By Brigitte Johnson, President and CEO, Care Plus NJ, Inc.
On Monday, March 24, Care Plus NJ joined students, families, school leaders, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, and Passaic County officials at Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology to cut the ribbon on The Lion’s HUB, a school-based partnership that gives students a place to turn when they are struggling, right in their own school. No appointment. No referral. No waiting.
It was both a celebration and a reflection of something we believe deeply: access to behavioral health support should be simple, immediate, and embedded in the environments where young people spend their time.
A Model Built Around Access
Care Plus NJ is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), a federally recognized, evidence-based model that unifies behavioral health, substance use treatment, and primary care within a single, integrated model of care. Its purpose is straightforward, to ensure care is available when and where it is needed, regardless of diagnosis, insurance status, or ability to pay.
In partnership with Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, Care Plus NJ applied a CCBHC-type model of integrated care to develop The Lion’s HUB. The program delivers coordinated services directly within the school setting, extending support to families and the broader community while addressing longstanding barriers such as access, coordination, and continuity of care. The Lion’s HUB reflects and extends the core services Care Plus NJ provides across its system.
Breaking Down the Barriers That Keep Kids from Getting Help
More than 70 percent of students in New Jersey report experiencing behavioral health challenges, a reality our clinicians encounter every day. Yet too many young people still go without care due to cost, transportation challenges, limited appointment availability, and persistent stigma.
The Lion’s HUB was intentionally designed to remove those obstacles. Services are voluntary, confidential, and available to all students, regardless of insurance status, from kindergarten through 12th grade. We provide full-time staffing support in areas of crisis response, behavioral health, and substance use needs, while care navigators coordinate services, manage cases, and provide both group and individual support.
As Lisa Centeno, our Executive Senior Vice President of Integration and Access to Care, noted at the ribbon cutting, the need for care continues to grow while resources remain constrained. That reality drives how we structure and deliver services.
Community Partnerships That Expand the Reach of Care
The collaboration between Care Plus NJ and Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology underscores a fundamental principle: effective behavioral health care is built through partnership. Schools, community organizations, hospitals, and local institutions each play a role in supporting the individuals they serve.
By integrating into this network, Care Plus NJ brings clinical capacity, specialized expertise, and a continuum of services that extends beyond what any single institution can provide. When students require additional support, they can be seamlessly connected to outpatient care, medication management, peer services, or crisis intervention. This ability to coordinate across settings is what makes the model both effective and scalable.
A Proven Foundation for What Comes Next
Governor Sherrill has identified youth behavioral health as a priority i n her first budget, even in a challenging fiscal environment. That focus reflects what communities across New Jersey are experiencing: the demand for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services continues to grow, particularly among young people.
Care Plus NJ is well positioned to meet that need. Its model is already established, serving tens of thousands of residents each year and consistently achieving strong outcomes in quality and care delivery. Building on this foundation allows for faster, more efficient expansion while strengthening systems that communities already trust.
The Lion’s HUB opened because two organizations recognized an opportunity to better support students and families in Paterson. That is how meaningful change happens—through partnerships that respond to real needs. With sustained support, this approach can extend to many more communities across New Jersey.
Brigitte Johnson is President and CEO of Care Plus NJ, one of New Jersey’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Care Plus NJ provides integrated behavioral health, substance use, and primary care services to individuals and families across northern New Jersey. Learn more at careplusnj.org.
