MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) held an Awards Recognition Ceremony honoring the achievements of its students, faculty, and staff. Students were presented with scholarships for their hard work and success.

MCVSD Superintendent Scott Moffit opened the ceremony before inviting Morris County Director John Krickus, New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Executive Director John Donnadio, and MCVSD Board of Education President Barbara Dawson to present the first round of scholarships awarded annually by the NJAC Foundation.

“These outstanding students are honored for academic excellence and community involvement. The NJAC Foundation has been awarding these scholarships for many years to county vocational-technical school graduates throughout the state, supporting students’ educational and career goals they have set out to achieve by advancing themselves through college,” Director Krickus said.

Seven students were among the 2023 NJAC scholarship recipients: Christian Barnard of Denville, Anna Dziedzic of Butler, Ava Winget of Mine Hill, Alexander Neuhaus of Lincoln Park, Jessica Campos of Dover, Sophia Lewis of Riverdale, and Mason Rabtzow of Lake Hopatcong. All students were recent graduates of MCVSD.

The scholarships were made possible through AT&T, PSE&G, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, Amazon, Investors Bank, and SHI International Corporation donations.

Investors Bank, a Division of Citizens Bank N.A., awarded a grant of $21,000 to the NJAC Foundation for scholarships to county vocational-technical school graduates who will pursue higher education at a county college or state college or university in New Jersey. Two students from each of NJ’s 21 counties received $500 scholarships.

Amazon doubled its grant award in 2023 to $21,000 to the NJAC Foundation for scholarships to county vocational-technical school graduates who plan on continuing their education in New Jersey at a county college, state college, or university. The Foundation awarded one scholarship of $1,000 in all 21 counties.

PSEG awarded the foundation a $12,000 grant for county vocational-technical school graduates who plan to continue their education at a New Jersey county or state college to study environmental science, green design, green technology, alternative energy or related subjects. Scholarships for $900 were awarded in each county where PSEG maintains a service territory or generation facility.

AT&T provided a grant of $10,500 to the NJAC Foundation for scholarships to county vocational-technical school graduates who plan on continuing their education in New Jersey at a county college. All award recipients must plan on pursuing their certificate or degree in cybersecurity, computer information systems, data analytics, database management, computer science, or a related field of study. The foundation awarded scholarships of $500 to students in all 21 counties.

SHI International Corporation awarded NJAC $10,500 for county vocational-technical school graduates pursuing degrees in technology or cyber security at a county or state college or university in New Jersey. NJAC awarded $500 scholarships in all 21 counties.

NJM Insurance Group presented NJAC with a check for $5,250 for three $1,750 scholarships, which were awarded to a student in each of the company’s headquarters counties—Morris, Mercer, and Atlantic.

The NJAC Foundation is a non-profit organization affiliated with the New Jersey Association of Counties that is committed to providing innovative educational opportunities to county vocational-technical school and county college students. For more information on the foundation, visit the NJAC website by clicking here.

Morris County Vocational School District offers a wide range of career and technical education programs that range from auto service and construction trades to healthcare sciences, global commerce, performing arts, and cybersecurity. The high school offers full-time academies and share-time programs on its Denville campus and, through collaboration with local school districts and the County College of Morris (CCM), also has offerings at off-site satellite locations. To learn more about MCVSD, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — On June 5, 2017, the Morris County Correctional Facility (MCCF) opened a new Substance Abuse Housing Unit that is appropriately referred to as the “Hope Wing.”

The focus of this unit was designed to help inmates who present substance abuse difficulties to address their addiction through group and individual interventions.

Participating inmates voluntarily request to enter the Hope Wing and must agree to comply with the regimented weekly schedule. Morris County Correctional Facility substance abuse counselor, Michael Dunleavy, MSW, LCSW, LCADC, oversees the clinical program of the Hope Wing.

