By: Katie Kena, MSW, LCSW, Senior Director, Integrity House

Integrity House was recently recognized as an NJBIZ Health Care Hero in the Ambulatory Health Care category. While we are proud of the recognition, what matters most to me is what it represents: years of learning, alongside the people we serve, what it actually takes to help someone stay connected to care.

Because staying connected is harder than it looks from the outside.

In my experience, disengagement rarely announces itself. It tends to arrive quietly. A missed appointment becomes two. Someone who was present and engaged last week seems unfocused and somewhere else this week. Their participation in group sessions becomes more tentative. These moments are easy to write off as lack of motivation or readiness. But after years in this field I have come to see them differently. They are clinical signals. And if the model around someone is not designed to notice them early, by the time they stop showing up it is too late.

Research on treatment engagement consistently identifies poor therapeutic alliance, mistrust of the system, and limited insight into the need for treatment as primary drivers of early dropout. For people managing co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions, those dynamics are compounded by everything else they are carrying. A housing situation that has become unstable. A physical health issue that has gone unaddressed. The weight of justice involvement, financial stress, or the absence of anyone reliable to lean on. Research shows that these pressures can disrupt treatment engagement and worsen outcomes in ways that are often invisible until someone has already stepped away from care.

What I have learned is that you cannot wait for those pressures to surface as a crisis. The support has to already be in place.

That is the care model we have built at Integrity House. Clinical care that includes psychiatric services, medication-assisted treatment, nurse care management, housing stabilization support, and physical health screening under one coordinated system. Evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Contingency Management, and trauma-informed care, delivered by a team that is close enough to someone’s full situation to notice when something is shifting. For individuals where gambling disorder is part of the picture alongside substance use and mental health needs, screening and treatment are already embedded rather than treated as a separate issue to address somewhere else.

The integration matters because the signals of disengagement rarely arrive in isolation. When a housing situation destabilizes, the case manager is already part of the treatment team. When a physical health issue surfaces, medical providers are already a part of the conversation. When participation starts to change, there is someone already close enough to notice and respond.

Among clients admitted to Integrity House’s outpatient program between July and October 2025, 98% remained in treatment at 30 days, 94% at 90 days and 89% at 180 days demonstrating what is possible when a model is designed to support the full complexity and scope of what someone is managing. 

For organizations seeking support for individuals with complex behavioral health needs, the critical question is no longer what services are available, but whether the provider’s model is equipped to recognize and respond when someone starts to pull away. The programs making the greatest difference are the ones identifying warning signs early, before disengagement turns into crisis. 

Katie Kena, MSW, LCSW, is Senior Director at Integrity House, where she oversees the Integrity Certified Behavioral Health Clinic. A licensed clinical social worker with certifications in EMDR, DBT, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, she serves as an Advisory Board Member for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s CCBHC-Expansion Grantee National Training and Technical Assistance Center.

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Clinical work teaches you a great deal about treatment. Prevention and outreach work teach you why so many people never reach it in the first place. 

Earlier in my career, much of my work happened inside treatment settings. As a clinician, you primarily work with people who have  been able to access care. Outreach work exposes you to the much larger group of people who do not, not because they do not want help, but because the system doesn’t reflect the realities people are navigating every day. National Prevention Week is a chance to look honestly at who we are reaching, who we are missing, and what needs to change so more people have a real path to care.

That gap between who needs care and who receives it is something I see reflected in the data as much as in the work we do every day. According to SAMHSA’s most recent national survey, 80% of people who needed treatment for a substance use disorder in 2024 did not receive it. That number does not reflect a shortage of people who want to get better. It reflects a shortage of low-barrier pathways to support. The barriers driving that gap include stigma, cost, perceived lack of need, and limited availability of specialized services. These are not clinical failures. They are structural ones, and they demand a structural response.

