Protection & advocacy for individuals with mntl illness

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded Disability Rights New Jersey $1,019,704 on October 1, 2025, under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program (CFDA 93.138).

Disability Rights New Jersey, the designated state Protection and Advocacy system for New Jersey, delivers legal advocacy, investigative services, and rights protection for individuals with mental illness. Under this formula grant, the organization pursues administrative, legal, and other remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations affecting adults with significant mental illness and children with significant emotional impairment. Service priority extends to individuals at risk for abuse or civil rights violations while residing in care or treatment facilities, as well as individuals with serious mental illness living in community settings, including their own homes, as determined by state priorities and available resources.

The award funds performance through September 30, 2027, with place of performance in Trenton, New Jersey. Disability Rights New Jersey administers this funding as part of a broader portfolio of federal formula and project grants supporting its core Protection and Advocacy functions across multiple disability categories, including developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, assistive technology, and voting access programs.