Clinton Township Newsletter

1 6 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M p a r T n e r s h i p F o r h e a l T h m e n Ta l h e a l T h a C T i o n T e a m a n D a m e r i Ca ' s g r ow - a - r ow a r e s p o n s o r i n g T h i s " h u n T e r D o n h e a l T h y h a r v e s T ' ' e v e n T ! For the second summer in a row, the Hunterdon County Partnership for Health Mental Health Action Team is joining up with America's Grow-a-Row to sponsor two evening "Hunterdon Healthy Harvest'' events! You are invited to volunteer your time at this free event to pick fresh, healthy produce for those in need, meet other community members and learn about the emotional benefits of mindfulness and gratitude. America's Grow-a-Row is a local organization that grows and harvests farm fresh produce. 100% of the produce is donated to food pantries, soup kitchens, crisis centers, and food banks. Volunteering with America's Grow-a-Row is a fun, rewarding experience that directly impacts people struggling with food insecurity in our local communities. Did you miss the first one? Join us at America's Grow-a-Row on Thursday, September 15 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Registration is required. Visit: www.AmericasGrowaRow.org/events/community-harvest-events to register for this or any of their community harvest events! We hope to see you there! h u n T e r D o n m e D i C a l C e n T e r b e g i n s e x p a n s i o n o F e m e r g e n C y D e p a r T m e n T Hunterdon Health has begun construction to expand the Emergency Department at Hunterdon Medical Center. The expansion plan will create eight new flexible use rooms that can be used for both low acuity patients and for behavioral health patients for short or prolonged periods. Nationally, behavioral health cases in emergency departments are on the rise. One in eight visits to emergency departments is related to a mental health or substance abuse issue and 50% of frequent Emergency Department users have a mental health diagnosis. The increasing rate of Emergency Department visits by this population is due to several factors, including lack of alternative outpatient services, lack of insurance, and the crisis of drug overdosing. Also, facilities are seeing an increase in mental health problems as a result of the negative emotional and financial impacts of COVID-19. "Hunterdon Medical Center's Emergency Department now has twenty-two beds and our average patient volume is about 90 patients per day. When patients need to stay in the Emergency Department for an extended period, bed capacity is decreased, increasing wait times for other patients," explained Edward Spector, M.D., Medical Director, Hunterdon Medical Center's Emergency Department. By increasing the Emergency Department beds, more patients will be given private rooms. The new rooms are designed specifically for safety of behavioral health patients. This includes the ability to lock away any equipment that could be used for self-harm and using tamper and impact resistant materials in the room. Rooms will also be created so that staff have good visual contact with patients but also allow for privacy when appropriate. "By designing new rooms that can be used for psychiatric patients, we will be able to decrease wait times and improve the patient experience in the Emergency Department for everyone—especially those identified as behavioral health cases," said Dr. Spector. This project will be funded through philanthropic donations to Hunterdon Health Foundation and support from the State of New Jersey. The Emergency Department expansion is expected to be completed by the end of this year. C a s a s h a w s e e k s a D v o C a T e s Every year there are more than 100,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in NJ and more than 10,000 children are removed from their homes because the Court has found it to be too dangerous for them to remain in their homes. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) recruit, screen, train and supervise community volunteers to act as advocates in court for children living in foster care. CASA volunteers are appointed by a family court judge to discover the best possible outcome for an abused or neglected child's future as well as make recommendations that support the child's current needs. Volunteers receive support and supervision from a trained social worker throughout the duration of their cases. To find out more, visit: www. casashaw.org, call 908.689.5515, or email: info@casashaw.org. "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." ~ Malcolm Forbes

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