Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Whelan
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" telephone helpline.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on December 12, 2013, with amendments.
An Act establishing the "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" telephone helpline, and supplementing Title 9 of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The 1[New Jersey]1 Department of Children and Families, in conjunction with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, is currently operating a free and confidential "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline, which receives and responds to calls from mothers of children with special needs, and their families;
b. The "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline provides peer support, clinical services, telephone assessments, a network of service providers, live chat, and support groups;
c. Since its inception in 2010, the helpline has fielded over 28,000 calls from mothers, caregivers, and their families, with a 30 percent increase in call volume projected; and
d. The "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline is currently funded from the 1[New Jersey]1 Department of Children and Families' State appropriation for children with special needs, and it is appropriate that the helpline be codified in State law and have a separate annual appropriation.
2. a. The Department of Children and Families shall establish, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, a toll-free "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline.
b. The helpline shall be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week, and shall respond to calls from mothers, caregivers, and their families. The staff of the helpline shall seek to identify the mothers, children, caregivers, and their families who should be referred to further support and counseling services, and provide informational resources.
c. The peer staff shall be trained by University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers, the State University and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be mothers of children with special needs, who are:
(1) familiar with developmental disabilities, brain injury, behavioral healthcare issues, medical illness, cancer, and the emotional and mental health burden and psychological tension, depression, and anxieties unique to these mothers, children, and their families, or
(2) trained to provide reciprocal peer support services involving children with special needs and family life, mental health, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and related well-being of children, mothers, caregivers, and their families.
d. The Department of Children and Families and University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the callers, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling; provided, however, that the Department of Children and Families and Rutgers, the State University may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the child or mother or any other person.
3. University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers, the State University shall maintain a list of credentialed resources and behavioral health care providers throughout the State, and shall provide case management services to ensure that mothers, children, and their families receive ongoing counseling and a continuum of care in New Jersey. The continuum of services shall utilize applicable State and federal guidelines while providing ongoing peer support.
4. In establishing the helpline authorized under the provisions of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) the Commissioner of Children and Families and University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers, the State University shall consult on an annual basis with the Division of Developmental Disabilities 1[of ] in1 the Department of Human Services, 1the Division of Children's System of Care in the Department of Children and Families,1 the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1[the Division of Developmental Disabilities Healthcare Network, at least two State developmental centers,]1 and at least two State recognized child advocacy groups.
5. There shall be appropriated annually from the General Fund to the Department of Children and Families a sum sufficient for the maintenance of the helpline.
6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, but the Department of Children and Families and Rutgers, the State University may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.