Addiction manifests as a multifaceted problem, it requires a multifaceted approach to achieve the highest possibility for successful results. The professionals of various disciplines who are already employed within the facility, as well as a faithful, dedicated, and selfless team of community volunteers, facilitate the programming provided to the inmates on the Hope Wing.

“It was a significant realization when it occurred to us that we have 24/7 access to a population of individuals in the throes of addiction who need help and support. It was practically seamless to see how we could dedicate an entire section of our correctional facility for these analogous individuals for the purpose of individual recovery and recovery support. I am proud of our staff who work tirelessly on the Hope Wing for the benefit of others, and I am proud of our fellow citizens who work tirelessly to change the trajectory of their lives. I applaud them and the success of the Hope Wing and I look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries and individual successes,” Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

Special attention to physical care is addressed on the Hope Wing. Self-care is vital to recovery. Often an underlying issue for an individual suffering from a substance abuse problem is the “self-medicating” of a medical or psychiatric condition rather than seeking appropriate treatment from a professional.

The medical care and psychiatric care provided at the MCCF is vital to maintaining abstinence and sustained recovery. A particular benefit afforded to participating inmates is the opportunity to receive medication such as Vivitrol prior to release to aid in the recovery process.

One of the most important components of the Hope Wing model are the groups and meetings facilitated by members of the “recovering community”. These volunteers, who are in long term recovery from addiction, give in-person testimony that ongoing recovery is possible and sustainable.

They demonstrate that the Hope Wing participants have the ability to be acceptable, responsible, and productive members of society and successfully integrate back into the community. These volunteers are members of groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and CARES (The Center for Addiction Recovery Education & Success).

While on the Hope Wing, participants engage in scheduled groups which address a variety of aspects that are imperative for ongoing recovery.

Inmates are exposed to components of fundamental topics such as relapse prevention, anger management, stress management, improved repertoire of coping skills, identification of triggers, identification and revision of thought patterns, inaccurate beliefs, family roles, healthy relationships, codependency, guilt, shame, personal values, ambitions, and self-esteem. Through individual sessions, Hope Wing participants can discuss addiction and recovery concerns that the inmate may find too sensitive to share in a group setting.

“This month in 2017 the Hope Block was opened. It’s been seven years already, and I always tell people that I’m very honored and thankful to be the everyday Officer on this unit that was created by Sheriff Gannon. I hope we have many more years of growth and success in the future to come and I’d like to say thank you for everything,” Morris County Correctional Police Officer Kevin Johnson said.

Faith and spirituality are important individual components in recovery. The MCCF Chaplain helps the inmates with ways to utilize faith and spirituality as an integral facet to address addiction.

The Chaplain assists inmates in rebuilding family ties that have been broken as a result of the inmate’s addiction and criminal activity. In addition, the Chaplain plays an integral role in advocacy, such as connecting inmates with legal, social, and political
avenues for change.

MCCF Educators administer the GED program at the facility and work with inmates to develop the skills necessary to seek and maintain employment upon their release.

Another service offered to participants of the Hope Wing, as well as other MCCF inmates, is the Morris County Reentry Program. The Morris County Reentry Coordinator provides intensive reentry case management to individuals being released from the Morris County Correctional Facility into the community.

The Reentry Coordinator provides linkage to concrete services across multiple life domains, including, but not limited to, housing, General Assistance, SNAP and Medicaid, obtaining identification (County ID card, birth certificate, etc.), and other social services. When reentry program participants are released from Morris County Correctional Facility, they receive continuous post-release case management and advocacy to assist them in overcoming barriers to success.

“While I am certainly proud to have had the blessing to oversee the Hope Wing, I am most proud of the voluntary Hope Wing participants over the last 7 years who have taken advantage of the opportunity to create a change in their life,” said Michael Dunleavy, Hope Wing Coordinator. “Although security and safety are the number one priority of the facility, the collaboration and culture on the Hope Wing is of prime clinical concern. The challenge is to create an atmosphere and environment on the Hope Wing that is as emotionally safe as possible to foster healing. I often state to the inmates on the Hope Wing that ‘they are the Hope Wing, not the housing unit where they temporarily reside’. This is important for them to know this.”

At the opening of the Hope Wing, the initial population was 5 inmates. Since then, the Hope Wing has had over 300 inmates pass through the program.

The desire is to continue the path that has been started and increase the services offered to those who qualify and desire these services. The outcomes have significant impact in the fight against addiction and recidivism in Morris County and the State of New Jersey.

Here are some quotes from participants residing and healing in the Hope Wing. Many former Hope Wing participants have been in contact via phone and email.

Here are some things that have been expressed:

• “In November, I will have three years clean.”
• “I got married a year ago, and we have a beautiful one-bedroom apartment.”
• “I am now the daytime manager at my job.”
• “I currently attend CCM online part-time.”
• “I have a good support system.”
• “I’m in touch with my son and my dad.”
• “I’m grateful to you guys and the Hope program. I believe in that program. The Hope Wing has played a significant role in what I have done, where I am now, and where I am going.”
• “Thank you so much for giving me the tools to stay out (of jail) and build a better life for myself. I thank you for walking me through everything and going above and beyond. It’s because of the Hope Wing, and everyone involved that I lasted home for longer than my record, 6 months out of jail since 2007. I’m going on my 2nd year home. I have a job for two years; I start back as soon as I finish this school semester. I’m in college! I’m sober and happy. Thank you.”

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey’s youth suicide rate is lower than the nation’s, but it has unfortunately trended up over the last decade, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn said.

A new report required under legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and cleared by an Assembly committee this week focuses on the causes contributing to the increase.

“To significantly reduce and hopefully eliminate youth suicides in New Jersey, legislators need to understand better why it is happening,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “Do we need more mental health support in schools? Should pediatricians screen teens for suicide risk? How many children had increased suicidal thoughts while taking antidepressants? These are questions that I am hopeful this report will help answer so that we can reach kids sooner, get them the right help, and save lives.”

The bill (A3198) directs the state’s health commissioner to work with the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Human Services, and the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to study the causes of youth suicide and associated risk factors like mental illness and substance abuse.

Ninety-four New Jersey youth ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in 2021, making it the second leading cause of death among that age range in the Garden State, Dunn said.

“Every year, thousands of young people end up needing emergency or inpatient care because of a suicide attempt, but oftentimes there are red flags like social isolation or increased anxiety before a person needs a crisis-level intervention,” Dunn said.

Of the youth who died by suicide in the state between 2017 and 2019, 70% were known to be struggling with mental health issues, problems at school, suicidal ideation, and more. Eleven percent disclosed their suicide intent to another person before acting, Dunn said.

Dunn said that after the study, the health commissioner will issue a report that includes recommendations for legislation or regulatory changes to address the causes.

“Recognizing who is at increased risk, the reason why, and the contributing causes will help create successful safety nets and prevention plans,” Dunn added. “Making sure parents are aware of the warning signs and all the available treatments, as well as their benefits and risks, is important, too.”

Dunn noted how the FDA started requiring a black box warning on the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 2004 to alert doctors that children and teens taking that type of drug might be prone to thoughts of suicide.

According to a mental health industry watchdog organization, 15,840 New Jersey children and teens between the ages of 0 and 17 in 2023 were prescribed antidepressants under Medicaid.

“New Jersey needs a bigger picture, which will be provided through this comprehensive report, to ensure the right programs and information are offered in the right places at the right times,” Dunn said.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the suicide rate among young people ages 10 to 24 increased 62% from 2007 through 2021.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Annual Peach Festival will be held on the historic grounds of Community Presbyterian Church, 220 Main Street, Chester, on Saturday, August 3rd. Admission is free, and the event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The event is held rain or shine. There will be peach pies, homemade peach ice cream, other desserts, and fresh, locally grown peaches for sale.

At the huge White Elephant Tent, big bargains include toys, books, sporting goods, household items, and more. Call (908) 879-5091 for more information, or click here for details.