CarePlus Director Selected to Co-Chair Bergen County Children's Interagency Coordinating Council

Feb. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Care Plus NJ, Inc. (“CarePlus”) announced the appointment of Jessica Shea as co-chair to the Bergen County Department of Health Services Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council (CIACC) earlier this month.

In this new role, Shea will act as a liaison to the county and state government to assure that the voices of the county’s youth and their families are heard. She will maintain a working partnership with the members of the committee to identify gaps in service, assess issues, and create solutions by evaluating the needs of the county’s constituents.

Ms. Shea serves as the Director of the CarePlus Children’s Mobile Response and Crisis Stabilization Unit and is a Clinical Supervisor for its Children's Out-Patient Endeavors (COPE) program. Since the summer of 2008, Shea has been an active member of the CIACC and became a member of its educational subcommittee in 2012. The appointment of Shea to co-chair reflects the ongoing commitment to advance the committee’s role in advocating for services and needs at the local level.  

“As co-chair, I will be a link between all platforms which will allow the voices of community members to be heard. I’m looking forward to doing what I’m most passionate about: advocating for the youth and their families,” she said. “Working alongside my co-chair Linda Wieseneck, Executive Director of Bergen County Special Services Collaboration Access Planning Education (CAPE) Resource Center, will result in the perfect balance between the school and mental health care systems,” she added.  

The appointment of Jessica Shea allows CarePlus to be represented at both county and state meetings, permitting her to share their expertise in the mental health care field while strengthening existing relationships.  

The CIACC advises county government and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families about local needs. It advocates for a responsive, accessible, and integrated system of care for children — from birth to 18 years of age — who are challenged by emotional and/or behavioral diagnoses. The mission of this committee is to assist with the allocation of funds to enhance and develop priority needs programs that will address any lapse in services, and also provide insight to public health care system in regards to children in the community.

About Care Plus NJ, Inc. ("CarePlus")

CarePlus is a northern New Jersey provider of recovery-focused mental health, substance abuse, and family services that address the unique needs of individuals with a holistic approach to recovery and overall wellness. Operating out of 23 sites – including three outpatient centers located in Paramus, Fair Lawn, and Montclair, ten residential facilities, offices at three local hospitals, and seven community offices – our services are convenient to clients located throughout Northern New Jersey. We also provide educational programs on mental health-related topics to area schools and community groups. For more information, visit www.CarePlusNJ.org.