For more than 40 years, Dean Pastras has dedicated his career to providing essential social work services to children, adults, and families across New Jersey. He began as a clinician working with children facing a wide range of challenges and later became Director of Children’s Services at the Fair Lawn Mental Health Center, which eventually merged with CarePlus NJ. During his tenure, he developed and expanded innovative programs designed to support children and families in their communities.
In 2002, following New Jersey’s major initiative to transform the behavioral health system for children, Dean became the founding Executive Director of Bergen’s Promise. Under his leadership, the organization has become a premier children’s behavioral health care management organization utilizing the nationally recognized Wraparound Model. Central to this approach is the Child Family Team process, which brings together the child, their family, community supports, and service providers to collaborate toward the child’s wellbeing. Bergen’s Promise has received widespread recognition for helping children thrive while remaining at home, in school, and connected to their communities.
Dean has presented at major conferences and professional events and has provided training and consulting on the Wraparound approach and system-of-care practices for professionals and organizations. He has also contributed to statewide mental health initiatives, including serving on the Governor’s Task Force for Mental Health. He is a past chair of the Bergen County Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council and the Trauma and Youth Project.
His leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Ann Klein Advocate Award, the CarePlus NJ Courage Award, and the NJAMHAA Outstanding Leader in Mental Health Services.
Throughout his career, Dean has championed the Wraparound philosophy, emphasizing collaboration, community support, and family-centered care.
Dean holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and is both an Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) credential holder and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). A lifelong resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, he remains deeply committed to strengthening services that help children and families thrive.