Effective prevention does not begin at a clinic intake desk. It begins earlier, in a neighborhood, in a conversation, in a moment of trust between a person in need and someone willing to show up without conditions or judgment. It is built through relationships, sustained presence, and a willingness to go where people are rather than waiting for them to find their way to you. 

What makes prevention work is not any single program or intervention. It is a network of care that can meet someone before a crisis develops, during a moment of acute need, and in all the spaces in between, across a range of circumstances and levels of readiness.

That infrastructure is what Integrity House has built, and it is what our community-based programs reflect in practice. Our Mobile Community Care program goes directly into Newark neighborhoods three days a week, bringing health screenings, medications for substance use disorder, risk reduction education, peer support, and case management to people who may not be ready or able to walk into a facility. Our Integrity Wellness Center meets people at a different point in that continuum, providing walk-in access to risk reduction supplies, health education and services, mental health support, peer support, and direct linkage to treatment, positioned directly across from our Certified Behavioral Health Clinic so that the distance between initial contact and comprehensive care is as short as possible. Our Community Health Hub, a health services kiosk developed in partnership with University Hospital and supported by the New Jersey Department of Health, reaches people at yet another point of entry, bringing prevention resources and connections directly outside the emergency department entrance where people are already showing up in moments of need. Together these programs do not operate as separate services. They function as a connected system designed to reach people where they are, no matter what they are facing or how they arrive.

No single organization can build an effective prevention system alone. The system depends on strong partnerships across healthcare, public health, social services organizations, and treatment providers. Cross-sector collaboration is what makes community-based prevention function at scale, and it deserves the same sustained investment as the clinical services it connects people to.

People are already showing us what works when care meets them where they are. The challenge now is whether we are willing to build systems around what we already know works. 

Robin Shorter, LCADC, CPRS, is Senior Director of Community Engagement at Integrity House, where she oversees all prevention programs and community-based outreach initiatives. She holds a Master’s Degree in Addictions Counseling and has been a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 2013. With more than two decades of experience in the behavioral health field, Robin brings both clinical expertise and deep personal commitment to expanding access to care for the communities Integrity House serves.

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Integrity House is proud to announce that Eman Gibson, LCSW, LCADC, Chief Clinical Officer, has been named to ROI-NJ’s 2026 Women Influencers in Business list, a special edition honoring more than 300 women leaders whose vision, leadership, and commitment have meaningfully shaped New Jersey’s business and civic landscape.

As Chief Clinical Officer at Integrity House, Eman oversees clinical operations at one of New Jersey’s largest providers of substance use disorder and mental health services, guiding the delivery of whole-person, evidence-based care across the organization’s full continuum of services. She also serves as an at-large director on the board of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, where she contributes to advancing behavioral health policy and practice on a national scale.

ROI-NJ’s 2026 Women Influencers in Business list spotlights women from across industries and sectors whose professional achievements, community contributions, and mentorship have strengthened New Jersey’s economy and social fabric. Eman’s recognition reflects both her clinical leadership and the broader role Integrity House plays in shaping the future of behavioral health care in New Jersey and beyond.

“Eman’s leadership embodies the compassion, clinical excellence, and steady dedication that define Integrity House,” said Robert J. Budsock, President and CEO of Integrity House. “Her work ensures that every client who walks through our doors receives the whole-person care they deserve, and her voice on the national stage helps elevate the conversation around mental wellbeing and recovery. This recognition is well earned.”

Integrity House congratulates Eman Gibson and all of the leaders honored in this year’s edition, and extends thanks to ROI-NJ for spotlighting the women whose work continues to move New Jersey forward.

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Truddy Gierbolini, CADC, Associate Director at Integrity House, has been named the recipient of the Outstanding Peer Leader Award by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA). The honor was presented April 14 at NJAMHAA’s Diamond Courage & Compassion Awards ceremony, held during the organization’s Spring Conference at the APA Hotel Woodbridge in Iselin, N.J.

