For Immediate Release:
June 11, 2019

Monmouth County Partners with Local Non-Profit Organizations to Launch a New Public-Private Initiative
Monmouth ACTS will enhance access to County residents’ human service and behavioral health needs

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County, together with the Human Services Advisory Council and non-profit service organizations across the County, has launched Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services), a public-private initiative to promote and enhance access to human services.

The formation of Monmouth ACTS comes as a response to the Monmouth County Human Services Needs Assessment that was undertaken in late 2016, which examined the needs of County residents, as well as the strengths, capabilities and interests of service providers and community stakeholders. The assessment report, “A Call to Action,” examined Monmouth County’s human services gaps and determined a roadmap for improvement to desired conditions that would serve County residents more effectively.

“We found out that many Monmouth County residents struggle to have their basic needs met,” said Monmouth County Freeholder Sue Kiley, liaison to the County’s health and human services division. “Challenges such as addiction, mental health needs, homelessness and food insecurity have become more commonplace, with many people feeling isolated and unable to find the right path for help. Through Monmouth ACTS, community groups are now working together to improve access, achieve social change and address specific problems. Working together, County non-profit organizations, along with the resources of the County, are now offering services in a cooperative way instead of working in isolated silos. This approach is already streamlining processes and access to care and is producing productive outcomes.”

Since “A Call to Action” was presented in 2017, the Monmouth ACTS Steering Committee began examining the needs and challenges of serving particular populations and service areas.

Subcommittees focusing on eight key issues, or “Hubs,” were formed to share information, examine subject matter, examine policies and recommendations on how to streamline information between numerous entities that cover numerous topics of importance to the residents of Monmouth County. The hubs include:

· Early Childhood Success

· Positive Youth Development

· Aging

· Homelessness

· Transportation

· Financial Empowerment

· Mental Health & Addictions

· Communications

“It is our ultimate desire to provide residents with easier access to human services and answer their behavioral health questions,” said Kiley. “It can be difficult to determine which way to turn, so it is the goal of Monmouth ACTS to provide residents one access point – www.MonmouthACTS.org – for a myriad of services.”

In addition to the website, Monmouth ACTS will touch the lives of residents through grassroots initiatives via partner organizations.

For more information, visit www.monmouthacts.org.

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