On August 1, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law N.J.S.A. 18A:17-43.4, requiring the establishment of a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team in each public school, charter school, and renaissance school project. The purpose of a threat assessment team is to provide teachers, administrators, and other staff with assistance in identifying students with behaviors of concern, and assessing those students’ risk for engaging in violence or other harmful activities and delivering intervention strategies to manage the risk of harm for students who pose a potential safety risk.

The law also requires the board of education of each school district and the board of trustees of each charter school or renaissance school project to develop and adopt a policy for the establishment of a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team at each school. Any policy developed by a school district, charter school or renaissance school project concerning the establishment of a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team must be aligned with the Guidance on the Establishment and Training of K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams (BTAM), developed by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) in consultation with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and State law enforcement agencies.

School stakeholders who have any immediate concerns related to possible harm to any student (including self-harming behavior), or any potential threats to our schools, are asked to contact their Principal and/or the Dumont Police immediately.

OTHER IMPORTANT HELP NUMBERS 

New Jersey's suicide prevention line, NJ Hopeline, is available by phone (855-654-6735), chat, text and email. The U.S. line for individuals with suicidal thoughts is 800-273-TALK

PerformCare

If your situation is not immediately life-threatening, contact PerformCare at 1-877-652-7624 and follow the menu prompts provided for an urgent situation. You  will be asked a series of questions to determine how PerformCare can help. If there is a need for your child to be evaluated for hospitalization, they will refer you to a local screening center.

Mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)

PerformCare may authorize Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS) to come to your home within one hour of notification to provide face-to-face crisis services. The goal is to stabilize behavior and keep your child at home. Mobile response is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can offer up to eight weeks of stabilization services.