A Division of Care Plus NJ

 

A Unique History

An Evolving Mission In 1945 The Montclair Guidance Center was founded to provide guidance and counseling for mothers and children of returning — and non-returning — service personnel at the end of World War II. Founded under the sponsorship of the Junior League, financial support from other sources grew and, by the late 50s, the center's reach extended to serve nine West Essex communities.

In 1965, the Boards of the Montclair Guidance Center and the Child Guidance Association of West Essex merged, and the name of the agency was changed to the Montclair-West Essex Guidance Center. Montclair joined the other municipalities of West Essex in supporting the Center. With the addition of Glen Ridge in 1971, the agency's service area extended to eleven municipalities, fifty-four square miles, and 155,000 residents.

While continuing its focus on the special needs of children, the Center expanded its services in the early 70s to include low-cost psychiatric treatment for adults. Our growing outreach continued in the mid to late 70s, including transitional outpatient, case management, and liaison services for patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals.

The decade of the 80s brought about a further re-evaluation of the Center's mission in an effort to define our unique position among a myriad of social service agencies that have sprung up to meet the complex human needs of life in today's world. As part of redefining our course for the future, the agency's name was changed to the Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC).

The nineties showed continued promise and progress. Under agreement with the County of Essex and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the MHRC began offering housing services to persons with HIV+ diagnoses. The Center has also become the convening agency for the New Jersey Youth Incentive Program of Essex County which develops services that are individualized to maintain youth in the community. Special events like the Hemmeter Lecture and the Run for Mental Health were also established in this decade.

As our cultures and the communities we serve have undergone transition over the past 55 years, the Center continued to reach out with quality services to answer the complex needs of our evolving population. While we continue to face financial challenges and search new sources for funding, the Center celebrates its unique heritage as we enter the century with great promise in providing the people of Essex County quality psychiatric services.

Outreach
The Mental Health Resource Center provides services to help meet the demands of daily life and to develop and maintain emotional health. The Center's goals are to:

• Provide early intervention for people in emotional distress
• Ease the painful effects of mental and emotional illness
• Disseminate information relating to mental health issues to the public, community institutions and other professionals

Outpatient Services
The Mental Health Resource Center provides outpatient treatment for children and adults with mental, emotional and behavioral problems.

Our Professional Staff
provides a variety of therapeutic methods, including:

• Individual Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Couple Therapy
• Stress Management
• Follow-up to Psychiatric Hospitalization
• Medication Administration & Monitoring

Consultation & Education Services
The Mental Health Resource Center's Consultation and Education Service strives to improve the public's awareness of mental health issues. We work in conjunction with schools, police departments, community groups and other agencies to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the recognition of and response to mental health problems.