HISTORY
A Legacy of Leadership
Established in 1950, we began as a grassroots organization focused on education and advocacy. Over the past 75 years, we’ve grown into a multi-faceted provider of mental health services, reaching thousands of individuals and families each year. While our roots remain in Monmouth County, our programs have expanded to meet broader needs across New Jersey—all grounded in a commitment to mental wellness, dignity, and access to care.
Explore our journey and see how decades of dedication continue to shape a healthier, more compassionate future.
2020s
With funding from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the agency launched the Housing Supports Program (HSP) in 2025 to help individuals and families enrolled in NJ FamilyCare secure and sustain safe, stable housing. Through personalized, trauma-informed support, the program assists with housing searches, financial planning, and long-term tenancy stability.
In 2024, the PATH program proudly joined the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Link2Care initiative, part of the statewide ARRIVE Together framework funded by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. This collaboration united law enforcement professionals, mental health specialists, and community partners to provide compassionate, coordinated responses for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, housing instability, or other critical needs. Working alongside Monmouth Medical Center Screeners and CPC Integrated Health, PATH helped ensure early intervention, connecting residents to treatment, housing, and supportive services while fostering a more solution-oriented approach to public safety.
That same year, the Housing Navigation Program (HNP) led a major outreach and engagement effort to assist individuals affected by the disbandment of a long-standing encampment in Monmouth County. Partnering with municipal authorities and community providers, HNP successfully engaged, assessed, and prioritized all affected individuals for placement on the coordinated entry list—ultimately helping to house or temporarily relocate 73% of the group.
The agency further strengthened its role as a community connector through participation in the Monmouth County Navigation System, a first-of-its-kind initiative led by Monmouth ACTS and the County Board of Commissioners. This integrated network streamlines access to essential services—such as mental health care, housing, and social supports—through a centralized electronic referral system and live guidance from trained social workers.
Responding to the heightened emotional and psychological stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County expanded access to free virtual and in-person counseling. In partnership with Monmouth ACTS and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, the agency launched a free telephone counseling program offering up to six sessions with licensed volunteer clinicians, including bilingual professionals. These efforts ensured continuity of care and emotional support for residents during an unprecedented public health crisis.
2010s
The Housing Navigation Program, launched in 2017, strengthened the agency’s commitment to addressing homelessness and housing instability across Monmouth County. As part of the County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness and the Monmouth County Continuum of Care, the program assists individuals and families in obtaining permanent housing and serves as a “point of exit” from the homeless system. Through partnerships with community and housing providers, the program helps residents achieve stability by connecting them with essential supports and resources.
That same year, building on the success of Sandy Wellness, the Outpatient Services program was established to meet the growing need for accessible, individualized clinical care. The program continues to serve youth, adults, and families through compassionate, evidence-based support in a safe and therapeutic setting.
In 2013, the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program was established through a DMHAS-funded award to address homelessness among individuals with serious mental illness. The program provides outreach, case management, and linkage to treatment, benefits, and community resources, helping participants achieve recovery, housing stability, and independence.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the coastal Mid-Atlantic region in October 2012, the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County launched the Sandy Wellness initiative, providing free trauma-informed counseling and mental health support to residents impacted by the storm. Sandy Wellness played a vital role in helping the community heal and rebuild emotionally.
2000s
In partnership with local and state stakeholders, the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County helped launch MonmouthCares, one of New Jersey's first Care Management Organizations (CMOs). The program was designed to coordinate services for youth with complex needs, enhancing access to individualized, family-centered support.
Later, in 2009, the opening of the Red Bank Resource Network (RBRN) solidified the agency's commitment to culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Focused on the bilingual and often underserved communities, the Red Bank Resource Network continues to offer comprehensive health, housing, food, social, and financial resources in a welcoming environment.
1990s
In response to the growing need for housing solutions among individuals with mental health conditions and low income, the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County facilitated the creation of the Monmouth Housing Alliance, now operating independently as the Affordable Housing Alliance. This effort reinforced the link between housing stability and mental wellness.
By 1998, leadership from the agency helped shape state-level policy when Executive Director Ginger Mulligan chaired the State Children's Coordinating Council. This contributed to the development of New Jersey's Children's System of Care, a comprehensive framework now regarded as a model for children's behavioral health services across the country.
1980s
Executive Director Ginger Mulligan published a paper that exposed the inhumane treatment of patients at Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital. The findings helped catalyze public outcry and major system reforms that ultimately led to the closure of the facility, improving conditions for those receiving state mental health care.
Later investigations into the treatment of children at the Arthur Brisbane Center in Wall Township, NJ, uncovered serious concerns. The reports played a pivotal role in a landmark federal child welfare settlement against the State of New Jersey and led to the closure of the center, setting a national precedent for children protection in institutional care.
1970s
The Parents Helping Parents group was formed to support families navigating mental health concerns in their households. It provided a safe space for caregivers to connect, share experiences, and find strength in community during times of uncertainty.
1960s
Community volunteers began supporting patients in local hospitals, offering companionship and recreational activities for those living with mental health conditions. This early effort reflected a grassroots commitment to reducing isolation and humanizing mental health care.
1950s
The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County was established on May 8, 1950, to promote mental wellness and address growing concerns around mental health. As one of the earliest organizations of its kind in Monmouth County, it laid the groundwork for a more compassionate, informed, and responsive system of care.