On August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day was observed in communities across the world, including here in Somerset County.  International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn of The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne Australia, and is now observed in over 40 countries.  

Over the last 25 years, the death toll from drug overdoses has devasted individuals, families, and communities across our state, our nation, and the world.  International Overdose Awareness Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the grief of family members and friends who have lost a loved one through overdose, to honor the lives of those who were overcome by the disease of addiction, and to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma associated with this illness. 

The observance of International Overdose Awareness Day in Somerset County was initiated in 2019. Communities, non-profit agencies, and houses of worship participated in this year’s observance, displaying purple flags and banners at various sites throughout the County representing the individuals who have passed from an overdose in 2024.

This year, 35 flags stood to represent the precious lives lost in 2024.

Ken Musgrove, Community in Connection’s Director of Recovery Support, has noted that “it is important to reflect that our remembrance is about the names, not the numbers, about the faces, not the flags, and that addiction and overdose impacts all communities and many, many families.”   

While we came together to honor the memories of those who are gone and to support their family members and friends, attendees also had the opportunity to connect with organizations that provide treatment and peer recovery support services.  The events also offered an opportunity to obtain Narcan, an over-the-counter drug that can be administered by a friend or family member to treat a known or suspected overdose. Approved as an over-the-counter-drug by the FDA in 2023, it is increasingly understood to be an essential item in home and workplace first aid kits. 

New Jersey’s suspected overdose death rate in 2023 was 28.3 per 100,000 statewide; in Somerset County, the 2023 rate was 8.68 per100,000.  While the Somerset County death rate was significantly lower than the state rate, we saw an increase in the suspected death rate for 2024 to 9.8 per 100,000. 

In March 2022, the State of New Jersey reached agreement on a national lawsuit against four companies for their role in the opioid crisis. These lawsuits hold prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for their role in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic.

New Jersey will receive at least one-billion dollars over the course of 18 years beginning in 2022 from the federal opioid settlement. The state will receive half of these funds, with the other half allocated to municipalities with populations over 10,000 and all 21 New Jersey counties.

Somerset County is committed to ensuring that we invest our share of the Opioid Settlement Funds for the approved uses detailed in the national opioid settlement agreements.  Each of these agreements includes language requiring the settlement funds be used for “Opioid Remediation,” which is defined as “care, treatment, and other programs and expenditures…designed to (1) address the misuse and abuse of opioid products, (2) treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders, or (3) mitigate other alleged effects of, including on those injured as a result of, the opioid epidemic.”   A list of approved uses is available on the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller website.

To date, Somerset County has received $2,564,028.74 in Opioid Settlement Funds. We have established an Opioid Advisory Committee comprised of advocates, prevention, treatment, and recovery providers, and County Human Services and Administration representatives. The Committee provides recommendations on priorities for the use of funds, which are made available through an open public request for proposals. Funds have been awarded to support a broad array of services for individuals and families grappling with addiction including behavioral health navigator services; training for treatment providers; expanded access to trauma-informed care and medication to support recovery; allied and holistic therapies including early relational health; mobile harm reduction services; and recovery friendly workplaces.  We have also awarded ten Community Solutions grants to support grass-roots prevention efforts tailored for children, teens, younger and older adults; services for children impacted by opioid use; grief, healing, and recovery workshops for survivors; assessments for youth; research on the efficacy of peer recovery supports; and naloxone distribution.

Many advocates are concerned about the diversion of these funds for purposes other than those included in the settlement agreements.   As Attorney General Matt Platkin has stated, “these settlement funds are not general revenues for the state. They are the result of some of the most significant lawsuits ever filed by attorneys general across this country to force companies to pay back the blood money that they stole in fueling the opioid epidemic. Spending this money in this way is a slap in the face to every family who lost a loved one in this devastating crisis, which continues to claim the lives of thousands of New Jerseyans each year.” 

These funds stand as reparations for the irresponsible and predatory marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies which valued profits over patients.  It is imperative that those of us who are now responsible for overseeing the use of the settlement funds ensure that they are spent in full compliance with the terms of the agreements.  To do otherwise is a dishonor to the memory of the lives that have been lost, and an insult to their survivors.

Resources:

To schedule an appointment to receive a free naloxone kit or speak with a Behavioral Health Navigator about treatment and recovery support services available in the County, please call the Somerset County Department of Human Services during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, at 908-704-6300.

The HEAL Somerset program at Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center offers harm reduction services including peer support and case management, referrals to behavioral health services and community resources, and safer use supplies.  Please call 908-253-3164 or email HEAL@co.somerset.nj.us  to connect to services.

