Inroads CEO Michele Ford Honored with Inventive Leadership Award

(Pictured left to right) Director of Mental Health Letty Esquivel with President + CEO Michele Ford.

Roselle, NJ - Michele Ford, President and CEO of Inroads to Opportunities, a Union County based non-profit organization that serves adults with mental health challenges will be honored on Wednesday October 13th, at the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies’ (NJAMHAA) Fall Conference, No Going Back: Moving Forward in a New Paradigm for the Inventive Leader in Adult Services, Courage and Compassion Award.

“In addition to saving lives and greatly enhancing the quality of life, the efforts of our awardees support the fight against stigma and discrimination. They are truly inspiring heroes.” - Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO, NJAMHAA.

For over 35 years, Michele has dedicated her life to serving the needs of individuals with mental health challenges. A life-long advocate, Michele has been a champion for this most vulnerable population by serving on Union County Non-Profit Consortium, Union County Crisis Consortium and most recently addressing members of the US Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of choice in defense of employment options for individuals.

During the height of the COVID 19 pandemic when facilities throughout the State were required to shut down, Michele and the Executive team developed a plan so that program participants could receive uninterrupted services and supports such as counseling, medication management, individual and group therapy, vocational training and more. Inroads’ 24/7 emergency wellness hotline was expanded and Michele deployed a plan to ensure participant heath including weekly activity links for our participants at home.

“The last year and a half has challenged us like no other. As providers we have had to use all of our tools and resources to provide much needed behavioral health services. Inroads is fortunate to have an exceptional behavioral health team in Dr. Lim, Letty Esquivel our Director of Mental Health Services and our Nurse Gayle Schaad who led this effort over the past year.” -Michele Ford, President and CEO, Inroads to Opportunities.

Through Michele’s unwavering commitment to her staff as well as to program participants, Inroads has retained nearly all its original staff throughout the pandemic. Michele Ford embodies the definition of leadership and selflessly works to improve the lives for the Union County citizens with disabilities who reply on Inroads supports.

Since 1959, Inroads to Opportunities, formerly the Occupational Center of Union County provides programs and services to over 400 individuals each year with all types of disabilities and ranging in age from 16 through retirement. Programs and services include vocational preparation, transition from school to work, job placement and mental health services.

 Inroads to Opportunities is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an approved provider of the NJ Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Commission of the Blind and Visually Impaired.  Inroads is licensed by the State of New Jersey Department of Human Resources, NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to provide partial care and Division of Developmental Disabilities to provide Day Habilitation Services. Inroads is an approved Medicaid provide and an approved Employment Network under the Ticket to Work Social Security initiative.