ACTs in Action

FREEHOLD, NJ – Winter 2021 brought some seriously cold days that turned into bitterly cold nights. While most people were hunkered down safe and warm in their homes, there were others in the community who were not as fortunate. However, no one was turned away from much-needed shelter this past winter season through the collaborative efforts of Monmouth County Office of OEM, MCDSS, the Homeless Systems Collaborative, the Office of Planning and Contracting, Monmouth ACTS and various other community agencies. One place that was instrumental in housing the homeless during any “Code Blue” weather was Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red…

FREEHOLD, NJ – Flashback to March 2020 when a full shutdown was mandated due to the pandemic. LADACIN Network’s Give and Take Childcare was scrambling to figure out how its teaching staff could continue to support families even though they could no longer be together physically. The nonprofit provides support and services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities, in addition to an integrated child care center which serves typically developing children and children with special needs.  Due to decreased enrollment and COVID related costs, revenues were impacted and staff retention was paramount in order to re-open.  LADACIN’s Executive…

FREEHOLD, NJ - Thought-provoking discussions about racial justice and inequity are taking place around the nation, and here in Monmouth County. Monmouth ACTS recently formed a racial equity ad hoc committee tasked with defining how each of its working groups, or Hubs, look at racial equity in the human services provided to Monmouth County residents. Case in point: the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Hub tackled the difficult conversation, and how they could specifically address issues of racial justice for their population of young children. These discussions sparked an idea to host a youth-led, youth-run virtual town hall event for young…

Hiral Patel and Alicia Maresco of Bayshore Family Success Center in Middletown accept donations of diapers and wipes for Monmouth County mothers in need from Lisa Auletta of the RAINE Foundation. FREEHOLD, NJ – The ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been varied and far-reaching – and distress is not always related to health concerns. Monmouth County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley recently learned of an unforeseen need amongst the County’s expectant and parenting mothers. On a call for Monmouth ACTS’ Early Childhood Success Hub, Kiley was surprised to learn from leaders of various service organizations that mothers…

FREEHOLD, NJ – As the opioid crisis rages across the country, services are strained more than ever due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But thanks to the connections of Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services), one grant led to three new programs – and room to grow even further. When the Monmouth County Division of Behavioral Health was offered the chance to submit an innovative grant proposal to the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services addressing the opioid epidemic, Division Director Desiree Whyte knew the opportunity would be the perfect project to bring to Monmouth ACTS’ Behavioral…

Mentors and mentees connected though Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern NJ (BBBSCNNJ). FREEHOLD, NJ – When the COVID-19 pandemic struck New Jersey, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern NJ (BBBSCNNJ)  suddenly had to plan for ways to provide services to families and kids in an increasingly virtual world. BBBSCNNJ Program Manager Brendan Ward acted by tapping into the Monmouth ACTS network. BBBSCNNJ provides a community-based program that features 1:1 mentoring for youth ages 6-15, as well as workplace, college and school-based mentoring programs for students up to age 18. Kids are matched with members of…