Paramus, N.J. (July 17, 2025) – CarePlus NJ, a leading nonprofit provider of integrated mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care services, is proud to announce that President and CEO, Brigette Johnson, has been named one of NJBIZ’s 2025 Leading Women in Business. This prestigious award recognizes influential female leaders who are shaping New Jersey’s economic future and inspiring the next generation through professional excellence and community impact. Johnson, along with other honorees, will be celebrated at the NJBIZ Leading Women in Business Awards ceremony on August 19, 2025 from 6p.m. – 9 p.m. at The Palace at Somerset Park.
Johnson has been recognized for her leadership in expanding CarePlus NJ’s impact across northern New Jersey. Under her leadership, CarePlus NJ serves nearly 14,000 people each year across more than 80 specialized programs for adults and children, supporting a wide range of mental health, addiction and social service needs. With a focus on ensuring everyone has equal access to quality healthcare, CarePlus serves 11 counties and recently expanded its Open Access Mental Health Walk-In Centers in Bergen and Essex Counties. These centers provide immediate treatment for adults, children, and families experiencing worsening mental health or addiction-related symptoms.
Johnson has long been recognized for her leadership and advocacy across the healthcare field. She was recently named a Women in Business Influencer by ROI-NJ in both 2024 and 2025, celebrating her crucial role in expanding mental health and addiction treatment services to adults and children in northern New Jersey. She has received the Transformational Leadership Award from the New Jersey Association of Mental Health & Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) and has been named a Healthcare Hero by NJBIZ. following her exemplary visionary leadership and forward-thinking approach to care.
Brigitte Johnson also holds several board leadership roles at the national, state, and local levels. Nationally, she serves on the Board of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, where she also chairs the Nominating Committee. At the state and local levels, she serves on the Board of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), the Executive Committee of ACCSES-NJ, and the Board of the Bergen County Workforce Investment Board. Most recently, Brigitte was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Risk Retention Group.
She is a proud alumna of Howard University School of Law and earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from Virginia State University.
About CarePlus NJ
CarePlus NJ is a leading nonprofit provider of integrated mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care services for adults and children across northern New Jersey. As one of the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers in the U.S., CarePlus NJ sets the gold standard in delivering accessible, high-quality care regardless of diagnosis or insurance status. With over 80 specialized programs, the organization serves nearly 14,000 individuals annually, offering a full continuum of behavioral health and social support services that empower people to reach their full potential. Committed to equity and innovation, CarePlus NJ works to remove barriers to care and improve the overall well-being of the communities it serves.
For more information, visit www.careplusnj.org.
Media Contact:
Nicole Doherty
R&J Strategic Communications
ndoherty@randjsc.com
(908) 797-8117
CarePlus NJ, INC. is dedicated to excellence in mental healthcare and has a commitment to life-long support needed by individuals and their families to ensure that they achieve their full potential and improve the quality of their lives.
