IFSS
The Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) Program, funded by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and available in all counties, is a range of supportive activities designed to improve the quality of life for families with a mentally ill relative. Family members and professionals work collaboratively to provide each family with the knowledge, skills and supports they identify as useful to the family’s overall functioning and sense of control. Families choose from an array of services that are most relevant to their circumstances and may change over time. Services are available to any family, free of charge and regardless of whether or not the ill family member is receiving mental health services.
Atlantic County
Mental Health Association in NJ, 4 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 8, Galloway NJ 08205
Program Coordinator: Gail Christian, BA, CRSP
Family Advocates: Catherine Chiola
Acute Care Family Support Specialist: Linda Bastedo, BSW
Phone Number: (609) 652-3800 ext 301
Bergen County
Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. (CBH Care), 395 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Program Coordinator: Lara Zucker Family Support Counselors: Jenna Garran, Alyssa Benzoni
Early Intervention Specialist (Acute Care): Scott Mahlstedt
Phone Number: (201) 646-0333
Burlington County
Catholic Charities – Diocese of Trenton, 25 Ikea Drive, Westampton, NJ 08060
Program Coordinator: Melanie Browndorf, MS, L.P.C.
Phone Number: (609) 571-5464
Family Support Counselor: Judy Yeboah, BS
Phone Number: (609) 571-5312
Camden County
Oaks Integrated Care, 19 E. Ormond Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Program Director: Jenea Dawkins MSW Program Supervisor: Andrea Crea LAMFT ([email protected])
Family Support Specialists: Lori Ray and Rachael Osei
Phone Number: 609-968-6182
Cape May County
Cape May County Services, 1129 Rt. 9 South, Cape May Courthouse, NJ 08210
Program Director: Kiersten Roseto, MA Phone Number: 844-422-3632 ex: 2037
Family Support Advocate: Bernadette Moore, CRSP Phone Number: 844-422-3632 ex: 2038
Cumberland County
Cumberland County Guidance Center, 2038 Carmel Road, PO Box 808, Millville, NJ 08332
Recovery Services Coordinator: Shawonne Patterson, MS, LSW (Ext-276)
Family Support Specialist: Honesty Barrickman (Ext-285) Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: (856) 825-6810
Fax: (856) 825-6342
Essex County
Mental Health Association of Essex County, 33 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042
Program Coordinator/Family Specialist: Renee Folzenlogen, MA, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC
Family Counselor: Genaya Palmer, MA, LAC
Acute Care Family Specialist: Melvern Bryan
PT Family Specialist: Andrea Marana LCSW
IFSS Phone Number: (973) 509-9777
Gloucester County
New Point Behavioral Health Care, Beacon Division, 200 Hollydell Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080
Program Director: Deborah Brown Program Coordinator: Marta Hess Family Specialist: Wendy Jones
Phone Number: (856) 848-8054
Hudson County
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, 249 Virginia Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Program Coordinator: Iskra Gomez
Phone Number: (201) 798-9925
Hunterdon County
Hunterdon Medical Center – Behavioral Health, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822
Program Coordinator: Angela Ciufo
Phone Number: 908-788-6401 x7071
Mercer County
Oaks Integrated Care, 1911 Princeton Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Program Director: Jenea Dawkins MSW Program Supervisor: Andrea Crea LAMFT ([email protected])
Family Support Specialists: Ethan Evans and Chelsea Kennedy
Phone Numbers: 609-968-6182
Middlesex County
Rutgers – University Behavioral Healthcare Middlesex County, 151 Centennial Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone Number: (732) 235-6184
Coping & Support Meeting (virtual)
Co-chaired with NAMI Middlesex, open to all families and friends of those with mental illness.
Evening Meetings – Thursdays Bi-weekly, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Register here | Download flyer
Monmouth County
Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, 119 Avenue at the Commons, Suite 5, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Program Coordinator: Dustin Knoblach, MSW, LSW
Phone Number: (732) 542-6422 Ext. 103
Monmouth Medical Center, 300 2nd Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740
Acute Care Family Support Specialist: Mark Dolak; Yolanda Bowers
Phone Number: (732) 923-6999
Morris County
St. Clare’s Hospital Behavioral Health Services, 50 Morris Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834
Program Coordinator: Rosaelena Klingener Family Counselor: Tammy Diloreto
Family Peer Counselor: Gail Schafran
Phone Number: (973) 625-7095
Ocean County
Ocean Mental Health Services, Inc., 1057 Route 9, Bayville, NJ 08721
Program Director: Mary Lough-Normile, LCSW
Phone Number: (732) 606-9573 Ext. 7012
Passaic County
Mental Health Association of Passaic County, 404 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011
Program Director: Erika Calvi, MA, LAC, NCC Family Support Specialist: Yazmin Amigon, BA
Phone Number: (973) 478-4444
Brochure | Family Circle Support Group | Family Group Flyer (Spanish)
Salem County
Healthcare Commons, 500 Pennsville-Auburn Road, Carney’s Point, NJ 08069
Program Director: Laura Taylor Family Support Services Specialist: Sherry Atkinson, MEC
Phone Number: (856) 299-3200
Somerset County
Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, 540 Rt. 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Family Support Specialist: Brian Rubinstein
Phone Number: (908) 722-1881
Sussex County
Cochran House, 83 Spring St., Ste. 302B, Newton, NJ
Family Specialist: Carrie Parmelee
Phone Number: 973-579-4399 Ext 402
Brochure | Support Group Flyer
Union County
Mental Health Association of New Jersey, 673 Morris Avenue, Suite 100, Springfield, NJ 07081
Program Director: Joyce Benz, LCSW, (908) 810-1001, ext. 118
Family Support Specialist: Parantap Pandya, MA, (908) 810-1001, ext. 122
For Urgent Matters: Agency Cell Phone # (908) 303-7314
Warren County
Family Guidance Center of Warren County, 492 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ 07882
Program Coordinator: Susan Whitehead, MS, LPC ([email protected])
Family Support Specialist: Julie Becker ([email protected])
Phone Number: (908) 689-1000 Ext. 73308 or 908-319-9518
Important IFSS Contacts:
Enza Balestrieri, DMHAS State IFSS Director
Phone: (609)-438-4300 Email: Enza.Balestrieri@dhs.
Jennifer Hughes, LCSW, NAMI NJ
Phone: (732)-940-0991 Email: [email protected]