by Marianne Kinsman

JACKSON– Over the past two years, Ocean and Monmouth County have topped the charts for highest rates of overdose deaths in New Jersey. Jackson Township officials have decided, enough is enough.

On Wednesday evening, Township officials met and agreed to adopt the R.I.S.E. program which address Recovery, Intervention, Support, and Education. This program comes as an extension of CFC Loud N Clear Foundation which was founded in Howell in 2012. Since conception, CFC has greatly impacted the drug issues and community. From being #19 on NJ’s worst heroin towns, to completely dropping off of the list, Howell has become a recovery sensitive community and Jackson is now doing the same. In 2015, CFC opened sober living homes in Jackson and Howell.

This program has been created to empower communities and utilize already existing municipalities to provide free resources to families battling addiction or residents looking to start a new life in recovery. Mayor Michael Reina met with officials Nicole Pormilli, Board of Education, Virgil Hollender & Catherine Gross of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, John McGeehan of CentraState Community Relations, Phil Stilton of JTown Magazine, Jay Rivera, Marianne Kinsman and Lynn Regan of CFC Loud n Clear Foundation. Together as a community we will work to provide recovery, interventions, support and education for this horrible disease that does not discriminate.

CFC Loud N Clear Foundation is committed to helping people and their families struggling with addiction find a positive, progressive life in recovery – making them assets to their community. CFC is not only driving awareness to the disease of addiction but helping many people in crisis. By seamlessly integrating all aspects of a township municipality, CFC is expanding recovery support services through mentorship, peer support, community education and outreach (including naloxone training) programs that reduce stigma or discrimination against individuals with substance use disorders.

This program does not just happen by itself – it requires a committed, vigilant, and proactive team.

By bringing R.I.S.E. to your community the following is available to you…

Access to all CFC Loud N Clear Recovery Programs and Resources
Provide local CCAR Certified Recovery Coaches to community members in need
Host local CCAR Recovery Coach & Ethics Certification Classes
Manage and Initiate R.I.S.E. CIT Program with Chief of local Police Department
Coordinate prevention programs with Township Municipal Alliance
Organize & launch T+K=GO Program® with the help of local Chamber of Commerce members and businesses
Coordinate and participate in community outreach events
School presentations, parental and teacher education seminars, etc.

CFC is extremely excited to expand these programs to Jackson residents. All meetings and time schedules in Jackson will be announced soon. For current programs, visit www.HealingUS.org

Photo: Phil Stilton/JTOWN Magazine.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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