Holmdel, N.J. – On Friday November 30, 2007 Captain Jerome Hatfield of the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management presented the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services professionals with a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor Certification (DRCCC).

The New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management have enjoyed a longstanding partnership in disaster preparedness planning and response.

The encouragement and guidance of NJOEM motivated the Division to develop its first disaster plan in 1989. Since then, the Office and the Division have collaborated to ensure that there is mental health input in all aspects of emergency response planning, and ongoing coordination between both parties.

“Crisis counselors are critical in all response operations,” says Captain Hatfield.

The partnership has strengthened with each declared disaster. Both organizations work together to assist people affected by floods; storms; man made disasters; the 9/11 disaster and persons affected by the Katrina disaster are just a few collaborative examples.

“With each response we work together to try and do a better job for the next time. Our relationship with the numerous mental health professionals and crisis counselors throughout the state are prime examples of efficient all encompassing emergency management practice and its truly invaluable,” added Hatfield.

Agencies charged with the response to or recovery from any type of disaster, natural or manmade, must work together and pool their collective experiences and resources in order to provide the citizens the best level of protection and service possible.

Over the years the NJSP OEM has worked diligently to ensure proper public safety, timely emergency response and implement superior mitigation efforts in the event of an emergency as well as respect the importance of first responder care through extensive training and certifications programs such as the DRCCC.

For more information regarding the NJSP OEM, the DRCCC along with all programs related to State emergency management and response please log on to: http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/