NEW JERSEY PREVENTION NETWORK INC

Clinical Training and Workforce Development (CTWD): The Clinical Workforce Development (CTWD) program provides the 270 hours of education required for individuals pursuing licensure or certification as alcohol and drug counselors, as well as advanced renewal courses needed to maintain licensure and certification. The full initial curriculum is delivered through synchronous, interactive virtual sessions held five days per week, ensuring accessibility and engagement. Advanced renewal training courses for certified and licensed professionals are offered based on emerging field trends and workforce demands. All initial and advanced renewal courses are free of charge for qualified participants employed in New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services ("DMHAS") contracted agencies who are licensed to provide substance use disorder treatment. In addition, the CTWD Project offers scholarships for those pursuing the Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) credential, as well as virtual training opportunities for Chemical Dependency Associates (CDA) and Certified Clinical Supervisors (CCS). Beyond training, the CTWD Project is deeply committed to workforce promotion and advocacy efforts. This includes engaging with state partners and professional associations to highlight the critical role of addiction professionals, advancing policies that reduce barriers to credentialing, and elevating the visibility of the field through community outreach. By fostering collaboration and advocating for systemic change, the project not only prepares individuals for meaningful careers but also strengthens and sustains the behavioral health workforce statewide. Peer Recovery Support Services Workforce Development Overview: The Peer Recovery Support Services Workforce Development Project continues to provide the full suite of required trainings for all New Jersey peer workers engaged in DMHAS funded initiatives. These peer-led initiatives now span a wide variety of community settings, including hospitals, prisons, law enforcement, recovery centers, treatment facilities, prevention agencies, child protection and welfare agencies, educational institutions, and behavioral health centers. NJPN remains an approved education provider for the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), the Association for Addiction Professionals, and the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey. All NJPN trainings are approved for both initial coursework and continuing education credits. This ensures that peer workers can meet the requirements for the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential in New Jersey aswell as the National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS), while staying current with renewal requirements. Mindfulness (Professional Development SOR): The Mindfulness Initiative within NJPN's Peer Workforce Development Program continues to expand professional development and wellness opportunities for the helping profession. In alignment with DMHAS goals, this initiative provides scholarships, specialized workshops, and experiential learning opportunities to peer workers, clinicians, counselors, social workers, and others across the recovery support continuum. This year, NJPN has continued to emphasize holistic approaches to wellness, with participants engaging in training around mindfulness-based recovery, meditation, breathing practices, and body-based relaxation techniques. Both onsite and virtual formats are available, allowing for statewide accessibility. Ongoing support is provided through skill-based sessions and downloadable mindfulness tools, giving participants practical resources they can integrate into their personal and professional lives. To ensure impact, NJPN maintains a rigorous evaluation process that includes quarterly reporting, outcome measurement, and ongoing collaboration with independent evaluators. Student progress is tracked through a comprehensive database, ensuring participants not only complete training but also gain long-term skills that strengthen resilience, emotional well-being, and recovery-oriented practice. Peer Certificate: The Peer Certificate Program, launched July 1, 2022, and running through September 30, 2025, continues to advance the peer workforce by developing and piloting specialty certifications. These certifications are designed to expand upon CPRS and NCPRSS credentials, with focused training tracks tailored to service settings such as hospitals, maternal health, family engagement, harm reduction, community-based recovery centers, and faith-based initiatives. This year, NJPN has collaborated with state and national subject matter experts to refine curricula, prepare trainers, and deliver training sessions that reflect the latest research and evidence-based practices. The program also prioritizes accessibility by offering reimbursement for certificate fees, minimizing financial barriers for peers pursuing specialization. Promotion of these specialty certificates continues through coordinated marketing campaigns, targeted outreach, and a customer service infrastructure that supports participants from enrollment through completion. Comprehensive data collection-including surveys, interviews, and supervisor feedback-ensures accountability and continuous improvement. By tracking student progress and program outcomes, NJPN ensures that the specialty certificate program strengthens peer services across New Jersey. Peer Roster: The Peer Roster initiative remains a cornerstone of NJPN's Peer Workforce Development Program. This centralized system tracks peer recovery specialists' training history, certification progress, and professional development across all DMHAS-funded initiatives in the state. Over the past year, the roster has been refined to not only record training completions but also serve as a dynamic tool for supervisors and agencies. Supervisors are now able to access and monitor their staff's progress toward both the CPRS and NCPRSS credentials, making it easier to identify areas for additional training and support. By maintaining accurate, real-time records, the roster strengthens the peer certification pipeline and ensures transparency in workforce development. Ultimately, this system supports peers in reaching state and national recognition while also equipping agencies with the data they need to strengthen recovery-ready systems of care across New Jersey. Training and Technical Assistance for the State's Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions: DMHAS created a network of Regional Coalitions to address the state's substance use prevention priorities. NJPN was selected to provide technical assistance and support to the 19 Regional Coalitions regarding implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework, including needs assessment, capacity building, planning, and implementation. Guided by national research as well as its own experiences, NJPN facilitates, participates in, and provides technical assistance and support to the 19 coalitions. NJPN works with each regional coalition to successfully assess data, determine consumption patterns and consequences, prioritize needs, and develop a comprehensive strategic plan and logic model specific to their region and based upon relevant topics as guided by the four state-identified priorities. Through trainings, webinars and one-on-one technical assistance, NJPN is supporting the effective implementation of environmental strategies that will make population-level change within New Jersey. Military Personnel and their Families: NJPN coordinates this statewide project to provide evidence-based prevention programs to active military, veterans and their families through a network of statewide prevention partners. Military personnel and their families are facing many challenges that can significantly impact their lives. Often, these challenges trigger stressors that can lead to family dysfunction, substance abuse, and other negative outcomes. NJPN developed two evidence-based programs to help support our New Jersey military community: Military Family Nights and Achieving Personal Balance. These programs build on the strengthens of these inspiring individuals and families and provide an opportunity to focus on family and life balance through parental and youth skill building, improved family communication and healthy coping skills to reduce stress.