after two New Jersey men experiencing Mental Health crisis died during police responses last year there's been a growing push for more investment into crisis response teams this week Governor Murphy and New Jersey attorney general Matt platkin announced 12 million dollars in funding to create a new response model called the community crisis response pilot program Melissa Rose Cooper spoke with Community groups around the state about what this funding will mean for their crisis response teams I is that New Jersey is currently leading the way nationally on how um states are reimagining Public Safety and with Investments like this we're going to continue that trajectory Lisa chowdery executive director for the Patterson Healing Collective applauding Governor Murphy and State Attorney General Matt plaen recent announcement that they'll be dedicating up to $12 million in funding for the community crisis response team pilot program the initiative is a result of legislation signed earlier this year that's named after Andrew Washington and Naji SE Brooks who were both killed by police while experiencing Mental Health crisis this legislation why is so important and you know that this is close to our heart um we want to avoid incidents like what happened last year from ever happening again and this um Grant provides critical funding that can help us build that infrastructure locally on this legislation is going to provide additional resources to support individuals and communities that may benefit most from additional Community El trauma informed services and resources the AG's office noting the program will complement other resources already in place to ensure responses to calls for help are handled appropriately like arrive together which is now operational in all 21 counties Tiffany Wilson who serves as the Director of the office of alternative and Community responses adding in the announcement the addition of Community Partners to the currently available response options provides another Pathway to needed resources while reducing burdens on law enforcement agencies and improving Public Safety and Health out comes it's imperative that the governor that the AG um that the mayor that Council folks in these cities address these issues that face our community and we have to start reimagining what real Public Safety looks like you know now here in America we criminalize everything we criminalize immigration we criminalize mental health when we look at the number one institutions in this countryes that are housing mental health patients is prison Tracy cyx agrees the funding will help improve how mental health crises are treated and says those closest to the problem also tend to be closer to the solution when you look at you know Naji C Brook and how he died here he is a member of the um patteron hilling Collective you know that street team up in patteron whereas that they had an opportunity that standoff lasted over four hours they had an opportunity to call in the people that Naj worked with his counterparts history team they had opportunity to call them in in order to quell that um situation and they didn't and then the end result of that NJ is not with us anymore so having an opportunity now and recognize you know through just that alone you know having folks who are capable of dealing with mental health issues but that people that actually know our community also is very helpful the program will award eligible community-based organizations up to $2 million through a competitive Grant process crisis response teams in Camden Essex Mercer middlex Hudson and pic counties can apply but social Advocates say this is just the first step it's still a m drop in the bucket uh compared to what's currently allocated to law enforcement agencies throughout the state we need to see the state continue to increase the level of funding uh for these teams supporting things like staff retention and training and and resources for those who are are doing this incredibly um important and sacred work Advocates say they'd also like to see the funding become a fixed item in the state budget so successful results of crisis response teams can be seen well into the future for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper [Music]