Community Connections and Hope One Provide Mental Health and Recovery
Published on November 07, 2025
Morris County Sheriff’s Office Programs Aid Individuals in Need
The Morris County Community Connections Program, in partnership with Hope One, attended Roxbury Municipal Court yesterday to provide mental health and recovery support services to individuals in need.
The outreach event educated residents about available resources, as lifesaving Narcan kits were distributed and awareness was raised regarding recovery and mental health support available throughout the county. Narcan is an easy-to-use nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is distributed to individuals at risk, their families and concerned community members.
By the end of the event, the team had distributed six Narcan kits to court staff and individuals attending court.
“I’m really proud of the work our Sheriff’s Office does through Hope One and the Community Connections program -- which has grown and continues to evolve in its fourth year,” said Morris County Commissioner Douglas Cabana, liaison to the Department of Law and Public Safety. “In Morris County, we like to help people.”
Roxbury Township Municipal Court Judge Ira A. Cohen also expressed his appreciation for the team’s outreach efforts.
“We’re grateful to everyone who came to the municipal court to provide their support and services to our community,” said Judge Cohen.
Sheriff James M. Gannon, who launched both Hope One and Community Connections, praised the collaboration between law enforcement and social service partners.
“When we meet people where they are -- whether that’s on the street, in a courthouse, or in a crisis -- we can change lives,” said Sheriff Gannon. “These programs show what can happen when compassion and public safety work hand in hand.”
Launched in 2017, Hope One travels to locations across Morris County to offer immediate access to recovery support and mental health services. Since its inception, Hope One has made more than 66,000 community contacts and distributed over 12,000 Narcan kits.
Community Connections, also initiated by Sheriff Gannon in 2021, helps people facing municipal or state court charges to gain access to mental health care, recovery resources and social service benefits. The program collaborates closely with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Superior Court and Probation Services, including Recovery Court. Since it was launched, more than 700 people have entered the program.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance abuse, or who have been brought into court by law enforcement authorities and are in need of assistance, visit a Hope One mobile unit in the community or contact the Morris County Community Connections Program for more information.
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Photo: Pictured (l-r) Morris County Sheriff’s Officer Justin Sudol; Karevin “KB” Barnes, peer recovery specialist, Prevention Is Key (PIK); Amanda Herzig, mental health case manager, Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris; Katelyn Rivera, social family worker, Morris County Department of Human Service’s Navigating Hope; Sheriff’s Officer Steve Bachmann; and Morris County Commissioner Douglas Cabana. In the back row: The Honorable Ira A. Cohen, municipal judge, Roxbury Township and Kelly Robinson, court administrator, Roxbury Township.