Organizations in Camden, Essex, Mercer, and Passaic Counties each eligible to receive up to $2 million
TRENTON – 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 – the state’s $10 million law enforcement and mental health response program is operational in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties and available to over 50% of the State's population.
Violence intervention initiatives – including Community-Based Violence Intervention and Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (CBVI and HVIP), and Trauma Recovery Centers focus 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 – including Law Enforcement Lead Diversion (LEAD), Opioid Response Teams, and Operation Helping Hand divert individuals from arrest to treatment and provide guidance on recovery services. These programs 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. 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,” said Governor Murphy. “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 individuals access via trusted community messengers.
“Our public health approach to public safety has saved lives. The support from Governor Murphy and the Legislature has allowed our Department to provide additional services to our communities helping our vulnerable populations at their most critical moments,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Today we expand those efforts by announcing new grants reflecting our commitment towards trauma-informed services led by community organizations trusted by those they serve.”
CCRTs will provide interventions such as outreach services, de-escalation techniques, stabilization support, resource connection, personalized follow-up linkages tailored according to individual needs through trusted community partners aiming at de-escalating incidents connecting individuals needed resources complementing work led by Department Law Public Safety (LPS) expanding continuum response options provided LPS Department Human Services Department Health addressing barriers delivering appropriate help via suitable avenues.
“Establishing CCRTs increases scope range alternative responses supporting Office Alternative Community Responses,” said Tiffany Wilson Director overseeing CCRT pilot program within LPS “Partnerships announced today help redefine serving vulnerable communities understanding compassion gained listening partnering finding solutions.”
Following program requirements enabling legislation municipalities/community-based organizations required develop implement CCRTs Camden Essex Hudson Mercer Middlesex Passaic Counties no eligible applications received Hudson Middlesex Counties Notice Availability Funds issued total funding ceiling $12 million amount awarded applicants not exceed $2 million per eligible municipality decisions based various considerations including quality strength applications submitted type initiatives proposed scope project applicant demonstrated capacity achieving goals supported Fiscal Year 2024 State budget allocation
CCRTs Grant Opportunities
To be eligible receive grant pursuant pilot program applicant must come from eligible municipality first class Hudson County second class population more than 55k density between 10k-11k according 2020 federal decennial census Middlesex County entity operating violence interrupter community street team boundaries additionally applicants required demonstrate established relationship State-approved harm reduction center State-approved community violence intervention program both NOAF associated grant documents accessed here SFY24 COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS - Supplemental Notice Availability Funds deadline apply August 19 2024
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