Neighbor News
Newark’s La Casa de Don Pedro Launches ‘El Barrio Wellness’ to Expand Community Mental Health Services
New center offers bilingual, trauma-informed counseling and community-driven programs to empower Newark residents
La Casa de Don Pedro, a longstanding Newark-based community development nonprofit, will open its new El Barrio Wellness center on Nov. 13 at 76 Clinton Ave., the former home of El Club del Barrio. The three-story brick building, once a haven for Puerto Rican families during the HIV/AIDS and drug crises of the 1980s, has been reimagined to address today’s most urgent challenge: community mental health.
El Barrio Wellness will provide bilingual, trauma-informed counseling for children, adults, and families through a “Liberation Health” model that considers cultural context and systemic barriers to care. The center’s vision is “for us, by us,” offering services designed by and for Newark residents.
Backed by more than $1.2 million in investment, including support from partners such as RWJBarnabas Health, the facility will grow to host 15-20 clinicians and expand into early-childhood and school-based programs. Leaders describe the center as a model with the potential to reshape mental health care access in diverse communities.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Peter T. Rosario, President and CEO of La Casa de Don Pedro, notes: “Too often, solutions come from outside our neighborhoods. El Barrio Wellness is built by the people it serves – and rooted in the same spirit that made El Club del Barrio a beacon decades ago.”
The grand opening will feature remarks from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other community leaders. Media and community partners are invited for previews and interviews with La Casa de Don Pedro staff and collaborators.