The Outstanding Peer Leader Award recognizes individuals in the behavioral health field whose lived experience in recovery has shaped an exceptional commitment to serving others. For Truddy, that commitment has been built over nearly a decade at Integrity House, where her journey began not as a staff member, but as a client seeking treatment

Truddy entered Integrity House’s residential program in 2016. After completing the continuum of care, she joined the organization’s staff in 2019 and moved into a counseling role within a year. She now serves as Associate Director of Integrity House’s largest residential facility, overseeing care for 152 clients. She also works as a Recovery Support Specialist and is actively pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Substance Use Studies, having earned an Associate’s Degree in Public Policy and completed the 46-hour Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training.

“Truddy’s impact on our clients and our organization goes far beyond her clinical role,” said Eman Gibson, MBA, LCSW, LCADC, Chief Clinical Officer at Integrity House. “She shows up every day with the kind of empathy and accountability that can only come from lived experience, and she leads our team with the same honesty she applies to her own recovery. By doing that, she provides the most essential element of recovery: hope.”

Truddy is known throughout Integrity House for openly sharing her story, actively participating in the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship and cultivating a culture where people feel accepted, supported and capable of change. She approaches recovery as a holistic process and has made it her mission to help clients find their own pathway to wellness.

“Truddy’s path from client to associate director is a testament to what compassionate, whole-person care makes possible,” said Robert Budsock, President and CEO of Integrity House. “She is an asset to Integrity House and a model for the entire field. This recognition is a reflection of the extraordinary dedication she brings to our clients and our mission every single day.”

At Integrity House, peer leadership is central to how we deliver care. Across residential and outpatient programs, recovery support services, and community outreach initiatives, individuals with lived experience play an active role in supporting thousands of New Jersey residents each year.

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New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Dr. Stephen Cha visited Integrity House in Newark on March 31, marking his first visit to a treatment provider since taking office. He was joined by Deputy Commissioner for Health Services Valerie Mielke.

During the visit, Commissioner Cha and Deputy Commissioner Mielke toured several of Integrity House’s programs, including its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Mobile Community Care vehicle, and Wellness Center. Together, these programs reflect the organization’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder care in the community.

They also met with program leaders and clients from Integrity House’s Pregnant and Postpartum Women’s (PPW) Residential Treatment program, gaining a closer look at how the organization supports women and families during critical moments in recovery.

Throughout the visit, Commissioner Cha and Deputy Commissioner Mielke engaged directly with clients, hearing firsthand how access to care has supported their recovery and stability. The conversations highlighted the real-world impact of these services, particularly as providers prepare for potential federal Medicaid funding changes.

Through the visit, Integrity House shared perspectives on the challenges clients may face under proposed federal Medicaid cuts, including barriers related to work requirements and maintaining continuous coverage. The discussion reinforced the importance of strong collaboration between government and community-based providers to ensure continued access to care.

“Commissioner Cha and Deputy Commissioner Mielke’s visit speaks to the critical role that organizations like Integrity House play in the health and well-being of New Jersey communities,” said Robert Budsock, President and CEO of Integrity House. “As our state prepares to navigate significant federal funding challenges, visits like this one remind us that the strongest solutions come from government and community providers working together toward the same goal.”

Integrity House remains committed to advocating for sustained investment in community-based behavioral health care and to working alongside state partners to ensure these services remain accessible to every New Jerseyan who needs them.

Click here to view photos of the visit.

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Integrity House has launched a new Community Health Hub at University Hospital in Newark, further expanding the organization’s community wellness and risk reduction initiatives across the state.

Located outside the Emergency Department at University Hospital, 150 Bergen Street, the kiosk provides immediate, confidential access to essential supplies, including naloxone (Narcan), adulterant test strips, menstrual kits, personal hygiene kits, safer sex kits, wound care kits, pregnancy tests, and at-home HIV test kits.

University Hospital is often a first point of contact for individuals experiencing a substance use–related crisis or other urgent health concerns. By positioning the Community Health Hub at this critical access point, Integrity House is helping ensure that individuals and families can obtain prevention supplies and connect to additional services without barriers or delays.

