MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-Morris, is set to receive the Community Advocate accolade from Good Grief, a nonprofit dedicated to grief support and education, during their annual gala on Wednesday, October 25.
“It’s a deep honor to be acknowledged by Good Grief, especially when many of my legislative efforts, such as amplifying the number of mental health professionals and diminishing the stigma linked to mental health services, mirror the vital objectives of Good Grief,” remarked Dunn.
“Being an advocate is fundamental to my role in public service. The chance to champion the causes of New Jersey residents drives many of my initiatives in Trenton.” In a prior session, Dunn’s proposal (A3007), which mandates higher education entities to introduce students to on-campus mental health resources, was enacted.
Currently, Dunn is advocating for close to twelve bills geared towards enhancing the accessibility of mental health services, with a focus on youth, veterans, and marginalized communities. Among her proposals is a loan forgiveness initiative for child and adolescent mental health professionals, and a program assisting veterans in addressing PTSD and brain injuries. Additionally, Dunn supports a pilot scheme designed to furnish middle and high school students with resilience-building skills, along with a tuition refund program for advanced practice nurses rendering mental health services in New Jersey’s underprivileged regions.
Dunn expressed, “I wholeheartedly appreciate the strides Good Grief has made in addressing the barriers preventing many from seeking the aid they require. Collectively, I am hopeful about establishing New Jersey as a benchmark in superior mental health care provision and accessibility.”