LAKEWOOD, N.J. — On Tuesday, August 18th, the Lakewood Community Coalition (LCC) held its August quarterly meeting at the Historical Strand Theater in Downtown Lakewood. A diverse group of community leaders, health-care professionals, law enforcement professionals, faith leaders, and other local partners united for a special event focused on community health and mental health resources in Lakewood.
The meeting was co-chaired by Lakewood Police Captain Steve Allaire and Cori Scotti of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
The meeting featured keynote speakers from Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC). The presenters discussed the findings of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment; as well as various new mental health initiatives – and the successful, year-round collaboration between mental health professionals and the Lakewood Police Department (LPD) and other law enforcement agencies.
Abby Masiello, MPH, CHES, presented information from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, highlighting the high proportion of Lakewood residents who struggle to pay their bills; as well as the need to increase accessibility of medical and mental health resources in line with record population growth.
A special focus of the evening was the Hope Hub, a new mental health facility in Lakewood that is creating an important local resource for individuals and families seeking support.
JoAnn Jason, M.A., and Randi Hershkowitz, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, discussed the unique benefits of the Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) and Hope Hub model of care – which minimizes the need for conventional hospitalizations and enhances public safety. These projects work effectively to bring these crucial resources closer to the Lakewood community via a solid network of health-care professionals, law enforcement, social-service providers, faith communities and other community partners.
The LCC also recognized the dedicated members of the Lakewood Police Department Community Resource Unit (CRU) — Sgt. Michael Conrad, Patrolman Jason Yahr, and Joseph Soriano — along with D/Sgt. Jeannette Shimonovich, Police Social Worker Caitlin Ciaccio-Soto, and Patrick Sample from the Traffic Safety Division.
Sgt. Conrad highlighted various recent CRU projects that fostered pleasant, personal interactions between Lakewood residents of all ages and the officers who protect them, including: Pizza in the Square; Cops and Bobbers; Showers in the Square; Chill with a Cop; and CRU participation in local Back-to-School events. The Coalition expressed its appreciation for the CRU’s continued commitment to community safety, outreach, engagement, and collaborative support – which help make LCC programs and events successful.
Special thanks were also extended to Ocean Atlantic Coast for generously donating food from Bacoli Pizza Pasta & Grill; and to OTL Café’ for their contribution to the event. Special thanks to One Ocean County for the beautiful flowers at the event, which were freshly picked from its local Common Grounds community garden.
