The Burlington County Commissioners have renewed a contract with Maryville Inc. to continue to bring mental health and addiction services to county residents with the Hope One mobile outreach unit.
The board voted unanimously on Sept. 14 to approve the one-year option year with the nonprofit provider to continue operating with Hope One through Sept. 30, 2023.
The Hope One unit is run by a partnership between the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department and the Burlington County Department of Human Services. Other county departments and community partners also provide services with Burlington County Hope One, such as the Burlington County Health Department, Maryville, Virtua Health and the Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Hope One visits destinations throughout the county to offer overdose prevention training and antidote, referrals to recovery services, housing and other resources for residents struggling with substance use disorder or other mental health illnesses.
Last year, the unit provided close to 1,900 services to 832 individuals and families.
“Burlington County Hope One has been a game changer in our fight against the addiction epidemic by bringing services, education and resources directly into our communities where people live and work, rather than asking those in need of help to go searching for them,” said Commissioner Felicia Hopson, liaison to the Burlington County Department of Human Services and the Health Department. “We’re proud of the unit’s success and Maryville and its staff have been a major part of it, so we’re pleased to have them continue their service.”
Burlington County Undersheriff Jim Kostoplis said Hope One has been a tremendous community resource that has helped thousands of residents.
“As law enforcement officers, we’re sworn to protect and serve. Too often people think of the first part and not the second,” Kostoplis said. “We want to help those suffering from mental illness or addictions the help and support they need and that’s exactly what Hope One does. We want to thank the Commissioners for launching this program and continuing to support it and the agencies we partner with who provide services.”
Maryville has offered services on Hope One since the program started in 2019. The nonprofit has also operated the County’s Post House treatment center since 2018.
Funding for the Maryville contact, estimated to be $49,426, is provided by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
This summer, the county was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help equip the Hope One unit with more Naloxone supplies and to also train additional recovery coaches to assist more residents enter treatment or obtain the support they require.
Burlington County has also opened two Recovery Centers in Westampton and Burlington City to deliver critical support to those in recovery. The first Recovery Center opened in 2020 in the Burlington County Human Services Building. The second launched this summer in the Burlington City Municipal Building.
In 2021, the Sheriff’s Department also launched a L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) education program in partnership with the Burlington County Municipal Alliance to help educate students about the dangers drugs, alcohol and tobacco can pose to their health and futures.
“Burlington County has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach to combating this crisis and we remain committed to using every resource possible to help educate and ensure those who need treatment and support have access to it,” said Commissioner Hopson. “By working together, we’ve saved thousands of lives and we continue to fight to save more.”
