State Lauds Stafford Police For Pro-Active Mental Health Initiative

The Stafford Township Police Department is one of six recipients in New Jersey to be honored with an Ambassador Award from the Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma, Police Chief Thomas Dellane said.

The award honors law enforcement professionals who provide effective support, services or programs that reduce the ways in which society stigmatizes people with mental illnesses.

That's the whole basis of the department's pilot program On-POINT program, which calls for officers to make referrals to trained, licensed clinical social workers who will follow up with individuals.

The cases could involve mental health issues, substance abuse issues, economic hardship problems, isolation, health problems and family discord. Social workers from Ocean Mental Health Services refer each case to the available and appropriate programs and treatments, the chief said. So far there have been 80 referrals.

“In the six months the program has been in existence we have effected positive change in many people’s lives and in fact have saved at least one life," Dellane said. "I salute the men and women of the police department who have embraced this program for their recognition that it is critical we treat all those suffering from mental health issues with dignity and respect regardless of their disability”.

Ocean Mental Health Services agreed to self-fund most of the costs of the program until June 15, 2017. Dellane hopes to have other sources of funding by then.

The partnership provides on-site social workers at Stafford Township Police Department two days per week. On-POINT staff assist in providing early intervention to individuals who may otherwise be arrested or over-utilize other scarce acute and emergency services.

"The police department in partnership with Ocean Mental Health Services implemented On-POINT to address the high volume of mental health, substance abuse and other social service calls that consume a disproportionate volume of police and emergency resources," Dellane said.

Image: Stafford Township Police Department