Morris County recently held its fourth annual Community Resource Exchange (CREX), a major networking event designed to connect local leaders, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and community advocates. Organized by the Morris County Department of Human Services in collaboration with the Morris County Continuum of Care, Family Promise of Morris County, the Interfaith Food Pantry Network, and ARC/Morris, the gathering continues to grow as one of the county’s most important forums for addressing community needs.
The purpose of CREX is simple yet vital: to expand awareness of the broad network of services available to residents, particularly those facing urgent challenges such as food insecurity, housing instability, mental health concerns, and other essential needs. By bringing together municipal leaders, government officials, school administrators, public health professionals, faith-based organizations, and nonprofit partners under one roof, the event creates opportunities for collaboration that have a lasting impact well beyond the day of the exchange.
This year’s CREX welcomed nearly 50 organizations, including county agencies and community-based service providers. Among those in attendance were mayors, councilmembers, administrators, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim. County leaders, including Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw and County Administrator Deena Leary, also participated, emphasizing the importance of aligning government resources with the efforts of local nonprofits.
Commissioner Shaw noted that partnerships are critical when it comes to strengthening safety nets for vulnerable residents. “At any moment, anyone can find themselves in crisis,” Shaw said. “This event ensures our communities know where to turn, and it helps us maximize the impact of resources already available.”
The day’s program highlighted key initiatives shaping New Jersey’s approach to crisis response and community support. One presentation focused on the state’s 988 suicide prevention helpline, which serves as a lifeline for residents struggling with mental health challenges. Karen Wapner, state lead for 988 and regional coordinator for the Office of Community Services within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, explained how the hotline connects callers with immediate support.
“In New Jersey, we have four lifeline crisis centers capable of handling calls, texts, and chats,” Wapner said. “We are able to respond quickly, meeting people where they are and linking them to the resources they need most.”
Wapner also introduced attendees to the Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Team (MCORT), a new initiative launched in March 2025 and managed locally by Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services. When a 988 counselor determines that a caller would benefit from in-person assistance, MCORT dispatches a two-person team — one trained professional and one certified peer specialist with lived experience — to provide face-to-face support. Unlike traditional crisis interventions, MCORT operates without law enforcement involvement, offering a compassionate and voluntary response designed to deescalate situations and connect individuals to ongoing services.
The event also featured keynote speaker Adam Weckenmann, LCSW, clinical co-responder for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s ARRIVE Together program. Launched in January 2024, the program has since grown into a statewide model for crisis response, pairing plainclothes law enforcement officers with mental health clinicians. By 2025, ARRIVE had expanded into all 21 counties, including every municipality within Morris County.
“The program started with 10 towns and four clinicians,” Weckenmann explained. “Now, we have six full-time clinicians dedicated to Morris County. So far this year, ARRIVE has responded to more than 550 mental health-related calls and received nearly 800 referrals for follow-up.”
Beyond the scheduled presentations, CREX placed a strong emphasis on face-to-face networking. Attendees were encouraged to visit each organization’s resource table and exchange information, building the kinds of connections that can lead to better outcomes for families and individuals in need.
Carolyn Lake, executive director of the Interfaith Food Pantry Network, reminded participants of the power of collaboration: “We hope this forum opens doors to services that can help not only your neighbors and constituents but also the people who reach out to you directly for help.”
Kasey Errico, director of the Morris County Department of Human Services, added that these conversations create ripple effects: “The partnerships formed here may assist someone today, but they may also serve someone you know tomorrow.”
The steering committee behind CREX 2025 reflected the strength of community collaboration. Alongside Errico, leaders included Joann Bjornson and Holly Dinneny of Family Promise of Morris County; Alicia Alvarez, chair of the Morris County Continuum of Care Executive Committee; Carolyn Lake, Shana Baer, and Julia Murtha of the Interfaith Food Pantry Network; and Laura Jennings Pitt of ARC/Morris. Their work ensured the event not only ran smoothly but also reflected the needs and priorities of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
Events like CREX illustrate how Morris County is taking proactive steps to strengthen its community fabric through cooperation, resource-sharing, and innovative problem-solving. By connecting decision-makers with service providers, the county is creating stronger, more resilient support systems that help ensure no resident falls through the cracks.
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