County Mental Health & Special Needs Working Group (With Autism Representation)
In its ongoing commitment to excellence in policing and community outreach, the New Jersey Executive branch has continuously sought to identify and bring stakeholders to the table for thoughtful and multi-disciplinary approaches to, among many goals, effect safe law enforcement interaction with the most vulnerable members of our community. One such example is the New Jersey Office of Attorney General Directive 2020-14, entitled “Establishing Countywide Working Groups to Address Mental Health and Special Needs Populations and Creating a Framework for Coordination with State Partners,” issued on December 21, 2020. The Directive required all 21 counties to create countywide working groups to improve law enforcement interactions with special needs populations and those living with mental or behavioral health issues. Each working group includes representation from various disciplines, including but not limited to, law enforcement and special needs providers and advocates. The autism community is represented within the working groups. The groups are charged with reviewing and improving local policies and resources designed to assist law enforcement in their interaction with persons in crisis, including members of the autism community. Each county working group is headed by a chair who also serves as a liaison to the Statewide Steering Committee. Autism New Jersey’s Executive Director, Dr. Suzanne Buchanan, serves as a member of the Statewide Steering Committee and works to ensure autism representation within the county working groups. Law enforcement’s active involvement in their respective county working groups is an important autism-friendly practice. An example of an extremely proactive group, with an emphasis on autism-friendly practices, is Hunterdon County’s Mental Health and Special Needs Working Group, chaired by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Tangerla Thomas. In addition to the incredible work this county group has accomplished with Crisis Intervention Team training, the Arrive Together program, and the mental health and veteran population, Hunterdon County was in the forefront in bringing together stakeholders to promote autism-friendly practices. One such example is the Blue Envelope, as first launched in New Jersey in Hunterdon County by law enforcement and further enhanced through a partnership with other working group member organizations. | 10 |
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