AAH OF BERGEN COUNTY, INC.
Bridge Haven Housing
Founded in 1989, AAH was the inspiration of a mental health consumer who wandered the streets of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. It was his vision to create a predominantly self-sufficient community of comfortable and affordable housing for other homeless individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness. It was also his hope that the program would enable mentally health consumers to work for the agency with supervision from qualified, trained mental health professionals. The name Bridge Haven Housing was added in 2003 so that our name might more accurately address the purpose and function that we serve in providing permanent housing.
 | Presently AAH owns five group homes in Bergen County. These residences provide a home for 20 individuals. The homes allow us to provide permanent supportive housing for seriously mentally ill homeless individuals. The houses are licensed by the State of New Jersey. The residents receive approximately 3 hours of peer counselor support five days a week. AAH of Bergen County, Inc. is proud to employ consumers of mental health services as Peer Counselors. | | | |  | AAH professionals (administration) are qualified and trained to handle psychiatric emergencies and are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The houses are supervised in the late afternoon by Peer Counselors. These Peer Counselors have earned a certificate by the Mental Health Association and receive ongoing supervision and training by licensed mental health professionals. They are all trained in the WRAP program as well. Their skill and supportive presence is based on the therapeutic value of one consumer helping another. | | | |  | The AAH Board of Trustees is comprised of mental health consumers and professionals of various disciplines. As an organization, we hope to enhance the lives of tenants, staff and board members alike. Empowerment of the mental health consumer is a goal of AAH. Decisions on the Board are made collaboratively between consumers and non-consumers. |
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AAH of Bergen County received the Outstanding Employer of the Year award in 2001 from the Mental Health Association of New Jersey.