TRENTON – In an effort to improve early intervention and treatment of mental health disorders in children, Senator Bob Gordon sponsored legislation to create a pilot program in Bergen County that would provide increased education and support to primary care physicians through collaboration with experts in the area of child mental health. The bill was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“In New Jersey, as in many states in the country, we are facing a shortage of child mental health clinicians which can prevent kids from getting the screening, diagnoses and treatment they need,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen and Passaic. “Since we know that early intervention and treatment of mental health disorders can make a real difference in the life of a child, we have to look at new and innovative methods of care delivery. This pilot program is a major step forward in doing that.”