The New Jersey Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is home to a specialized behavioral health unit, referred to as the Disaster and Terrorism Branch (DTB).

The DTB specializes in the preparation and response to the behavioral health effects of disasters and other traumatic events that occur in our communities. 

The DTB works in close collaboration with public health, law enforcement, emergency management, and other professionals at the local, state and federal levels to coordinate mitigation, planning, response and recovery efforts.  The DTB actively promotes the participation of trained, vetted volunteers in disaster drills, exercises, and ongoing professional development activities.

Through the DTB, basic and advanced training programs are offered for mental health and substance use disorder professionals and paraprofessionals to help sustain an adequate disaster mental health workforce.  Since the early 1990's, New Jersey has been a national leader in disaster mental health, having the first vetted, credentialed volunteer disaster workforce.  Today, all 21 counties have viable disaster mental health plans and a team of trained disaster behavioral health responders.

For other human services related services, DHS relies upon its own administrative Office of Emergency Management (DHS OEM).  DHS OEM also works with the DHS Police when evacuation or law enforcement is needed.

In collaboration with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) located within the New Jersey State Police, in 1989, the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services developed its first mental health emergency response plan.  This emergency partnership allows DTB to  be involved with the four stages of disasters, mitigation, preparation, response, recovery.

Since the early 1990's, New Jersey has responded to several presidentially declared disasters as well as many undeclared community incidents including but not limited to:

• 1993 World Trade Center Bombing
• Seton Hall Dormitory Fire 2000
• September 11th, 2001 Attack
• Anthrax Postal System Attacks 2001
• Hurricane Katrina 2005
• Superstorm Sandy 2012
• Hurricane Irma/Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands 2017
• Paramus School Bus Crash 2018
• COVID-19 Pandemic 2020
• Hurricane Ida 2021

Large scale disasters like September 11th, 2001, Superstorm Sandy, and the COVID-19 Pandemic brought nationwide focus to the importance of behavioral health disaster planning and response.  Following these disasters, New Jersey's public mental health system, through DTB, provided crisis counseling, clinical services, information and referral, and specialized interventions. 

The Director of the Disaster and Terrorism Branch is responsible for activating the state's behavioral health disaster response plan in coordination with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) and the NJ DHS OEM, during a declared disaster.  Each New Jersey County also maintains a county-specific all hazards mental health disaster plan.  During times of disaster, the county's plan can also be activated by the County Mental Health Administrator in coordination with the County Office of Emergency Management and in collaboration with the state partners.

Click here to view the list of County Mental Health Administrators

After a presidentially declared disaster, the DTB also administers the Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) with funding from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The CCP helps individuals and communities to recover from natural and human-caused disasters through community outreach and referral to behavioral health services.  In addition to helping communities, the CCP also helps to meet the immediate behavioral health needs of first responders and the other disaster workers.

The DRCC Program is based upon the FEMA Crisis Counseling Program, volunteer, neighbor-helping-neighbor model in which the public is equipped with the tools to help their peers in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.  Disaster Response Crisis Counselors (DRCCs) provide emotional support to individuals following the immediate aftermath of a disaster.  DRCCS complete a series of training requirements and a credentialing process to provide a coordinated and integrated response to disasters and traumatic events in the community as directed by state or local officials.

The credentialing process consists of a series of steps including completing an application and interview.  Participants are also required to attend training, complete fingerprinting and a background check.

For more information or to apply, go to www.njdrcc.org 
You can also contact your County Mental Health Administrator for more information

DTB also offers a Disaster Chaplaincy Program as a distinct certification level within the DRCC program. The goal is to widen the scope of response during times of crisis in recognition that many people affected by disaster will seek comfort from their faith and spiritual leaders. For more information, please visit the DRCC chaplaincy page.

The FEMA Crisis Counseling Program New Jersey Hope and Healing provides psychoeducation, individual and group crisis counseling and assessment, and referral and resources linkage.  

During a presidential disaster declaration or an event that significantly affects a community, the Director of the DTB is responsible for coordinating the mental health response by activating the state's mental health disaster plan.  After a declared disaster, DTB works with its Federal Partners to offer a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in affected communities.

The New Jersey Disaster Mental Health Helpline provides public access to behavioral health services in case of natural or man-made disasters or terrorist attacks.  The helpline is equipped to develop resources to better assist New Jersey's affected populations.

This toll-free Helpline was established through the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) as a resource for persons seeking behavioral health services and information in response to the September 11th disaster.  The Helpline is activated during disasters and has been used to support the services of the DTB during times of declared disasters or incidents that significantly impact New Jersey communities.

Call (877) 294-HELP (4357) • TTY (887) 294-4356
8:00AM - 8:00PM

One of the best ways to manage the fear and anxiety associated with terrorism and other disasters is through personal and family preparedness.  Many preparedness efforts are underway in New Jersey, such as the development of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in municipalities and organizations.  Each of us can help reduce the potential physical and emotional impact of crisis events by taking some practical steps in personal and family preparedness.

• New Jersey Register Ready - NJ's Special Needs Registry for Disasters
• State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management - Plan & Prepare
• "A Public Health Guide to Emergency Planning" (English)
• "A Public Health Guide to Emergency Planning" (Spanish)
• Ready.gov - a website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• National Institute of Aging - Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Older Adults
• American Red Cross - Disaster Preparedness Plan