TRENTON, N.J. — Morris County is among five locations slated for new behavioral health crisis centers as New Jersey invests $16.45 million to expand services available through the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Department of Human Services announced Wednesday.
The funding will support the phased implementation of Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers in Morris, Bergen, Camden, Essex and Monmouth counties.
The centers are intended to provide people experiencing behavioral health crises with an alternative to hospital emergency departments or law enforcement intervention when a higher level of care is not necessary. Services will include immediate assessment, stabilization, treatment and connections to continuing behavioral health care.
“I applaud Commissioner Cha and the Department of Human Services for enabling crisis stabilization to ensure that individuals facing a mental health crisis will have another layer of help,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said. “The 988 system of care ensures that every New Jerseyan knows that when they reach out in a moment of need, someone will be there to answer—and facilitate the care and support that they deserve.”
Of the $16.45 million investment, $14.95 million will come from state funding and $1.5 million from a federal Mental Health Block Grant through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“988 is more than a phone number,” Commissioner Stephen Cha said. “It is the front door to a behavioral health crisis system that must have somewhere to take people when they reach out for help or for people to walk-in without an appointment when they need help. This $16.45 million investment will help New Jersey build out that system and give people experiencing a crisis access to the right care, in the right setting, at the right time. We are committed to making sure that calling 988 leads to meaningful support and a path toward recovery.”
The state funding includes $8.66 million in unused appropriations from fiscal year 2026 and $6.3 million carried forward from fiscal year 2025. Human Services said it is also pursuing federal Medicaid funding and sustainable state funding to support future operations.
“New Jersey’s 988 program has already connected thousands of people facing a crisis with the compassionate care and support they need, filling critical gaps in mental health care and saving lives,” Senate President Nick Scutari said. “Establishing Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers will help expand the scope of the system, easing the burden on hospitals and law enforcement while providing a centralized, comprehensive resource for people who are struggling. Investments like this strengthen entire communities, and I thank Commissioner Cha and the Department of Human Services for their partnership in building a more coordinated and responsive behavioral health system for New Jersey.”
Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin said the centers represent another step in developing the state’s crisis-care system.
“When the state first launched the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we did so because we recognized that we were at a critical point in our response to the mental health crisis and that our investments needed to match the urgency of the need at hand,” Coughlin said. “I’m proud knowing how loud the collective voice of the Legislature has been on the need to build and maintain a robust continuum of care around 988, and it’s humbling to see that now, years later, we are continuing to make good on that promise for the people and families of New Jersey. Mental health is too paramount to let someone face a moment of crisis without somewhere to turn, and through partnerships across sectors and every level of government we are doing the things that will bring the right services, in the right setting, right when they’re needed most.”
Sen. Joe Vitale said the centers will help connect people with immediate care while reducing pressure on existing health care resources.
“The need for response to someone who’s experiencing a mental health crisis at that very moment is the most important decision, phone call, or outreach they’ll ever make in their life,” Vitale said. “With the establishment of Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers, we can help ensure we are not only providing support over the phone through 988 but directing individuals to immediate care without exhausting local health care workers and resources. I am grateful that the administration was able to identify this funding, and I look forward to finding more permanent solutions to support the mental health of our residents in the future.”
Assemblywoman Andrea Katz said the centers will provide another option for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
“When someone reaches out for help during a mental health or substance use crisis, we need to make sure the right care is there to meet them,” Katz said. “Investing in Crisis Receiving Stabilization Centers strengthens our 988 system by giving people a safe, welcoming place to receive immediate support without automatically turning to an emergency room or law enforcement. These centers will help New Jerseyans get appropriate care when they need it most and connect them with the resources that can support their recovery and long-term well-being.”
The centers will complement the state’s existing 988 services, including calls, texts and chats with crisis counselors, mobile crisis response and other community-based behavioral health services.
“This funding allows us to take another significant step toward strengthening New Jersey’s crisis response system that meets people where they are,” Deputy Commissioner for Health Services Valerie Mielke said. “Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers will provide people with immediate, specialized behavioral health care while helping reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and other interventions that may not be appropriate for someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. These centers are an essential part of the continuum that we are building through 988.”
New Jersey launched its 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022. The service provides free and confidential assistance to people experiencing mental health, substance use or suicide-related crises, as well as people concerned about a loved one.
“People experiencing a behavioral health crisis deserve an immediate response that recognizes their needs and treats them with dignity,” Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services Assistant Commissioner David Helfand said. “Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers give us the opportunity to move toward a system where people can receive care in a setting specifically designed for crisis stabilization. This investment represents an important step forward for New Jersey and for the individuals and families who rely on our behavioral health system.”
Human Services said it is developing a schedule for phasing in the five centers and will release additional information as implementation details are finalized.
