Hunterdon Co. Launches Compassionate Response To Mental Health Calls

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — Hunterdon County has launched the "ARRIVE Together Program," which is aimed at providing compassionate response during 9-1-1 calls involving a mental health crisis.

The launch was announced by Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson and Chief of Detectives Timothy J. Drew.

The initiative is based on the collaborative effort between all Hunterdon County law enforcement agencies, the New Jersey State Police, and the Hunterdon Health Behavioral Health Services to enhance the response and follow-up to behavioral health crisis calls.

“Arrive Together for Hunterdon County is anticipated to have much success due to the mutual respect and collaborative efforts of the leadership at Hunterdon Medical Center, the municipal police departments, and their governing bodies, the HCPO, and the Attorney General’s Office," said Prosecutor Robeson. "Together we can save lives and keep our officers safe.”

The focus of the ARRIVE Together program is to provide individuals in crisis with whatever help they need as quickly and effectively as possible by teaming up a police officer, specifically trained in crisis intervention, with a mental health screener to respond to 9-1-1 calls relating to a mental health crisis. The ARRIVE Together team also follows up on these calls to ensure that the individual is doing well and does not need additional mental health support.

The focused approach supports both the individual facing a mental health crisis and protects the responding officers. The intention is to get the person in crisis the proper help they need as quickly as possible, while also preventing escalation and facilitating any necessary de-escalation.

“The Hunterdon County CIT training program coupled with ARRIVE Together will provide the officers of Hunterdon County with the best tools and resources to help those suffering from mental health-related issues," said Chief Drew.

“Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence & Escalation” (ARRIVE) began in 2021 when the NJ Office of the Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, and community stakeholders, paired together law enforcement officers, trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, with a certified mental health screener and crisis specialist, to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving behavioral health incidents.