Financial Services

CSP-NJ’s Financial Services is designed to promote financial stability, consistent with the concepts of empowerment, personal responsibility and recovery. It is also designed to move people from financial devastation and poverty, to financial well-being and independence with the concepts of budgeting to save, save to invest, controlling debt and building wealth through investing and asset accumulation strategies.

CSPNJ strives to provide individualized, flexible community based services that promote responsibility, recovery and wellness.  This is done through the creation and administration of self-help centers, supportive housing, advocacy, and entrepreneurial programs for adults with mental health issues and other special needs.According to Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey Inc. (CSP) Institute for Wellness and Recovery Director, Margaret Swarbrick, PhD, OTR, CPRP, “mental illness is a package plan that too often includes a life of poverty, being disenfranchised, unemployed, and stigmatized, as well as being thought of as a second-class citizen. Mental illness often has devastating human and financial costs to the individual, his or her family, and society. For people with mental illness, poverty is one of the most pervasive, significant, and debilitating barriers to achieving recovery and full participation in the community”. People with mental illness often live in substandard housing, lack opportunities for meaningful activities and daily structure, have limited social and recreational resources, have difficulty gaining access to quality health care, usually cannot access mainstream banking and financial services because of the lack of financial assets and an unfavorable credit history, and overall experience alienation and loneliness.