Atlantic Health System's Newton Medical Center launches ARRIVE Together program in Sussex County

Newton, NJ – April 15, 2024 – Atlantic Health’s Newton Medical Center is proud to announce a pioneering initiative aimed at reshaping responses to mental health crises and reducing instances of violence. The Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together program launched in Sussex this past January and is led by The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, marking a significant milestone in the intersection of law enforcement and behavioral health care.

The ARRIVE Together program heralds a new era of collaboration between county police departments and behavioral health professionals, fostering stronger relationships to better address the needs of individuals in crisis. By integrating law enforcement and mental health expertise, the initiative seeks to provide more compassionate and effective responses to mental health emergencies.

"The launch of the ARRIVE Together program in Sussex County represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to promote mental health awareness and enhance community safety," said Geralda Xavier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Newton and Hackettstown Medical Centers. “By working together with law enforcement, we can create a more empathetic response to individuals in crisis."

Newton Medical Center, serving as the designated psychiatry screening center for Sussex County, plays a pivotal role in the success of the ARRIVE Together program. With its specialized resources and expertise, the medical center will facilitate timely assessments and interventions for individuals requiring behavioral health support.

Under the ARRIVE Together program, law enforcement officers will proactively engage in identifying individuals who may benefit from behavioral health intervention during emergency calls. Officers will call Newton Medical Center’s crisis hotline to let them know that a patient needs to be seen and will then coordinate the outreach. This proactive approach aims to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with appropriate mental health services, fostering a safer and more supportive community environment.

This program underscores Newton Medical Center’s commitment to innovation and community partnership. Through collaborative efforts and proactive initiatives, Newton Medical Center and its partners are dedicated to making meaningful strides in supporting mental health and promoting well-being throughout Sussex County.

About Atlantic Health

Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 20,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.

The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.

Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.Atlantic Health leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.

Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.