Guide for Essex County, NJ*
updated 07/23/20


*This is a living, breathing set of resources, not a definitive list. We will update and add to our alternatives guides as our project grows and services in the area change. 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1 (800) 273-TALK [8255]

TTY: (800) 799-4889

CHAT: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Uses active engagement & active rescue (with or without caller's consent). Collaborates with other community crisis & emergency services in cases of imminent danger to self or others with "least invasive intervention necessary."

Essex Primary

Screening Centers

Belleville: (973) 844-4357
Rutgers Newark: (973) 623-2323
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center: (973) 926-7444

Often the first step for accessing county mental health services. Police dispatched alongside mental health specialists in mobile emergency response as backup, will inform patient of plans to transport to hospital but authorized to transport without consent.

Essex County Children's Mobile Response

(877) 652-7624
(973) 972-8811 non-emergency

For crisis intervention regarding youth mental and emotional health issues or substance use issues. If there is a threat to someone's life, they will send the police to your home. Mandated reporter.

NJ State Homelessness Hotline (211)

2-1-1

1 (877) 746-5211

The NJ State Homeless Hotline connects individuals with services in their county. As this is an aggregate of wide-ranging resources, there is no certainty as to the level of cooperation between each service and the police.

National Runaway Safeline

1 (800) RUNAWAY

TEXT: 66008

CHAT: https://www.1800runaway.org/

24/7 by telephone, text, or online chat for teens, young adults, parents, and guardians. Offers support, can mediate talks between family members and provide free bus tickets home. If you do not provide them with personal/identifying info, they will not and cannot call the police. Will call police at caller's request.

The Essex LGBT Reaching Adolescents In Need (RAIN) Foundation

(973) 675-6780

Supportive housing services for young LGBTQ individuals experiencing crisis leading to homelessness. Would instruct caller to dial 911 if they were in immediate danger but otherwise police are not involved.

Trans Lifeline

(877) 330-6366

Reserves the right to report credible threats of violence to others and is a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse and neglect. Critically, has a policy against non-consensual active rescue and will not call police or emergency services unless consent is provided.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

1 (888) 373-7888

TTY: 711

TEXT: 233733 

Claims calls are never recorded and the hotline will never report an adult's situation without their consent. The only time they break that confidentiality is if there is a threat of immediate harm or danger. The hotline is mandated to report any information provided to us about minors, anyone under 18, being neglected, abused or potentially trafficked

SAVE of Essex County/Essex County Rape Care Center 

1 (877) 733-2273

(973) 746-0800 x310/307 non-emergency

Provides direct services to survivors of sexual violence and their families. They partner with law enforcement only if client chooses to file a police report, they send advocates to accompany victims to police stations, etc.

American Automobile Association (AAA)

1 (877) 733-2273

(973) 746-0800 x310/307 non-emergency

Emergency car assistance for members (non-members may use if traveling with member). Claims to very rarely ever involve police.

Crisis, emergency, and immediate response resources


Organization explicitly seeks to avoid engaging police where possible and/or call respondents are trained to actively seek alternatives to engaging police



Organization has explicit guidance & protocols for engaging the police on behalf of callers and/or demonstrates a willingness to engage police outside of clear & immediate danger scenarios



There is less of a regular protocol for engaging the police & organization clearly articulates concerns about engaging police on behalf of callers


Longer term support, resource-identification, and legal services

Essex County Safe House

(973) 759-2154  

(973) 759-2378 

This is a resource for a 24-hour emergency shelter from domestic violence, not rescue. If in an active emergency, their recommendation would be to call 911.

Support // Resources

Essex County Department of Citizen Services

(973) 395-8000

(973) 395-8350 Division of Community Action

Essex County residents without income can call main number for help with things like SNAP and other housing placement resources. Second number provides working residents with further housing services. 

Resources

Family Service League

(973) 746-0800

Individual, couples, and family counseling available. Also a domestic violence resource.

Resources

Perform Care/Partnership for Children of Essex

1 (877) 652-7624

TTY: 1 (866) 896-6975

For children in need of services or counseling. If there is a threat to someone's life, suspected based on background noise, for instance, they will send the police to your home.

Support // Resources

Newark Community Street Team

(833) 254-6278

TEXT: (833) 254-6278

Community-based violence reduction. Community-based violence reduction and conflict resolution. Does not share information with law enforcement.

Resources


Cop Cooperation Assessments

Through our outreach efforts, volunteers have contacted these organizations and have assigned them “cop cooperation assessments”. We want to make sure that everyone using this guide is aware of the resources' relationships with law enforcement. These ratings were made using our best judgement. No matter how much a resource avoids cooperation with police, all organizations are beholden to laws which require the involvement of law enforcement, especially if child abuse or neglect is suspected.

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

https://cspnj.org/contact/

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc. (CSPNJ), a peer-led non-profit that provides flexible, community-based services to promote responsibility, recovery, and wellness through community wellness centers, supportive and respite housing, human rights advocacy, education programs for people who experienced or live with behavioral health conditions.

Support // Resources

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

(800) 656-HOPE [4673]

https://hotline.rainn.org/online

Only anonymous calls and chats are confidential. If the visitor shares personally identifying information RAINN is required to notify authorities 1) if they're aware of the identity and location of a minor, elder or vulnerable adult who is being abused (and sometimes those who have been abused in the past), and 2) if they are aware of the identity and location of someone who indicates that they are at risk of harming themselves or other people.

Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless, Inc. (MESH)

(862) 621-9488

https://www.meshmontclair.org/

MESH will call police if person at Overnight Respite is intoxicated has bedbugs, or is sick and needs transport to the hospital.
Offers evening meals six nights a week (different during summer) & Overnight Respite in Montclair when below 20 degrees and above 100 degrees overnight. 

Resources

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

(973) 643-1924

Statewide service, every Tuesday, 2-4pm provides free consultation regarding Immigrants' Rights. Does not engage with police.

Legal services