Free “Unity in the Community” Event on July 29th to Feature Music, Food Trucks and Family Activities

Paramus, N.J. (July 24, 2023) – The Bergen County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) will host its free “Unity in the Community” event on Sunday, July 29th, from 11 am – 4 pm at Overpeck County Park located at 199 Challenger Road in Ridgefield Park, N.J. Care Plus NJ, Inc.

(“CarePlus”), a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children, is a proud sponsor of the event which will feature children's activities, music, food trucks, community resources, first responders, emergency vehicles, demonstrations and more.

An innovative and international police model, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings are designed to educate first responders and law enforcement professionals on how to safely and compassionately de-escalate and assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis. The goal of CIT is to bring community stakeholders together to provide a safer and more effective response to people with mental illness who are in crisis, thus improving overall safety, access to mental health services and transforming communities. To date, CIT has trained more than 700 law enforcement and mental health professionals in Bergen County as part of the 40-hour curriculum requirement and over 500 law enforcement and mental health professionals in various one-day trainings.

“This event is an opportunity to open vital conversations about mental health in our community and help enhance relationships between the community, first responders and mental health professionals,” said Amie Del Sordo, LCSW, Senior Vice President, Hospital and Community Services, CarePlus and Bergen County Mental Health CIT Coordinator. “We have lots of great family-friendly activities planned and are looking forward to a fun day as we bring the community together to help end the stigma around mental health.”

More than 300 people are expected to attend the event throughout the day which will feature entertainment and activities including dunk tanks, inflatables, face painting, yoga, “touch a truck,” cornhole and much more. Bergen County CIT is encouraging all attendees to bring non-perishable items to help support the Center for Food Action, a nonprofit providing food, housing, utility and heating assistance to northern New Jersey’s poorest and most vulnerable residents. Attendees who donate will be entered into raffles throughout the day for a chance to win some great prizes such as restaurant gift cards, salon gift cards, and a pair of concert tickets courtesy of Q104.3 FM.

The items most needed are supermarket gift cards, canned meat and fish, canned pasta, stews, chilis and hearty soups, canned tomatoes and vegetables, pasta, white and brown rice, dried beans, cold cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly, shelf-stable milk, baby formula, diapers (size 4, 5, 6), toilet paper and paper towels.

To learn more about Bergen County CIT visit: facebook.com/CITBergenCountyNJ/.

About CarePlus NJ

For more than 40 years, Care Plus NJ, Inc. (“CarePlus NJ”) has been a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children in northern New Jersey. Based in Paramus, New Jersey, CarePlus NJ is committed to providing the most comprehensive integrated treatment options through over 80 programs designed to meet the full spectrum of health and wellness needs for adults and children in the communities it serves. Specializing in acute care, CarePlus NJ provides immediate, high-quality health services and support programs for individuals in crisis. Nationally ranked for excellence in customer satisfaction by the Mental Health Corporations of America, CarePlus NJ is mission driven ensuring that anyone who needs it has access to specialized care. To learn more about CarePlus NJ and its wide range of programs and services, visit https://www.careplusnj.org/.