“This launch reflects what can be achieved when healthcare and community partners focus on practical solutions that expand access and improve connections to care,” said Dr. Lois V. Greene, Senior Vice President of Wellness & Population Health at University Hospital. “The kiosk helps people find services more easily, supports earlier intervention, and strengthens our shared commitment to better health outcomes.”

“University Hospital is a vital community resource and often a first point of contact for someone in crisis,” said Naima Briscoe, Senior Director of Development and Strategy at Integrity House. “Through this partnership, we are extending support beyond the Emergency Department by providing immediate access to risk reduction and wellness resources. The Community Health Hub strengthens the connection between hospital-based care and ongoing community services, ensuring that residents have multiple entry points to support.”

The Community Health Hub reflects Integrity House’s broader commitment to expanding low-barrier, community-based care. In addition to residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment, the organization provides mental health services, physical health services, supportive housing, and outreach and prevention programs across New Jersey.

By integrating risk reduction and recovery-oriented treatment, Integrity House continues to build a coordinated system of care that supports long-term health and wellness for individuals and families statewide.

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Integrity House is proud to welcome Deon A. Feliz, MBA, to its Board of Trustees, where she will serve a three-year term and help guide the organization’s strategic direction as it continues to expand access to coordinated, evidence-based substance use and mental health care across New Jersey.

Deon brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, with a strong focus on behavioral health integration, managed care, and large-scale healthcare transformation. She currently serves as Director of Implementation & Sourcing at NovaOne, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives that support coordinated, evidence-based behavioral healthcare and improve access to services and outcomes for individuals and families. 

Previously, Deon held leadership roles at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, where she supported behavioral health system design, subsidiary launch efforts, and major operational initiatives aimed at strengthening care delivery.

In addition to her professional background, Deon is deeply committed to community service and governance. She serves on the Board of Elders at Light of the World Family Worship Church and actively volunteers with organizations focused on housing stability, youth services, workforce development, and reentry support.

“Deon’s expertise in behavioral health integration and healthcare operations will be a valuable asset to Integrity House as we continue to grow and strengthen our system of care,” said Nikolas D. Carros, DSW, LCSW, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. “Her leadership and perspective will support our ongoing efforts to improve access and outcomes for the individuals and families we serve.”

Deon holds an MBA in Management from St. Peter’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Administration and Recreation from Kean University.

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The Integrity Creative Arts Initiative (CAI) is proud to release Migrations: the Artistic and Literary Journal of Integrity House, Volume 2. 

This year’s journal documents CAI’s expansion in several areas:

• The opening pages contain original prose and poetry completed by participants during a series of creative writing workshops hosted by various professional authors. 
• This is followed by a section dedicated to client photography and cyanotype printing. Through a collaboration with Project for Empty Space, clients had the opportunity to attend cyanotype printing workshops with local cyanotype artists Lisa Conrad and Delia Hernandez. 
• The portion of the journal dedicated to visual art (i.e., painting and illustration) details a new emphasis on art education, beginning with client artwork inspired by Keith Haring, Aaron Douglas, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and concluding with descriptions of neurographing, landscape, perspective art, and wood-painting workshops. 
• The final section of the journal, titled “Made in Brick City,” proudly highlights several CAI participants who were born and raised in Newark and whose artwork is influenced by their hometown. 

Piloted in 2023 as a small book club in one of Integrity House’s Newark-based residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, CAI formally launched with the support of the Healthcare Foundation of NJ in 2024. CAI draws on the arts and bibliotherapy to

 complement and enhance clinical services and support clients on their recovery journey. To date:

• 93% of clients reported stability or improvement in feelings of companionship.
• 74% of clients reported stability or reduction in feelings of loneliness.
• 77% of clients reported stability or reduction in feelings of depression.
• 73% of clients reported stability or improvement in cognitive and affective mindfulness.

