State Legislators Tour Care Plus NJ’s Bergen County Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center Ahead of Planned Opening
Elected officials see firsthand the infrastructure built to complete New Jersey’s 988 crisis response system, and hear the case for sustained state funding
PARAMUS, N.J. (May 19, 2026) - Care Plus NJ, one of New Jersey’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and a leading nonprofit provider of integrated behavioral health, substance use disorder, and primary care services across northern New Jersey, welcomed state legislators, including Senator Joseph Vitale and Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, to a hard hat tour of its Bergen County Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center (CRSC) on May 15.
The tour gave elected officials an opportunity to see the facility’s clinical infrastructure firsthand, meet the care teams already in place, and engage directly with Care Plus NJ leadership on the funding gap that has delayed the opening of several Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers statewide. Representatives from fellow CRSC providers and NAMI New Jersey were also in attendance, reflecting the growing coalition of behavioral health organizations advocating for sustained state investment to complete New Jersey’s behavioral health crisis continuum.
Although the Bergen County facility is close to being operationally ready, it remains one of several centers statewide that may never open due to ongoing funding shortfalls. New Jersey’s 988 crisis response system is built on three pillars: someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go. While the state has invested significantly in 988 call centers and mobile crisis response teams, CRSCs remain underfunded.
A recent nonpartisan budget analysis found that New Jersey needs nearly $33 million more to fully fund and operate the state’s five planned regional centers. Meanwhile, demand for crisis services continues to rise. Since launch, 988 call volume has grown from approximately 60,000 contacts in its first year to more than 182,000 today, with projections approaching 242,000 in the coming year.
“New Jersey has done the hard work of building a comprehensive crisis response system, someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go. All that remains is the commitment to launch it,” said Brigitte Johnson, Esq., President and CEO of Care Plus NJ. “There are many New Jersey residents in need of the care these facilities were created to provide. We invited legislators today so they could see the infrastructure their investment has already established and understand what is at stake if these facilities remain inaccessible to the communities in which they were created.”
Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers are staffed around the clock and designed as no-wrong-door facilities. They accept walk-ins, law enforcement referrals, and mobile crisis handoffs, providing de-escalation and stabilization services while connecting individuals to ongoing community-based care. By offering an appropriate alternative to emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and law enforcement holds, these centers reduce costs across the health system while improving outcomes for the individuals they serve.
Care Plus NJ is calling for an immediate FY2027 investment of an additional $33 million to support full implementation of the five statewide CRSCs. This funding would establish the workforce, infrastructure, and service capacity needed to meet growing behavioral health and substance use needs across New Jersey and ensure that 988 achieves the same functional standing as 911 by completing the full crisis continuum.
Governor Sherrill has identified youth behavioral health as a priority in her first budget. Care Plus and its partners believe that the The Bergen County facility, and the four others planned statewide, are critical to delivering on that commitment.
About Care Plus NJ
Care Plus NJ is a leading nonprofit provider of integrated behavioral health, substance use disorder, and primary care services for adults and children across northern New Jersey. As one of the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in the U.S., Care Plus NJ sets the gold standard in delivering high-quality care regardless of diagnosis or insurance status. The organization serves nearly 14,000 individuals annually, offering a full continuum of behavioral health and social support services. For more information, visit www.careplusnj.org.
What's Related