"Jersey Matters" to highlight community impact of Morris County Sheriff's Office's Hope One mobile substance abuse recovery program
Published on February 20, 2019
A crew from WJLP-TV traveled to Morristown Tuesday, February 19, to spotlight the innovative impact of the Morris County Sheriff's Office's Hope One mobile substance abuse recovery program on battling opioid and heroin addiction.
WJLP-TV Journalist Kimberly Kravitz with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon at Hope One's stop February 19 outside Bethel AME Church in Morristown.
Journalist Kimberly Kravitz of WJLP-TV, a MeTV affiliate, interviewed Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon and the Hope One team for a "Jersey Matters" segment that will air Saturday, Feb. 23, at 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. Kravitz said she was awed after reading a recent Star Ledger article about Morris County's Hope One program serving as the model for Hope One Newark that launched in December.
"A mobile resource program. That's huge, I thought," Kravitz said.
Within an hour Tuesday of being parked outside Bethel AME Church in Morristown, Hope One's staff had taught three individuals with concerns about loved ones how to administer a life-saving dose of Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids. Narcan training is a key service provided by Hope One, along with its information on treatment options, mental health resources and non-judgmental approach to questions.
WJLP-TV Journalist Kimberly Kravitz interviews staff of Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One program. From left in back row, Morris County Sheriff's Office Corporal Erica Valvano, Madine Despeine, director of Self Help, Advocacy and Education for the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris; Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Kelly LaBar, and Ashley Reed of Family Promise of Morris County.
Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon being interviewed Feb. 19 in Morristown by WJLP-TV Journalist Kimberly Kravitz about the Hope One mobile substance abuse recovery program.
At least 30 lives have been documented as being saved as a direct result of the free Narcan training and kits containing a nasal dose of the antidote provided by Hope One staff, Gannon said. Hope One has had contact with more than 6,000 people since it launched on The Green in Morristown on April 3, 2017.
"This all begins with hope. I've seen some tremendous success stories here," Gannon said.
Sheriff Gannon created the Hope One program in 2017 by repurposing an old emergency services vehicle into a mobile substance abuse resource center that parks Mondays and Thursdays in sections of Morris County where overdoses are occurring. The vehicle is stocked with coffee, water, snacks, toiletries, and in cold months, hand-warmers, scarves and hats.
The Morris County Sheriff's Office has partnered on Hope One with the Morris County Department of Human Services, Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties, Morris County Prevention is Key and its Center for Addiction Recovery, Education and Success (CARES).
Hope One's next stop will be Thursday, Feb. 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dover from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.