Program to support uninsured and underinsured residents in Hunterdon County under the State Designation, and residents of eligible Rural Census Tracts (RCTs) in Burlington, Monmouth, and Ocean counties.

FREEHOLD, N.J. (August 27, 2026) — VNA Health Group’s Children & Family Health Institute (CFHI) is proud to announce the launch of MindCare Now, a new initiative designed to expand timely, accessible virtual mental and behavioral health services for uninsured and underinsured residents in Hunterdon County under the State Designation, and residents of eligible Rural Census Tracts (RCTs) in Burlington, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. The program is supported by a $271,617 grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Health’s Rural Health Transformation Program and is now enrolling eligible participants.

MindCare Now will provide CFHI clients with access to virtual behavioral health support through Talkspace, a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. CFHI clients in selected programs will have no-cost access to therapy sessions with licensed clinicians, ongoing secure messaging, and self-guided wellness and mental health resources. The initiative aims to expand access to behavioral health care for individuals and families who may otherwise face challenges accessing support.

As part of VNA Health Group, CFHI provides a wide range of safety-net programs that help improve the health and well-being of children and families across New Jersey. MindCare Now expands CFHI’s ongoing commitment to addressing both physical and behavioral health needs through accessible, community-centered care.

“Access to mental health care remains one of the most pressing challenges facing many individuals and families throughout New Jersey,” said Sahai Cole, Vice President of the Children & Family Health Institute.

“Through MindCare Now, we are expanding access to support in a way that is timely, flexible, and responsive to the unique needs of the communities we serve. Everyone deserves the opportunity to access compassionate mental health support without barriers standing in the way.

“This initiative will help connect individuals with care earlier, strengthen emotional well-being, and ensure more families can access support before challenges become more serious.”

MindCare Now will support adults and family members ages 18 and older of clients enrolled in several CFHI programs, including WIC, Nurse-Family Partnership, Healthy Families, Parents as Teachers, Early Intervention, HIV Case Management, and Monmouth ACTS ResourceConnect. Participants will be able to connect with licensed mental health professionals within days rather than waiting weeks or months for appointments. Culturally and linguistically responsive care options will be available to support the diverse communities CFHI serves.

The program is expected to serve at least 150 participants and is designed to help reduce barriers that often prevent individuals and families from accessing care, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, affordability concerns, and long wait times.

About Visiting Nurse Association Health Group

Founded over 110 years ago with a mission to care for the community, Visiting Nurse Association Health Group (VNA Health Group) empowers individuals and families to live their best lives by offering high-quality, compassionate home health, hospice, visiting physicians, palliative, and community-based care, private-pay personal care services, and primary care for medically underserved patients.

Today, VNA Health Group is a leading nonprofit provider of home and community-based health services in New Jersey. Its unique partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, and Visiting Physician Services. For more information, please visit https://vnahg.org/.

About the Children and Family Health Institute

As part of its comprehensive approach to community health, VNA Health Group operates the Children and Family Health Institute (CFHI), which serves more than 54,000 clients and families each year. The Institute delivers over 20 life-changing public health programs, including pediatric home care, early intervention, prenatal care, and primary care. CFHI provides the care and resources that children and families need to live healthier, happier lives. For more information, please visit https://vnahg.org/children-family-health-institute.

About Talkspace

Talkspace (NASDAQ: TALK) is a leading virtual behavioral healthcare provider committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives through access to high-quality mental healthcare. Talkspace pioneered the ability to text with a licensed therapist from anywhere and now offers a comprehensive suite of mental health services, including therapy for individuals, teens, and couples, as well as psychiatric treatment and medication management (18+).

With Talkspace's core therapy offerings, members are matched with one of thousands of licensed therapists within days and can engage in live video, audio, or chat sessions, and/or unlimited asynchronous text messaging sessions.

All care offered at Talkspace is delivered through an easy-to-use, fully-encrypted web and mobile platform that meets HIPAA, federal, and state regulatory requirements. Most Americans have access to Talkspace through their health insurance plans, employee assistance programs, our partnerships with leading healthcare companies, or as a free benefit through their employer, school, or government agency.

For more information, visit www.talkspace.com

Funding Acknowledgement

This publication is funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $147,250,805.85, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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