View full journal here.

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Integrity House has been recognized as one of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers by Newsweek  for the second consecutive year, securing a top five ranking in New Jersey for 2025.

Newsweek partnered with Statista for the sixth year to rank America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers. The 2025 list honors 420 facilities in the 25 states with the most centers, based on surveys of medical professionals, SAMHSA accreditation and service data, Google reviews, and a new measure for recovery support and education services. This year’s rankings placed greater weight on accreditation and recognized new accreditations, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, SAMHSA certification for opioid treatment programs, and DEA authorization. View the full list here.

“Earning a place among New Jersey’s top addiction treatment providers for the second consecutive year is an honor that reflects the strength of our programs and the unwavering commitment of our staff,” said Robert Budsock, President & CEO of Integrity House. “At Integrity House, we remain dedicated to delivering the highest quality care to support recovery and improve lives across the state.”

Founded in 1968, Integrity House is one of New Jersey’s oldest nonprofit providers of comprehensive substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, and recovery support. Through 16 CARF-accredited and licensed residential and outpatient treatment programs as well as a wide range of support services, Integrity House helps individuals achieve lasting recovery. Each year, the organization serves more than 3,000 people across treatment programs in Kearny, Newark, Secaucus, Toms River, Morris Plains, and Paramus, remaining true to its mission of helping individuals, families and communities build healthy, fulfilling lives.

Integrity House offers a broad range of services including inpatient, residential, and outpatient addiction treatment; outpatient mental health services; primary care; gambling addiction services; supportive housing and housing supports initiatives; outreach and prevention programs; and harm reduction and recovery services. The organization is committed to serving community members who often face barriers to care, including individuals experiencing homelessness, those involved with the criminal justice system, and individuals experiencing multiple, complex diagnoses.

No matter what obstacles an individual has encountered before arriving, Integrity House provides comprehensive, compassionate care delivered by experienced addiction specialists, healthcare providers, and mental health professionals.

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The New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (NJ DMHAS) and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have awarded Integrity House funding to expand housing support services for individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health crises, and housing instability. These new initiatives will strengthen Integrity House’s ability to connect vulnerable populations with stable housing and crucial recovery resources.

Funded with support from the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Integrity House has established the Shelter to Home Program, an initiative that entails the provision of case management and supportive services to individuals experiencing substance use disorders who are temporarily residing at DMHAS-funded shelters across several counties. Integrity House case managers provide in-community, housing-specific case management services to transition individuals from temporary housing to long-term, affordable housing and work with participants to develop personalized, time-bound recovery plans that include linkage to substance use treatment, health care, legal services, education, job training and other critical resources.

Separately, thanks to a NJ Housing Supports Provider Readiness Program (HSPRP) grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Integrity House launched the Housing Supports program. Through this initiative, Integrity House works with all NJ Managed Care Organizations, including Aetna, Fidelis, Horizon Blue Cross, United Healthcare and Wellpoint, to deliver pre-tenancy and tenancy case management services to assist NJ FamilyCare members in finding and maintaining stable affordable housing. These services include individualized support such as housing planning, application assistance, landlord mediation, lease renewals, and referrals to financial, legal, and employment resources.

“Housing is an essential component of long-term recovery from substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and chronic physical health conditions,” said Robert Budsock, President and CEO of Integrity House. “By expanding our presence in shelters and strengthening our housing support services, we’re creating pathways to stability and improved well-being. We’re grateful to DMHAS and DCA for their continued partnership in creating healthier communities.”

Together, these programs reflect Integrity House’s commitment to addressing the intersection of housing and behavioral health. By providing wraparound support and working closely with state partners, Integrity House is helping individuals move beyond crisis toward stability, independence, and recovery. For more information on the Shelter to Home program, contact Director of Supportive Housing Noel Vargas at noel_vargas@integrityhouse.org. For more information on the Housing Supports program, email HousingSupport@integrityhouse.org.

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