Press Release
Date: 10-15-12Name: Patti Verbanas Phone: 973-972-7273
Email: verbanpa@umdnj.edu
Cop2Cop Helpline Recognized by National Police Defense Foundation for Service to Law Enforcement Personnel
|
Program Director Cherie Castellano received the 2012 State Troopers Coalition �Woman of the Year Award� and Cop2Cop�s peer counselor staff was honored with a �Special Achievement Group Award.�
�This prestigious award was presented to Cherie Castellano in recognition of her lifelong accomplishments as the director of the Cop2Cop program,� said Joseph Occhipinti, NPDF Founder and Executive Director. �In addition, we recognize the key staff that administers this program and has been credited for preventing many police suicides.�
Since its founding in 2000, Cop2Cop has become an essential program for law enforcement personnel, fielding 30,000 helpline calls and other contacts and helping to avert more than 193 suicides. The success of Cop2Cop led to the creation of UMDNJ-UBHC�s NJVet2Vet, a similar peer-to-peer program established in 2005.
Cop2Cop, which shares NPDF�s mission of supporting and honoring officers wounded in the line of duty, took the occasion of the award presentation to give a specialhonor to Brian Malast, a New Jersey State Trooper who was wounded in the line of duty. Malast was invited to join the Cop2Cop Wounded Officer Support Group, which was founded in 2004.
The toll-free 24/7 Cop2Cop helpline number is 1-866-COP-2COP (1-866-267-2267).
Journalists wishing to interview Cherie Castellano or Cop2Cop peer counselors can contact Patti Verbanas at 973.972.7273 or at verbanpa@umdnj.edu.
About Cop2Cop
The toll-free Cop2Cop helpline (1-866-COP-2COP) provides peer and clinical support services, clinical assessments, referrals and critical incident stress management to law enforcement officers and their families. The helpline is answered by retired cops and cop clinicians who have a deep understanding of officers� concerns, problems and family issues. Cop2Cop team members are trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and will respond to and will conduct debriefings and defusing that are the result of a critical incident.
Cop2Cop is the country�s only legislated, statewide police crisis intervention helpline, managed by UMDNJ-UBHC in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Cop2Cop remains the only certified police helpline accredited by the American Association of Suicidology. Cop2Cop is also a certified trainer of the best practice gatekeeper model � Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) � for law enforcement and has provided that training to more than 4,000 officers to date.
About the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is New Jersey�s only health sciences university with more than 6,000 students on five campuses attending three medical schools, the State�s only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and New Jersey�s only school of public health. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, which provides a continuum of healthcare services with multiple locations throughout the State.