To find a pharmacy participating in New Jersey’s free naloxone distribution program, please view the list available at Naloxone365: NJ Free Naloxone at Pharmacies Program | NJOIT Open Data Center .  It is recommended that you call the pharmacy in advance to confirm naloxone is in stock.

To learn more about addiction treatment and recovery, visit ReachNJ.gov or call 844-ReachNJ (732-2465). ReachNJ is a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week addictions hotline where people who have a substance use disorder (SUD) or friends and family of people with SUD can get immediate assistance and support from live, New Jersey-based, trained addiction counselors.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offer 24/7 judgment-free support for individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, and other challenges. Text, call, or chat 988 to connect with a counselor.

Data Sources:

New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Statement by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Proposal to Divert Opioid Settlement Funds | New Jersey Office of Attorney General

New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner Suspected Drug Death Statistics OCSME NJ  

New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller NJ Office of the State Comptroller - Opioid Settlement Funds

Mollie Greene, Director

Somerset County Department of Human Services

Click Here to view the full Newsletter

CENTRAL JERSEY HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER (CJHRC)

CJHRC’s mission is simple: as a HUD approved agency, we provide very low-, low- and moderate-income households with useful information and access to counseling and programs to achieve their housing, budgeting and financial goals.  All services are FREE. Call a Counselor at 908-446-0036 or view our website (www.cjhrc.org) for more information. 

FOLLOW US AND STAY INFORMED! Get important housing announcements, resources and information by liking us on Facebook Central Jersey Housing Resource Center) or following us on Instagram (cjhrc_housing).

If you or someone you know is looking for housing, Click Here.

FREE 2-DAY HOMEBUYER WEBINAR (CERTIFICATE PROGRAM)

LAST PROGRAM FOR 2025

This 2-day program will explain the buying process by industry experts.  Those that attend both nights can work towards obtaining a certificate which is beneficial to meet requirements for lower interest rate/better term mortgage products, as well as applying for many down payment and closing cost assistance grants. 

2-Day Virtual Homebuyer Webinar

November 17 & November 19, 2025

5:30 pm to 8:15 pm

(must register & attend both days)

Click here to register

RECORDED WEBINARS

If you’ve missed any of our virtual webinars, you can obtain a link to watch the recorded version. Call 908-446-0036 and speak to a CJHRC counselor to obtain the link for any of the below recorded webinars.

4-H:

• Somerset County 4-H Association Rummage Sale

• Somerset County 4-H Open House: Join 4-H - the nation’s largest youth development organization! The Somerset County 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the outreach arm of Rutgers University.  Somerset County 4-H provides resources to local youth through engaging clubs & activities, volunteer opportunities, and informative workshops to create compassionate, responsible, and skilled citizens in the community and beyond. Somerset County 4-H offers programs to youth in grades k-13 (one year out of high school), and 60+ clubs for youth to join. Join us at our 4-H Open House on Thursday, September 25th from 6:30-8pm at the Ted Blum 4-H Center! 310 Milltown Rd in Bridgewater

• NJEP: We are enrolling for October’s cohort of 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: September 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 April’s 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 September! 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! 
• RCE Networking Event (hosted by FCHS)

• Rutgers Environmental Stewards - Registration Opens October 1
• Speaker’s Bureau Talks: The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County are pleased to offer the following Speaker’s Bureau talks that are open to the public this September:
• 9/3/2025 7pm Bernards Township Library | Houseplant Basics

A Recap: The Somerset County Community Outreach Program 

Submitted by Kate Russo, Planning Administrator, Office of Operations and Planning

Perhaps you’ve seen the green-vested canvassers in your community or at Patriots Stadium, the Hillsborough Rotary Fair or Downtown Somerville Cruise nights. If you’ve stopped to chat with one, you are among the many Somerset County residents who have shared their interests, concerns, or learned about valuable community resources.

Since launching on April 21, the Somerset County Community Outreach Project has knocked on more than 85,000 doors and talked with 20,000 residents. Along the way, our team has attended numerous events, built meaningful connections, and celebrated important resident outcomes.

One example includes a resident who needed a new wheelchair ramp – through canvasser outreach, we were able to deploy the Volunteer Division’s Handyman Program in the Department of Human Services. In another extraordinary moment, canvassers Jacob and Chris noticed smoke from a house during their route. Their quick action to alert the occupants and call 911 helped avert what could have been a tragedy. The resident later credited them with saving the day.

