HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that two Philadelphia-based non-profit organizations, Center for Families and Relationships (CFAR) and Project HOME, will each receive $520,125 to bolster mental health services and related programs. This funding follows the closure of the Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic.
The Office of Attorney General’s court-approved distribution of the funds stems from a restitution order from a U.S. Department of Justice prosecution regarding fraud and money laundering at the now-closed clinic. Multiple defendants were convicted and ordered to pay restitution, which is being returned to the Philadelphia community via the Office of Attorney General’s selection of CFAR and Project HOME as recipients.
“This federal prosecution yielded a significant restitution figure that will now help to fill a void in services by enhancing programs and extending the reach of these two exceptional organizations,” Attorney General Henry said. “Our selection of these organizations is based on their positive work helping children and families, and their potential to help even more people in Philadelphia going forward.”
The organizations were recently mailed checks, along with a judge’s order approving the Office of Attorney General action.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and its partners in federal law enforcement worked diligently for years to bring to justice the defendants who stole from JCMHC, and to recover the assets of that charitable nonprofit from the wrongdoers,” said Jacqueline Romero, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “We are very pleased that the PA Attorney General has been able to distribute the money ordered paid as restitution to organizations who will put those assets back to good use by providing mental health care for underserved persons in our community.”
The Center for Families and Relationships (CFAR) offers mental health counseling to youth, families, individuals, and couples. CFAR also offers a program for survivors of gun violence and others impacted by gun violence in Philadelphia. The Together Through Trauma program offers community workshops to educate and support those who have experienced gun violence in their communities. CFAR offers bilingual programming in English and Spanish through the Children Deserving Services program which provides mental health counseling to uninsured children and families.
“These funds will allow the Center for Families and Relationships to hire additional therapists and increase services in underserved communities in Philadelphia,” CFAR CEO Jordan Brogan said. “We’re so grateful for this opportunity to give our vulnerable clients better access to our high-quality family mental health services.”
Project HOME works to provide housing, medical, behavioral health, education, and employment services to the homeless population across Philadelphia. Project HOME’s Federal Qualified Health Center provides affordable and easily accessible medical and mental health services to the underserved homeless population in Philadelphia, as well as providing services to low-income individuals who are at risk of homelessness. Project HOME also offers mobile health services at several residential sites and through street outreach for those who are currently experiencing homelessness.