Grant-Funded Program Supports Teens with Substance Use Disorder

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health pediatric and adolescent behavioral medicine specialists offer a unique pathway to treatment for young people with substance use disorder. The program, known as Jersey Shore Paths to Recovery Youth, supports youth and young adults ages 13-25 with substance use disorder and/or co-occurring mental health disorders.

Our clinical therapists and peer recovery specialists first encounter patients either at the patient’s bedside at Jersey Shore University Medical Center or at the Jane H. Booker Family Health Center in Neptune Township.

Program staff screen patients for substance use, perform brief interventions, provide recovery support, navigate treatment options, schedule follow-up appointments, and arrange wraparound supportive care, including transportation, referral to community resources, and more. Program staff also provide support to the patient's family.

“Since December 2024, more than 250 patients have been screened, and 122 have been enrolled and supported by our team,” said Lauren Kaczka-Weiss, D.O., FAAP, FAPA, chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The Jersey Shore Paths to Recovery program is funded by the SAMHSA TREE (Treatment and Recovery Enhancement and Expansion) Program — a grant initiative by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fund community organizations that provide substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment for adolescents ages 12-17, transitional-aged youth ages 18-25, and their families. It focuses on early intervention, comprehensive evidence-based care, recovery support, and family involvement to improve outcomes for youth who are facing substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges. The aim is to enhance access, engagement, and retention in treatment.