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Meeting of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition

Last Friday I attended the meeting of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition. The meeting was a great example of an effort to present mental health professionals in the community with an organized, clear overview of some services which are available, some even free, of which many of us are not aware.

Providing information about the different access points to services available on the federal and county levels, elucidating the complicated relationships between service networks, and establishing the requirements for eligibility for benefits is a formidable task for many mental health professionals. It is often an insurmountable obstacle for those of our clients, or their family members, who find themselves in need and in difficult circumstances. Being able to steer people towards available psycho-social resources is a critical part of helping them access support and regain better functioning.

The meeting of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition was convened by Mary M. Vineis, DRCC, who is the director of community Response and Education at NewBridge Services (WWW.Newbridge.com). Important resources mentioned included morrissussexresource.net and the NJ211 phoneline.

Jaclyn Cornwell, BS of Family Intervention Services Inc., located in South Orange, NJ (WWW.FISNJ.org) presented several important programs that are offered in Morris County as well as some in Passaic/Morris/Sussex counties.

  1. CMRSS : Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services services children ages 3-21, and can be reached by calling 877-652-7624. CMRSS provide immediate, in-person response to a crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to keep young people in their home and in school. Working together with family and caregivers, CMRSS helps access the services and support they need, including:

            – Linkage to in-home counseling, and or behavioral assistance

            – Referrals for psychiatric and or psychological evaluations

            – Referral to community services

           Services are provided FREE OF CHARGE.

  1. FCIU : Family Crisis Intervention Unit, works with children in the ages between 11-17 and their families. Referrals can come from any source. The number to call is 973-586-5243 or for the crisis line 973-627-2317.

FCIU provides an immediate intervention in order to stabilize the family and initiate counseling. FCIU works with the family for a period of 6-8 weeks and when indicated, services might be extended to 12 weeks

After services with FCIU, additional recommendations and referrals are made to provide the family with ongoing support.

            Services are provided FREE OF CHARGE

  1. FOP: Family Outreach Program provides counseling, education, coaching in parenting skills as well as advocacy and community linkage services to families and children who have been involved with the Division of Child Protection and Premanency and other families struggling to meet their basic needs. The service is accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week in respond to crisis and when help is needed to restore safety and de-escalate a crisis situation. The phone number to access FOP is 973-586-5243

        Services are provided FREE OF CHARGE.

  1. Outpatient Services provides therapeutic counseling services for individuals, youth or families, including:

        – Comprehensive mental health assessments

        – Individual, children, family or group counseling

       – Psychiatric services which may include medication monitoring

        – Referrals and coordination of community supports and services

Outpatient Services works with children, youth and families in Essex, Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties who experience challenges with their mental health diagnosis.

Irit Felsen

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