Another highlight of the project has been the education and distribution of Narcan. By providing Narcan directly to residents and offering connections to the County’s Behavioral Health Systems Navigator, Stephanie Billitz, we are not only educating community but also breaking down stigma surrounding opioid overdoses.

The visible phase of the Community Outreach Project will conclude on September 21, when Human Services will share findings with each municipality and evaluate the data collected. But this is not the end – our canvassers will be back in 2026, continuing to deliver resources, strengthen community ties, and provide vital support to residents across Somerset County.

September is National Recovery Month:

Submitted by Meg Isbitski, LSW, CADC Intern, Substance Use Clinician, Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center

Since 1989, September has been federally designated as National Recovery Month, an observance promoting recovery from mental health and substance use conditions.  This designation highlights and supports the stories of individuals, families, and communities impacted by mental health and substance use disorders.  Also celebrated are treatment agencies and advocacy systems providing lifesaving care 24/365.

The intention of National Recovery Month is to celebrate those who have overcome personal battles to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.  It highlights the voices of those who have been impacted by mental health, substance use, suicide, overdose, trauma and continue to choose a path of resilience, growth, and hope.

National Recovery Month also shines a light on local resources that offer counseling, medication, case management, support groups, wellness activities, supported employment, and housing support (see below).

National Recovery Month highlights an important message about each individual’s intrinsic and perpetual value, their human right to compassionate and competent care.  It sends a needed message that each person deserves a second chance (or 3^rd or 50^th) and that we are so much more than the worst thing we have ever done. 

As advocates, it is our role to fight for access to care for all through National Recovery Month and year long. Promoting inclusive, culturally competent, and evidenced-based services encourages equitable access and shared humanity for all Americans. 

So for National Recovery Month 2025:

• educate yourself about mental health and substance use disorders to reduce misconceptions around recovery
• celebrate stories of those who have lived these experiences to inspire hope
• ·offer nonjudgment and empathy to those around you, you may not know what they are going through
• learn about one resource in your community for yourself or others

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact:

• Bridgeway Psychiatric Emergency Services at 908-526-4100.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline, a national confidential hotline.Call or text 988 24/7 or chat via chat.988lifeline.org

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

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

Agency:  Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen

Job Title:  Mental Health Clinician

Job Description:  Under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor or Program Director, the Mental Health Clinician is responsible to provide multiple modality clinical services to and case management on behalf of the clients and their families. The job includes individual, family, and group therapy for an OP/IOP adolescent substance use program in Bridgewater, NJ.  The Clinician will be responsible for conducting assessments, treatment planning, case management, and recovery support services. This job requires a basic foundation in clinical knowledge and good communication skills. 

Minimum Requirements: Master’s Degree level licensed mental health clinician (LAC/LPC; LSW/LCSW)

Website:  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3416900f/qbaZHJ4RWUOskPJoveR47w?u=http://www.ccdom.org/

Agency:  Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen

Job Title:  Substance Use Counselor

Job Description:  Under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor or Program Director, the Substance Use Counselor is responsible to provide substance abuse assessment, education and counseling to adolescent clients in an OP/IOP adolescent substance use program in Bridgewater, NJ. He/she will provide assessments, facilitate group, individual and family sessions, case management, treatment planning, and recovery support services. This job requires a solid foundation in substance abuse knowledge, ASAM criteria and good communication skills. Work is done under clinical supervision by an LCADC or CCS. 

Minimum Requirements:  Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or LCADC credential required. High School Diploma or GED equivalent and 2 years of experience in substance abuse field.

Website:  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3416900f/qbaZHJ4RWUOskPJoveR47w?u=http://www.ccdom.org/

Agency:  Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen

Job Title:  Case Manager

Job Description:  Under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor, the Case Manager is responsible for transporting adolescents to and from an IOP program in Bridgewater, NJ.  He/she will function as part of the treatment team and will provide multiple modality clinical services to and case management on behalf of the adolescents in treatment. The Case Manager will support connections between adolescents in program and school, work, and/or other extracurricular activities. The position may include individual, family, and/or group psychoeducational services, treatment planning, record keeping, scheduling assistance, recovery support services, and documentation in electronic health records. 

Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in mental health, substance use, public health, or a related field; 3+ years of relevant experience preferred

Website:  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3416900f/qbaZHJ4RWUOskPJoveR47w?u=http://www.ccdom.org/

Below are current job openings at Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center:

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

CCBHC Peer Specialist

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

Gambling Clinician

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

Health Data Specialist

https://careers.co.somerset.nj.us/view/2025-098J364

Intake Triage Specialist

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

Licensed Practical Nurse

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

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