The Ocean County Prosecutor, Bradley D. Billhimer, announced the Blue HART program introduced by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 2013 has been restructured to better meet the needs of Ocean County and renamed BLUE HOPE. BLUE HOPE services have been available since January 1, 2020, but the official relaunch under the new name will begin February 1, 2020.
Heroin and opioid abuse continues to remain a top priority in Ocean County and in Lakewood. The changes announced with regard to BLUE HOPE will allow local law enforcement and our community partners to deal more effectively with this problem. We have long considered heroin and opioid abuse to be a public health crisis. As such, we are pleased to announce that the Ocean County Health Department will serve as our partner in BLUE HOPE. The Ocean County Health Department’s Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction and Opioid Dependency will serve as our partner in the administration of BLUE HOPE. This partnership will allow us to collectively streamline programs for those with substance use disorder in Ocean County. The Lakewood Police Department will continue as a first point of contact for residents that are in need of services.
These residents can report to the Lakewood Police Department every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm; and from there be directly linked to a provider/licensed agency.
“The Ocean County Health Department has been providing substance abuse services since 1995. The Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Opioid Dependency oversees multiple programs including the County Comprehensive Grant from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Intoxicated Driver Resource Program, the Municipal Alliances, the Ocean County Overdose Fatality Review Program as well as prevention programs,” stated Kimberly L. Reilly, MA, LPC, Chief of Administrative Services, Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Opioid Dependency, Ocean County Health Department.
BLUE HOPE is similar to the original concept in which residents with a substance use disorder can choose to use a participating local police department to get a linked to a provider/licensed agency for an evaluation. This evaluation will help the participant assess the level of care needed and the provider/licensed agency will assist in navigating and linking the resident to treatment. BLUE HOPE is not an automatic linkage to detox or inpatient services. BLUE HOPE will serve as an entry point for those individuals that are in need of services and/or treatment.
BLUE HOPE participants will start with linkage to the appropriate level of treatment such as detoxification, residential, or outpatient. Participants will receive 12 weeks of follow up calls from their provider/licensed agency so further guidance and support can be provided. The participant will also have the option to voluntarily sign up for recovery case management services which would include face to face and telephone calls for support. “BLUE HOPE is designed to be an intercept for resident to get the help they need,” Prosecutor Billhimer added.
All providers/licensed agencies will perform the evaluation, telephone calls, and offer optional recovery face to face visits with licensed staff and certified recovery case managers.
“I am proud that approximately half of all of our local police departments will be BLUE HOPE police departments. I am hopeful to have every police department in Ocean County participate in BLUE HOPE by the end of 2021,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
PARTICIPATING POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Any person that voluntarily enters one of the following police departments on the scheduled day and time and requests help with the addiction to heroin, opiates, or any substance will be immediately screened for potential participation in the BLUE HOPE Program.
LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT | 732-363-0200
231 3RD STREET, LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701
TUESDAY 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Barnegat Police Department | 609-698-5000
900 West Bay Ave, Barnegat, NJ 08005
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Lacey Township Police Department | 609-693-6636
808 West Lacey Rd, Forked River, NJ 08731
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department | 609-296-3666
665 Radio Rd, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ocean Gate Police Department | 732-269-6931
801 Ocean Gate Ave, Ocean Gate, NJ 08740
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ocean Township Police Department | 609-693-4007
50 Railroad Ave, Waretown, NJ 08758
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Point Pleasant Police Department | 732-892-0060
2233 Bridge Ave, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Stafford Township Police Department | 609-597-8581
260 East Bay Ave, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Surf City Police Department | 609-494-8121
813 Long Beach Blvd, Surf City, NJ 08008
Tuesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Manchester Police Department | 732-657-2009
1 Colonial Dr, Manchester, NJ 08759
Tuesday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Pine Beach Police Department | 732-314-2616
599 Pennsylvania Ave, Pine Beach, NJ 08741
Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
South Toms River Police Department | 732-349-0313
19 Double Trouble Rd, South Toms River, NJ 08757
Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Toms River Police Department | 732-349-0150
255 Oak Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753
Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Brick Township Police Department | 732-262-1100
401 Chambersbridge Rd, Brick, NJ 08723
Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Jackson Township Police Department | 732-928-1111
102 Jackson Driver #1, Jackson Township, NJ 08527
Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
HEALTH CARE/TREATMENT PROVIDERS
Integrity House | 732-569-3736
310 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Ocean Mental Health Services
36 West Water Street, Toms River, NJ 08753 | 732-349-5550
712 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 | 609-597-5327
35 Beaverson Boulevard, Brick, NJ 08753 | 732-202-3600
Preferred Behavioral Health | 732-367-4700
700 Airport Rd, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Sunrise Detox | 732-797-2505
16 Whitesville Road, Suite A, Toms River, NJ 08753
Turning Point, Inc. | 732-202-8061
101 Prospect Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701