Trenton, NJ – On Friday, October 9, more than 500 people gathered at Mill Hill Park to celebrate the New Jersey Care Management Organizations’ 25th anniversary. NJCMO, a collective of 15 care management organizations, provides services statewide for children facing mental health challenges, substance use, behavioral health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2001, New Jersey families came together with a powerful vision: children with behavioral health challenges deserved coordinated, community-based services that would help them thrive at home, in school, and in their communities. What began then as a parent-led movement has grown into one of the nation’s most comprehensive Children’s Systems of Care (CSOC).

New Jersey’s CMOs serve more than 30,000 youth annually. The broader CSOC network reaches even more families through mobile response and stabilization services, family support organizations, treatment providers, and community partners.

“We were thrilled so many people turned out to celebrate our work and highlight the simple principle that children do best when families are supported and services are coordinated within their own communities,” said James Parauda, NJCMO Association President. “Rather than requiring families to navigate disconnected systems on their own, the system of care brings providers and partners together around the individual needs and strengths of each child and family.”

Beyond the numbers, CSOC has transformed how New Jersey supports children with complex needs. The family-driven approach emphasizes keeping youth safely at home while connecting them to treatment, education, peer support, and lasting community resources. Approximately 95% of children involved with CMOs now remain living at home.

The anniversary milestone and event celebrated more than the growth of a statewide network. It honored the parents whose advocacy sparked a transformation, the professionals and community partners who sustain it, and the countless families whose lives have been touched. And the foundation established 25 years ago remains remarkably relevant. Collaboration, family voice, community connection, and individualized care continue to guide the system forward.