South Jersey-based Kennedy Health, with administrative offices in Voorhees, has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Health to facilitate a more veteran- and military-friendly network of integrated care within New Jersey.
Kennedy is one of eight New Jersey health systems that — along with the New Jersey Hospital Association, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Seton Hall University School of Law, and several service providers which make up the Veteran Health Provider Coalition (VHPC) — applied for the grant. Grants were awarded as part of a statewide effort to serve veterans’ primary care, behavioral health and other needs. The program is scheduled to begin in January 2016.
The $1.4 million grant received by Kennedy Health will be used in collaboration with the members of the VHPC to develop and implement programming aimed at closing the gap between healthcare providers and veterans. The project is also aimed at improving health professionals’ skills in addressing specific issues and needs from a “veteran-centric” perspective. The VHPC will provide support to veterans across Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.
Plans are underway to launch a program that will involve training veterans through the Camden Coalition of Health Care Providers to become health navigators, and the Mental Health Association for certification in Mental Health First Aid. These navigators will work with other veterans needing assistance in finding appropriate behavioral health services and wrap-around supports.
The VHPC includes four health systems that, in partnership the New Jersey Hospital Association and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers comprise the South Jersey Behavioral Health Innovation Collaborative (SJBHIC). The Collaborative, launched in 2015, is working to evaluate to the behavioral health system in the region and make recommendations for improved access to care.
“The VHPC is a very important and much-needed initiative for veterans in New Jersey,” said Collaborative Chair and Coalition member Russ Micoli, vice president for ambulatory services at Kennedy. “This multi-system effort, focusing on the needs of veterans and military families, dovetails nicely with the work being done by the SJBHIC and our focus on accessing behavioral health services. Kennedy is pleased to have been awarded this grant on behalf of the entire VHPC and we look forward to working with our partners on this special initiative.”
