HFNJ Bolsters Newark Hospitals and Behavioral Health with Grants in Fourth Quarter of 2025

A $621,132 grant to Newark’s University Hospital – the only public hospital in the state of New Jersey – will support a major renovation of clinical care spaces for the hospital’s liver center. The renovation will bring all aspects of hepatology and liver transplantation into one large, modern space, leading to an improved patient experience and better outcomes. University Hospital was the first hospital in New Jersey to offer liver transplantation, and it remains a regional hub for the procedure, with 75 patients in care currently awaiting transplantation.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center will receive $578,100 to support a project to help the hospital achieve designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) by 2028. CSC’s are able to treat more complex stroke cases, and result in reduced mortality, decreased disability, and improved functional independence for patients. As Newark residents present with much higher levels of stroke risk factors such as hypertension than the population at large, improving Newark Beth Israel’s ability to treat the most complex stroke cases in-house was identified by the hospital as an urgent need.

“The city of Newark is home to several world-class hospitals, and we are proud to continue our history of providing crucial support to these institutions,” said Michael Schmidt, Executive Director and CEO of The Healthcare Foundation of NJ. “Hospitals are anchor institutions for the delivery of healthcare in their neighborhoods, and by strengthening hospitals, we are ensuring the continued delivery of quality healthcare for all communities throughout Newark.”

Grants to address behavioral health needs in the community constitute the majority of the other grants awarded by HFNJ this quarter.

A $180,563 grant will spark an innovative partnership between Seton Hall University College of Nursing and NJCRI. This project will bring a full-time nurse practitioner to serve as a preceptor for up to six psychiatric nurse students each year. The preceptor/clinician will also have a caseload of at least 150 patients each year. Through this partnership the students will learn to treat the complex needs of the patient population served by NJCRI, including the homeless, those with substance use disorders, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Brothers Building a Better Nation will receive $95,000 to support the expansion of their Intensive In Community Therapy Program. Uniquely focused on the therapeutic needs of boys and young men in Newark’s Lower Broadway neighborhood, this program will provide trauma-informed, Medicaid-reimbursable mental health services to 100 youth and their families.

Turning Point Community Services (TPCS) will receive $150,000 to support a second year of its Clinical and Supportive Services Program. Based at TPCS’s shelter for women and families in Irvington, NJ, this program empowers mother-led families through mental health care, case management, and life skills training to promote stability and independence.

Other grants awarded this quarter will support a myriad of healthcare needs.

Montclair Ambulance Unit will receive a $190,000 capital grant to support the addition of a new ambulance to its fleet, by remounting a patient compartment of an ambulance that was taken out of service onto a new truck chassis. The refurbished ambulance will allow the Unit to adhere to a regular maintenance schedule, add to their coverage area, and ultimately increase ambulance response times.

Jewish Vocational Service of Metrowest will receive $175,000 to support a second year of a healthcare workforce training initiative. Students will receive certified job skills training courses to become pharmacy technicians, home health aides, and certified nursing assistants. This grant will add the development and recruitment of a new certified EKG/phlebotomist training track.

The full list of the grants awarded in the fourth quarter of 2025 is as follows: