Seedlings

Bring your milk jugs back to transplant your seedlings into pots. We'll discuss growing strong seedlings and next steps for adding them to your garden. You'll have the opportunity to swap seedlings so that you can go home with a few species!

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 7:00-8:30 pm

Registration is $20 per person. Registration is required and includes both sessions. Both sessions held at: 

310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807

Register here: https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=96579

Some Thoughts on Loss and the Holiday Season

Submitted by Mary Galetta, MSW, LSW, Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center, Touchstone Intensive Support Services (TISS)

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” —Socrates

“When it hurts—observe. Life is trying to teach you something.” —Anita Krizzan

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” —Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

What is there to say about loss, other than that it is an unavoidable part of life?  The answer is simple – so very much.  It comes in many different forms, and often without warning.  Whether it is a loved one, a job, a pet, or even a significant unexpected change in one’s path, loss is something that is felt deeply and profoundly across all walks of life.  As such, loss is also something that can have a lasting impact on mental health, and in ways that we may not always even realize. 

Particularly around the holidays, the “hole” that a loss has left can feel particularly pronounced and painful.  It is during these times that it may be especially important to have outlets and a support system that help to assuage the emotional burden that any loss has left in its wake.  This may mean reaching out to loved ones and friends to keep in touch, attending a local support group, attending a church service, seeking mental health treatment, and other methods of receiving necessary support from various outlets.  Not only this, it is also important to take an inventory of how you are feeling, in addition to the ways that you are navigating and managing those feelings.  Coping skills come in many different forms.  They are also an essential part of mental health and wellbeing, especially during a time of year that can be difficult for many people, for a multitude of different reasons.  It can be as simple as sitting down with a hot cup of coffee, or more elaborate such as taking a trip to self-reflect.  Whatever it is though, make sure it is something that fulfills you and helps the darker moments of loss feel even just a little bit lighter this holiday season.

Lastly, for those who may find they need a therapeutic outlet to help manage and cope with loss and other struggles, look no further than Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center.  Our skilled and compassionate providers and staff work diligently to ensure that you receive the support and care that you need, when you need it most.  Please don’t hesitate to call – we are here to help.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, substance use or gambling challenges, please call our ACCESS Center at 908-253-3165. If this is a psychiatric emergency call Bridgeway PESS at 908-526-4100 OR

CALL the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 to talk to a counselor 24/7/365

 Self-Care for Caregivers

Submitted by Claudia Ernst and Amy Maritato, Office on Aging and Disability 

November was Caregiver Awareness Month. During that time, we recognize and honor the significant role caregivers play throughout our community. To celebrate their dedication, the Office on Aging and Disability Services hosted two special events: the first on November 6th at the Senior Wellness Center at Bridgewater, and the second on November 20th at the Senior Wellness Center at Basking Ridge. Both gatherings provided an opportunity to show appreciation for caregivers and highlight the vital support they provide every day. We were grateful to have Legal Services of Northwest Jersey present information on living wills, advance directives, and the importance of planning ahead. Caregivers also enjoyed a relaxing chair yoga session led by Jillian Gerber and Jane Puckett.

Caregivers give so much of themselves to support others, and these moments of education, relaxation, and recognition are just a small way to honor all they do while reminding them to care for their own well-being. During these events, education was provided by Office on Aging and Disability Services Educators, Claudia Ernst and Amy Maritato, on healthy ways caregivers can participate in self-care. Claudia provided education on coloring. Coloring may be seen as a child’s activity, but it is a healthy way to relieve stress as it calms down your brain and body. While Amy Maritato, highlighted the benefits of journaling. Journaling can help manage symptoms of depression, reduce anxiety, increase self-awareness, and boost emotional intelligence. Journaling looks different for everyone, and for those wondering how to begin, the best approach is simply to start because there is no right or wrong way to journal. Participants were able to take one of these activities home for their future usage.

The Office on Aging and Disability Services want to say thank you for all the caregivers do for the ones they care for in our community. If you are caring for someone over the age of 60 and/or you yourself are over the age of 60 and a Somerset County resident looking for information and support, please contact the Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services at 908-704-6346.

