We know that food insecurity is a complex problem, with multiple root causes and many different outcomes. Mental healthcare presents a challenging paradox for our community. Mental health often contributes to food insecurity and can be worsened by the experience of hunger.

Access to mental healthcare and the ability to navigate its systems are critical components in the fight against hunger. That’s why TASK recently partnered with Mental Health Association of NJ (MHANJ) to pursue joint funding to hire a mental health peer support specialist.

Thanks to a program generously supported by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., through Mental Health America’s Community Impact Zone Grant, TASK hired Jose Caraballo to fill this important role.

Caraballo, a Trenton native, began working at TASK in February. Each day, he spends time with diners and program participants getting to know them, helping to identify their personal obstacles and barriers, coaching them and connecting them to solutions.

Sitting under a sign that reads, “What you’re not changing, you’re choosing,” Caraballo shares that many people experiencing hunger struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, isolation and substance abuse. He also emphasizes that their experiences frequently make it harder for them to build trust with those who want to help.

That’s why lived experience in his role is critical, helping Caraballo to provide authentic mentorship and leadership by example. Having overcome his own share of struggle, including substance use disorder, Caraballo intimately understands the barriers facing our community.

“I’m able to share that perspective of struggle and the hard work it takes to see results,” says Caraballo. “One day, I realized, ‘I deserve a better way of life.’ Now I can help people discover that for themselves.”

Acknowledging that it’s “a marathon, not a sprint” for most people, Caraballo says that TASK’s collaborative and caring staff, especially the case management team, is an important part of what helps make the program successful. At TASK, the staff “genuinely want to help individuals” and work together to set people up for long-term success.

Just a few months in, Caraballo has already seen some encouraging results. Through his patient and steady approach, he has formed strong relationships with dozens of people, even helping to place a handful of participants in recovery programs. In addition, Caraballo has worked with individuals as they navigate the healthcare system by connecting them with other nonprofits like the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.

In his role, Caraballo receives training and support from MHANJ, which in turn helps him to provide support to people as they go through these complex issues.

“MHANJ is especially excited about the impact that peer support has made at TASK. We are gratified to partner with them and demonstrate how we can successfully expand access to behavioral health supports to a diverse community,” shares Vice President and COO of MHANJ Robert Kley.

While TASK and MHANJ are aiming to make a big impact, Caraballo knows from experience that it’s the little wins that count the most. Sometimes, the greatest barriers are the ones we impose on ourselves. Simply providing a safe space to talk about mental health is a sign of major progress.

Says Caraballo, “Even if someone just walks away from our conversation feeling more open-minded, that’s success.”