Bridgewater, Somerset County To Help Struggling Residents

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater is teaming up with Somerset County to launch a pilot program where a social worker will work with township police to help residents who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence and more.

"It is incumbent upon us as community leaders to look for new and innovative ways to address mental health in our communities," said Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench. "It is not enough to simply wait until a bad problem gets worse and our police officers and our residents serve to have as many tools at their disposal as they can to get help to those in need and keep our community safe. The Community/Police Alliance will provide an additional tool to keep our community safe and to make sure those that need help get help so their situations do not become worse and place our officers, our residents, or others in danger."

The Community Police Alliance program is geared towards supporting individuals and families in the community who have been identified by police, whether because they appear to have acute unmet needs, or have a pattern of behaviors requiring law enforcement intervention.

"High-stress situations such as those afraid of becoming homeless, those struggling with mental health or substance abuse. We want to offer them the support and services to have a better life within their home," said Somerset County Spokesman Nathan Rudy.

The idea surfaced after Moench approached Somerset County officials with an idea. He had seen a similar program called the "ON P.O.I.N.T. Program" in Ocean County where police officers worked together with social workers to help residents.

"I was inspired several years ago when I saw the implementation of the On POINT program in Ocean County and I have been working to bring this to Bridgewater ever since. A true partnership between social service workers and police officers will head off future, more exacerbated situations and that is why I am so eager to work with the County in spearheading the effort," said Moench.

Discussions for the program began in the winter and are now beginning to roll out. Bridgewater will serve as the pilot for the program.

Rudy said the county is currently interviewing a Coordinator (a licensed social worker) who will receive, analyze, act upon, and follow-up on referrals by Bridgewater Police Department.

The Coordinator will provide information, as well as linkages to community services, to those needing help with mental health and substance use, domestic violence services, housing and food, childcare, healthcare, and more.

The Coordinator is slated to begin working in September and spend about 60 percent of their time in Bridgewater and 40 percent in the Somerset County Department of Human Services.

"This is a new program, something we are trying out as a pilot. We expect it to be a success and are glad Bridgewater is so welcoming of the program and such a good partner in it," said Rudy.

When the pilot becomes a success, Rudy says it could expand to add more social workers in Bridgewater or expand to other communities or counties.

"This is really a resource for the whole community to try and ensure that we are doing a better job of taking care of them," said Rudy.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.