Recovery Friendly Workplace - Free Workshop

CiC for Prevention & Recovery is hosting a workshop showcasing New Jersey’s first Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) program, administered by Somerset County Human Services and supported by opioid abatement funds. The session will highlight both the fiscal and organizational benefits of creating supportive, stigma-free work environments for employees impacted by addiction and co-occurring behavioral health challenges.

Business owners, senior leadership, and HR professionals, are encouraged to attend.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, January 22 from 9-11am at the Somerset County Business Partnership located at 50 Division St #400 in Somerville. 

For details and registration, contact: David Martinak at dmartinak@communityincrisis.org or 973.722.5333 for more information about the event.

Celebrating Native American Culture 

Submitted by the Diversity & Inclusion Committee: Achyut Nuli, Arhan Agarwal, Anaiah Paul, Davis Guanatagsi, Esha Bande, Jordan Nuñez, Kayla Hill, Sohi Shah

“American Natives,” or Native Americans, are Indigenous peoples of the United States, with ancestors from North and South America who lived on the continent for thousands of years before European contact. They are a distinct group of various tribes with rich histories, cultures, and languages that endure today. Many Native Americans continue to live on reservations, and tribes have a unique political status recognized by the U.S. government. While celebrations of Native American Day date back to the early 20th century, the entire month of November was officially designated as National American Indian Heritage Month in 1990. With that in mind, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is raising awareness about the role of Native Americans had in shaping history, as well as the importance of understanding the heritage of our nation.

Native Americans made outstanding contributions to American culture, such as the food, language, names, and much more. The Native Americans made our world better. Before talking more about the many accomplishments the Natives did, let's talk about how they celebrated Thanksgiving and what they ate. They started Thanksgiving as a holiday. It is a modern holiday that originates from a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and English colonists in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. The background of the 1621 harvest feast was because after a hard and long winter, the Wampanoag helped the English settlers survive by teaching them how to cultivate crops like corn. The day was a day of mourning due to the Wampanoag being met with theft, violence, and the destruction of their culture. In the end, they had so much food like deer, wild fowl, seafood, cornbread or porridge, squash, and beans, most of the time prepared together as succotash. Well, this is what you will learn about Native Americans and why they celebrated Thanksgiving and why they are important.

As a committee of students dedicated to empowering diverse cultures and backgrounds, it is important we recognize different types of people all across the United States and the impact they bring. November is Native American Heritage Month where we take time to celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. For about a hundred years, Americans have urged that there be a permanently designated place on the calendar to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants of what is now the United States and their descendants: the American Indian and Alaska Native people. This November, while everyone’s excited about Thanksgiving, we encourage you to share at the dinner table about why you’re thankful for Native Americans!

We’re leading an initiative to post flyers about different cultures around the world, this one honors Native Americans!

Below are various job opportunities available within Somerset County including with partner agencies/organizations. For all inquiries, contact the organization directly.

Franklin Food Bank

Senior Development Director

The Senior Development Director leads all fundraising and external relations for Franklin Food Bank. This role oversees individual and corporate giving, grants, and special events; builds and stewards donor and partner relationships; and works closely with the Executive Director and Board to grow sustainable revenue. The Senior Development Director supervises the Development team, manages data and reporting, and helps tell our organization’s story to the community.

Link to view full details

Franklin Food Bank

Warehouse Director

The Warehouse Director oversees all warehouse operations to ensure safe, efficient distribution of food to our neighbors. This position manages inventory, ordering, receiving, and storage; upholds food safety and workplace safety standards; and supervises warehouse staff and volunteers. The Warehouse Director coordinates with Programs and Operations to support client choice models, mobile distributions, and partner deliveries while maintaining accurate records and a clean, organized, and well-maintained facility.

Link to view full details

Care Navigator

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-101J1314

Case Manager – AOTS (P/T)

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-093J1195

Case Manager – STAR

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-124J1125

Facility and Security Director

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-191P939

Gambling Disorder Clinician

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-099P750

Intake Triage Specialist

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-095J1191

Licensed Mental Health Practitioner

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-168J124

Licensed Practical Nurse

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-096J1315

Peer Specialist (CCBHC)

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-016J1450

Recovery Support Specialist (STAR)

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-179J1126

If you require assistance completing the online employment application, you may contact Human Resources at employment@co.somerset.nj.us or 908.231.7120.