Mercer Times

Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today that organizations in Camden City, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton have been selected to receive grant funds to support the creation of local Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Programs. Eligible municipalities and community-based organizations participated in a competitive grant process that made up to $2 million available per municipality. The Center for Family Services in Camden, the Newark Community Street Team, the Reimagining Justice Inc./Paterson Healing Collective’s Paterson Compassionate Care Collaborative Project, and Salvation and Social Justice in Trenton were selected to receive funds and establish CCRT pilots in their respective cities.

Governor Murphy signed the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act, P.L.2023, c.259, into law in January 2024. Named for Najee Seabrooks and Andrew Washington, individuals who were killed in separate encounters with law enforcement while experiencing mental health crises, the Act established, among other things, the Community Crisis Response Team Pilot Program. Community Crisis Response Teams help address an identified gap to accessing mental and behavioral health support in vulnerable communities.

The CCRT initiative builds on existing programs that support Attorney General Platkin’s comprehensive public health approach to public safety and improve outcomes for communities.

ARRIVE Together is the state’s $10 million law enforcement and mental health response program, operational in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties and available to over 50% of the State’s population.

Violence intervention initiatives include Community-Based Violence Intervention and Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (CBVI and HVIP), as well as Trauma Recovery Centers focusing on individuals at highest risk of violence or victimization. These programs are collectively funded at over $100 million in state and federal dollars since the beginning of the Administration.

Diversionary programming includes Law Enforcement Lead Diversion (LEAD), Opioid Response Teams, and Operation Helping Hand. These programs divert individuals from arrest to treatment and provide guidance on recovery services. They have received a combined $28.8 million in funding to date.

“I am glad to see the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act starting to take shape with the award of these grants to community crisis response organizations in some of the most vulnerable communities across our state,” said Governor Murphy. “When I signed the Act into law earlier this year, I did so understanding the immense responsibility we have to assist those suffering from mental health crises. We are prioritizing doing everything we can to protect those in crisis at their greatest time of need rather than punish them. Community Crisis Response Teams are another tool in our growing arsenal of crisis response initiatives to aid those in mental distress.”

Although existing alternative response programs have successfully utilized traditional law enforcement and emergency medical or mental health response systems, some individuals may be reluctant to call for help due to a lack of trust in these systems. CCRTs will help address this gap by allowing those reluctant to seek help via existing pathways to receive it from a trusted community messenger.

“Our public health approach to public safety has saved lives,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The support from Governor Murphy and the Legislature has allowed our Department to provide additional services to our communities at their point of need.” He added: “Today we expand those efforts by announcing new grants reflecting our commitment to supporting trauma-informed services led by trusted community organizations.”

CCRTs will provide interventions such as outreach services, de-escalation support, resource connection, stabilization support tailored specifically for individuals' needs through trusted community partners who will de-escalate incidents connecting them with needed resources complementing work done by LPS along with Human Services & Health Departments addressing access barriers delivering appropriate help via avenues working best for recipients.

“Establishing CCRTs will increase alternative responses’ scope supported by Department & Office Alternative/Community Responses,” said Tiffany Wilson Director overseeing CCRT pilot program within LPS office emphasizing partnerships aiding mission redefining public safety serving vulnerable communities compassionately through listening/partnering solutions finding together."

Municipalities/community-based organizations must develop/implement CCRTs within specified counties following enabling legislation requirements where eligible applications weren’t received new Notice Availability Funds issued accordingly ensuring funding decisions based quality strength applications proposed initiatives project scope applicants capacity achieving goals underpinned Fiscal Year 2024 State budget allocation.

Grant opportunities require applicants from eligible municipalities meeting specific criteria demonstrating relationships with State-approved harm reduction centers or being State-approved violence intervention programs accessing NOAF/grant documents before August 19 deadline applying necessary funding required implementing successful pilot programs addressing critical gaps mental behavioral healthcare accessibility ensuring proper supportive mechanisms reaching affected populations effectively timely manner enhancing overall community well-being improving societal resilience dealing crises collaboratively responsibly holistically long-term sustainable impact-driven outcomes desired achieved across board benefiting everyone involved ultimately safeguarding lives better future generations ahead us collectively striving towards inclusive equitable society truly care each member equally fostering harmonious co-existence progress shared values mutual respect empathy understanding fundamentally transforming landscape public-private sector cooperation unprecedented levels advancing common good greater cause humanity global level wider perspective

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