The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), through its Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), has announced the availability of funding for its Community Psychiatry Residency Training Initiative. This initiative aims to address the growing shortage of psychiatrists in New Jersey by increasing the number of psychiatric residency positions across the state. Specifically, the program seeks to support 17 new residency positions beginning on July 1, 2025. Accredited adult psychiatry residency programs within New Jersey are invited to express their interest in participating through a formal Request for Letters of Interest (RLI). The RLI process begins on October 22, 2024, and submissions must be received by November 12, 2024.

The primary objective of this initiative is to expand psychiatric residency training capacity in New Jersey to help meet the state's mental health care needs. The initiative is backed by state funding, with a total of $7,572,000 allocated over four years to support the new residency slots and the necessary faculty to mentor and supervise these residents. Each residency program selected for funding will be responsible for providing a comprehensive four-year training program that emphasizes public and community psychiatry. The initiative includes rigorous oversight by DMHAS to ensure that the residency programs meet the initiative's standards, select qualified candidates, and provide residents with hands-on experience in public and community psychiatric settings.

Eligible applicants for this funding are New Jersey-based, fully accredited adult psychiatry residency programs. These programs must demonstrate their capability to accommodate the additional residency slots and provide the necessary supervision and mentorship through dedicated faculty. Given the emphasis on public and community psychiatry, programs should highlight their ability to provide residents with training experiences that focus on serving diverse, underserved, or high-need populations within the state.

The funding provided will cover the entirety of the residency period, beginning with the commencement of training on July 1, 2025, and concluding at the end of the four-year period on June 30, 2029. In addition to funding the new residency positions, the initiative will also provide financial support for faculty members who are responsible for supervising and mentoring the residents. This ensures a high-quality training environment that aligns with the program's objectives.

Interested residency programs must submit a Letter of Interest that adheres to the requirements outlined in the RLI. Letters must be received by DMHAS no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 12, 2024. The submission must be sent to Carol Pitonyak at the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Trenton, New Jersey. Those who submit a Letter of Interest will be notified of their status by November 18, 2024.

This opportunity represents a critical investment in the future of mental health care in New Jersey, aimed at bolstering the psychiatric workforce and ensuring access to psychiatric care for all residents, particularly in underserved areas.