New Jersey Invests $16.45 Million to Expand 988 Crisis Care

TRENTON — New Jersey is investing $16.45 million to expand its behavioral health crisis response system through the creation of five regional Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers, state officials announced Wednesday.

The centers will be located in Bergen, Camden, Essex, Monmouth and Morris counties and are designed to provide immediate assessment, stabilization, treatment and connections to ongoing behavioral health services for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

The investment includes $14.95 million in state funding and $1.5 million in federal Mental Health Block Grant funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The centers are intended to provide an alternative to emergency departments or law enforcement when a person experiencing a behavioral health crisis does not require hospitalization or another higher level of care.

“988 is more than a phone number,” Human Services 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.”

The funding will support a phased implementation of the five centers. The Department of Human Services said it is developing a schedule for the rollout but has not yet announced when individual centers will open.

Expanding the 988 system

New Jersey launched its 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022, providing free and confidential support to people experiencing a mental health, substance use or suicide-related crisis, as well as people concerned about a loved one.

The system currently includes 988 call, text and chat services; mobile crisis response; and community-based behavioral health services.

The new centers are intended to add an in-person option for people who need immediate help.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the expansion will give residents another layer of support during a mental health crisis.

“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,” Sherrill said.

Deputy Commissioner for Health Services Valerie Mielke said the centers are intended to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and interventions that may not be appropriate for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

“Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers will provide people with immediate, specialized behavioral health care while helping reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and other interventions,” Mielke said.

Where the money is coming from

Of the $14.95 million in state funding, $8.66 million comes from unused appropriations from state fiscal year 2026, while $6.3 million comes from appropriations carried forward from fiscal year 2025.

The remaining $1.5 million comes from the federal Mental Health Block Grant.

The Department of Human Services said it is also pursuing federal Medicaid funding and sustainable state funding to support the centers’ operations in future years.

Senate President Nick Scutari said the centers could help reduce pressure on hospitals and law enforcement while expanding access to behavioral health care.

“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,” Scutari said.

Camden among five counties selected

Camden County is one of five counties selected to receive a Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center as part of the initial statewide expansion.

The state has not yet announced the specific location of the Camden County center, its operator, anticipated opening date or the number of people it will serve.

Those details are expected to be released as the Department of Human Services finalizes its implementation plans.

For Camden residents, the center could eventually provide another option for addressing behavioral health emergencies without automatically relying on an emergency room or law enforcement intervention.

The department said the centers will be part of the broader continuum of care established through New Jersey’s 988 system.

What happens next?

The Department of Human Services said implementation will take place in phases, with additional information about the schedule and individual centers to be released as plans are finalized.

Once operational, the centers will provide an in-person option for residents who need immediate behavioral health assistance and will connect people to longer-term services when appropriate.

The 988 service is available by phone in English and Spanish, with language-line services available in more than 250 additional languages. Chat and text services are available in English and Spanish.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, substance use or suicide-related crisis, call or text 988.