MHADA approves AEREF budget amendment to fund Cape Assist prevention programs in Woodbine and Dennis

The Cape May County Mental Health and Addiction Disorders Advisory Board voted March 11 to amend the AEREF grant budget and direct unallocated funds to prevention programs, approving Cape Assist’s proposal to deliver the Botvin LifeSkills curriculum in Woodbine, Dennis and at a Prosecutor’s Office summer camp. J. Kunec, MHADA member, moved to accept the review committee’s recommendation; D. Grusemeyer seconded the motion, which carried. The motion follows a review by a small committee earlier this year that included J. Kunec, P. Devaney, M. Dozier and M. Rybicki. The committee evaluated a budget modification request to move unallocated AEREF funds into prevention to sustain services facing cuts in federal funding. The board record states the amendment is intended to increase prevention funding for programs that were at risk. Cape Assist’s proposal would implement its Botvin LifeSkills program in the boroughs of Woodbine and Dennis and at a Prosecutor’s Office-run camp; detailed program budgets or the exact dollar amount moved were not specified during the meeting. The amendment was presented as a budget reallocation from unassigned AEREF funds rather than creation of a new award. MHADA members emphasized the committee review process prior to the motion and confirmed the board’s action was limited to approving the recommended reallocation. No additional formal conditions or vote tallies by individual members were recorded in the minutes. The vote outcome was listed as “motion carried.” The board did not set a separate follow-up vote or deadline for execution in the March 11 minutes; staff and the committee will carry the allocation forward per the approved amendment and notify relevant program leads.