Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Otsuka) has expanded its support of Mental Health America’s Community Impact Zone (CIZ) grant program to serve more communities across New Jersey. Recipients of this year’s grants are Angels in Motion (AIM) and Mental Health Association New Jersey Atlantic County (MHAAC), both in Atlantic County. Mental Health America’s risk assessment data shows that Atlantic County has one of the highest rates of residents screening at risk for mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation. The CIZ program provides multi-year financial support and technical assistance to local nonprofits that are developing programs to address mental health access gaps.

AIM will use the grant to expand operations of their Community Wellness Center in Pleasantville, NJ. The center is currently open five days a week, and with this grant, AIM plans to increase to seven days a week by August 2026. The Center is projected to serve at least 1,000 residents per year and will offer free, peer-led support services, basic needs assistance, transportation, and trauma-informed wellness activities. 

"Our Roots to Recovery initiative is so important because it increases access to support and wellness opportunities in a community that has long been underserved,” said Susan Long, Executive Director, Angels in Motion. “From weekend access to basic needs to wellness workshops and a healing garden, our goal is to create a welcoming space where everyone feels seen and supported. This grant funding helps fill a critical gap in local resources, making opportunities for services, connection, and healing more accessible for our neighbors." 

MHAAC, one of Mental Health America’s more than 130 affiliates across the country, will leverage the grant to launch Ambassadors 4 Mental Health Access (A4MHA), an innovative program to train community ambassadors – such as bodega owners and barbers – to recognize mental health warning signs and connect residents to support. Through this program, they plan to train eight to 12 ambassadors and reach 1,000 residents.

"This funding will allow MHAAC to recruit, train, and support a grassroots team of Mental Health Ambassadors who will engage underserved populations in Atlantic County,” said Victoria Phillips, Executive Director of MHAAC. “This initiative embodies our mission to collaborate with and support communities at the local level by equipping natural leaders with the skills and resources needed to assist their neighbors living with mental health conditions. By leveraging trusted community voices, the program aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and expand access to behavioral health services." 

The CIZ program, launched in 2024, builds on nearly two decades of collaboration between Otsuka and MHA. The inaugural grant recipients were the Young Audiences (YA) of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania and the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ). From support groups and resource assistance to healing-centered programming and classroom toolkits, MHANJ and YA provided services and support to over 4,100 individuals across New Jersey, with a focus on Burlington County and Trenton, over the past year. 

Learn more about our commitment to walk alongside our communities as allies and advocates to overcome barriers and increase access to care at www.otsuka-us.com/social-impact.