Funded By Walmart and the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, Grants support Local Initiatives to Improve Mental Health and Reduce Stigma 

TRENTON, New Jersey — The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute’s Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) has awarded $85,000 in grants to nine New Jersey communities to advance local initiatives that support mental health, reduce stigma, and promote wellness. The MWC is a partnership between the Quality Institute and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. 

This year’s award supports programs addressing mental health and stigma, with several also focusing on substance use, suicide prevention, and intimate partner violence. The funded towns represent communities of all sizes and regions across the state with three each in North, Central and South Jersey. The grants are funded by Walmart and the Quality Institute. “We are grateful to Walmart for continuing to support this important work,” said Linda Schwimmer, President and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. “These communities are leading the way in creating safe, supportive environments where residents can access mental health resources and reduce stigma around seeking help.” 

Walmart has funded the initiative since 2023.  

“At Walmart, we are committed to investing in community well-being,” said Jennifer Hoehn, Director of Public Affairs for Walmart. “By supporting initiatives that address mental health education, prevention, and access to care, we are helping communities across New Jersey build stronger foundations for long-term wellness.” 

The nine awarded municipalities and their projects include: 

• Atlantic City (Atlantic County): CROWNED: Empowerment for Young Women of Color – A mentoring and mental health program for Black and Latina girls that combines peer connection, creative self-expression, and resilience-building workshops to foster confidence, coping skills, and belonging. 

• Borough of Freehold (Monmouth County): Addressing Anti-Mental Health Stigma in the Spanish-Speaking Community – A bilingual outreach and referral program for Latino residents led by a community health worker to connect families with culturally appropriate mental health resources. 

• City of Englewood (Bergen County): Community Mental Health First Aid and Peer Support Groups – Serving bilingual working-age adults, the program trains residents as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors (including Spanish-speaking trainers) and hosts monthly peer-led support groups to reduce isolation and improve coping skills. 

• City of Plainfield (Union County): Movimiento y Mente (Movement & Mind) – A bilingual, culture-based wellness program engaging Black and Latino adults and families through dance, storytelling, and creative expression to promote mental health and reduce stigma. 

• Jersey City (Hudson County): Let’s Do Better for a HealthierJC – A multilingual public awareness campaign reaching immigrant and multilingual residents to address mental health, stigma, and intimate partner violence through social media, community kiosks, and clergy partnerships. 

• Montgomery Township (Somerset County): Hope Squad Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Program – Implementation of a nationally recognized, evidence-based initiative that trains students to spot warning signs and connect classmates to trusted adults, fostering a more supportive and stigma-free school culture. 

• Township of Nutley (Essex County): Employee and Community Wellness Program – A community-wide initiative providing mental health wellness kits and educational workshops on stigma, substance use, and trauma-informed care. The program also deploys a certified Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) member to support survivors of intimate partner violence through crisis response and connection to services. 

• Township of West Orange (Essex County): Senior Mental Health Support Program (Year 2 Expansion) – Expanding programming for older adults with new creative wellness offerings, additional peer support groups, and a community senior wellness event in partnership with Mental Health Association of NJ and Zufall Health, a community mental health center. 

• Township of Woodbridge (Middlesex County): Pathways to Wellness Program – Serving youth, adults, and older adults, the program partners the Health Department with the Police Department’s Arrive Together team to distribute age-appropriate Mental Wellness Kits during or after mental health–related encounters. The kits include self-care tools, local resource guides, and 24/7 peer support information to promote coping skills, reduce stigma, and strengthen community trust between residents, law enforcement, and mental health professionals. 

This year, the Quality Institute received 56 applications totaling $727,010 in requests, an overwhelming response to the application announcement in August. With so many deserving towns and impressive applications, the Quality Institute continues to seek matching funding and plans to announce further grant awards as available. Organizations or foundations interested in supporting this important locally focused work should contact Julie DeSimone at  jdesimone@njhcqi.org.  

Applications were reviewed by a selection committee including Julie DeSimone, Katie Bisaha, and Kristy Li, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute; Setu Patel, Pharm D., and Kathy Donelson, Regional Health & Wellness People Partner for Walmart; and Jaime Angelini, Mental Health Association in New Jersey. 

About the Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) 

The MWC is a statewide community health initiative of the Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The MWC provides tools, strategies, and guidance to community leaders to help improve the health and wellness of their communities and make New Jersey towns healthier places to live, work, play and age. Since 2006, the MWC has grown to include over 430 participating communities with more joining each year. 

About the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute 

The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, quality, and affordability of health care. Since 1997, we have led statewide efforts to transform health care by bringing together our diverse members — including health systems, insurers, providers, consumer groups, and employers — to find solutions grounded in evidence and collaboration. 

Our work spans policy development, quality improvement, and community health initiatives that advance evidence-based policies and champion best practices. Our Mayors Wellness Campaign drives community health and wellness in partnership with 400 New Jersey mayors. www.njhcqi.org | LinkedIn | Facebook| Instagram |  

About Walmart in New Jersey 

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. In New Jersey we serve customers at 70 retail units and online through http://Walmart.com and our family of brands. We are proud to employ more than 25,000 associates in New Jersey. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $15.5 billion with New Jersey suppliers in FYE25 and supporting more than 112,000 supplier jobs in the state. Walmart continues to be a leader in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. In FY24, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $10.8 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in New Jersey. Additional information about Walmart can be found at http://corporate.walmart.com/. 

About the New Jersey State League of Municipalities  

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities is a non-partisan, non-profit voluntary association, founded in 1915, to further enhance the ability of New Jersey’s municipal governments to represent their constituents.