TRENTON, NJ — Senator Angela V. McKnight expressed her appreciation following the approval of a grant for Hudson County under the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Response Act, which aims to fund Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Programs. Hudson County organizations were initially denied funding in the first round but were given the opportunity to reapply by August 19.
The Seabrooks-Washington Act, signed into law in January, was named in memory of Najee Seabrooks and Andrew Washington, who both died in separate encounters with law enforcement during mental health crises. Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin first announced the program’s grant recipients in July, benefiting counties across New Jersey.
Following the initial rejection of Hudson County’s application, Senator McKnight contacted the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to seek clarification and advocate for a prompt reconsideration of the county’s bid. A new application, submitted by the Anti Violence Coalition of Hudson County, was ultimately approved.
“I am pleased that the OAG urgently addressed this matter to provide an opportunity for Hudson County and other counties to re-apply for funding from the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Response Act to establish a Community Crisis Response Team Pilot Program,” Senator McKnight said in a statement.
McKnight emphasized that the initiative would play a crucial role in protecting vulnerable individuals during mental health crises and looked forward to its implementation in Jersey City.
