Interview: Steve Margeotes of Main St. Counseling

Q) What is the mission and history of Main St. Counseling?

A) Main St. Counseling was founded in 1980 by me and Clinical Director Mary P. Duguid. Our mission has been to deliver accessible and affordable mental health care to low-income residents of greater Essex County.

Q) What services do you offer to the community today?

A) We provide mental health prevention and intervention care via seminars, individual, group, family, and couples therapy, plus short-term treatment, medication prescriptions, and medication monitoring. Our population ranges from preschool and school-age children to young adults, families, and seniors. Over 90% are on Medicaid, and our facilities are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Q) HFNJ has been a long-time supporter of Main St. Counseling. What has been the size of our investment over the years?

A) Main St. Counseling has received 25 grants from HFNJ since 2002, totaling $2,636,705. The support over the past two decades has been quite impactful in making us a viable alternative in the community for accessible mental health care.

The significant credibility of The Healthcare Foundation’s investment has not only bolstered our reputation but has also paved the way for additional grants from other foundations and government sources.

Q) How has this long-term investment from HFNJ shaped your organization?

A) Our growth has soared from an annual budget of a few hundred thousand to a current budget of more than $3 million. This increase has allowed us to significantly enhance our staff, the number of clients we serve, and the size of our physical facilities, all contributing to the betterment of our community.

As Main St.’s reputation in the community has grown, our wait list for services grows, as there is an enormous unmet need in the community for quality, affordable mental health services.  HFNJ’s investment helps us meet more of this urgent community need.

Q) Our trustees prize collaboration and dialogue with grantees. Can you think of any ways in which Main St. modified or changed its programming based on dialogues with HFNJ?

A) HFNJ has encouraged us to partner with the community, and we have taken those suggestions seriously. With the invaluable support of the foundation’s senior staff, we have successfully collaborated with organizations such as the YMCA, Newark Public Schools, Orange Preschools, and West Orange senior centers. These partnerships enable us to extend our care across Essex County, complementing the services we offer at our two West Orange locations.

Q) What are your big-picture goals for Main St. Counseling’s growth in the years ahead?

A) We will maintain this level of growth for years to come with successors who have already been selected internally. Our vision and leadership often go unnoticed, but our passion and drive results in MSC staying fresh and has sustained us for nearly 50 years.

Q) Finally, many of the readers of this e-newsletter will be fellow grantees or aspiring applicants to The Healthcare Foundation of NJ. Do you have any advice for them on building a successful, long-term funding relationship with HFNJ?

A) Building authentic relationships requires dedication and effort. It’s essential to not only meet the service goals you set but also to maintain consistent communication. The secret formula to fostering genuine, lasting connections with HFNJ includes providing regular updates, sending thank-you notes, and extending a warm invitation for visits.