Atlantic County Sheriff's Office

Resolution of Support for the Eestablishment of Stigma-Free Communities and the HOPE ONE Project in Atlantic County

RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITIES AND THE HOPE ONE PROJECT IN ATLANTIC COUNTY

WHEREAS, one in four Americans has experienced mental illness, including substance use, in a given year according to the National Institute of Mental Health; and

WHEREAS, mental health problems are more common than cancer and heart disease combined, affecting children and adults, and including more than half of our Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans treated at Veteran’s Administration hospitals; and

WHEREAS, the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders is identified as the primary reason individuals fail to seek the help they need to recover from these disorders; and

WHEREAS, Stigma-Free Communities aims to inspire public interest and opens dialogue about stigma, raises awareness of mental health and substance abuse disorders and creates a culture wherein residents with mental health and substance abuse disorders feel supported by their community and neighbors, and free to seek treatment without fear of stigma; and

WHEREAS, promoting awareness that there can be no “health” without mental health will break down barriers and encourage residents of all ages to be mindful of their mental health and to ask for help when needed; and

WHEREAS, local resources are available to treat mental health and substance use disorders so no one needs to suffer alone or feel hopeless; and

WHEREAS, the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office is involved in a project to acquire, equip and operate a mobile access customized unit (vehicle) that can bring addiction and recovery services and any other services to the community, in an effort to curtail the opiate epidemic and reduce drug related crimes in Atlantic County; and

WHEREAS, to be known as HOPE ONE, the HOPE ONE mobile unit will be operated by the Atlantic County Sheriff’s office in partnership with the Atlantic County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County, and Atlanticare; and

WHEREAS, the HOPE ONE team will typically consist of a Sheriff Officer in plain clothes, a mental health clinician from the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County, a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, an intern or volunteer approved by the Sheriff or his designee to assist with HOPE ONE, and a Sheriff’s Office Chaplain; and

WHEREAS, the HOPE ONE vehicle will be white with purple ribbon and a purple HOPE ONE logo outfitted to create a comfortable and approachable setting with a stigma-free logo, a bench to have conversation, toiletry kits for homeless persons, a cell phone charging station and will be deployed at locations with tables and HOPE ONE tablecloths, literature and brochures and business cards for contact, a tent, Naloxone (Narcan) and overdose training information, available daily bed count from treatment providers, and refreshments (ex. coffee and donuts) when available; and

WHEREAS, the HOPE ONE team will provide individuals struggling with opiate addiction access to: 1. Detox, rehab or recovery support; 2. Mental health services; 3. Housing assistance; 4. Transportation to treatment facilities, when necessary; 5. Narcan and overdose response training; 6. Any other services or programs available to the individual; and

WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s Operational Services will schedule locations in coordination with HOPE ONE partners to go out into the community a minimum of two days per week and choose appropriate deployment locations with posting of the date, time and location information on the Atlantic County Sheriff’s office and Atlantic County websites, Facebook and Twitter; and WHEREAS, the HOPE ONE project is an excellent example of local resources available to treat mental health and substance use disorders in Atlantic County and to create Stigma-Free Communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Atlantic that it supports the establishment of Stigma-Free Communities in Atlantic County and the HOPE ONE project of the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office and its partners;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution shall be directed to the Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler, the Atlantic County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County, and AtlantiCare.