About
A space for data transparency, education, and awareness related to Paterson, New Jersey’s view of the opioid epidemic.
COAR
The Paterson Coalition for Opioid Assessment and Response (COAR) was established in December 2019 with a simple goal: to regularly convene a multi-disciplined group of local policy makers so they can collect, share, and regularly evaluate data and experiences related to the opioid epidemic as it is experienced by Patersonians.
Since its inception, the Coalition has been able to identify multiple datasets that help understand key trends in overdoses, as well as the extent to which individuals are being met with helpful information and a continuum of care to help them toward recovery. The Coalition is identifying critical gaps in service that its partners are dedicated to slowly, but surely, remedying over time. Importantly, the Coalition is responsible for sharing its data findings, insights, and intervention plans with the community on a quarterly basis.
ORT
The data collected by COAR is operationalized by the City’s inaugural Opioid Response Team (ORT). The ORT consists of specially-trained Police Department (PPD) members, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) technicians, Health and Human Services' (HHS) Social Workers, and community-based outreach partners. Together, this team is focused on putting COAR's data insights into action.
Specifically, COAR found that 22% of all overdoses occur on only 2% of Paterson’s street segments; thus, these are the hot spots where ORT outreach efforts are concentrated. This has shown to be an effective community-based intervention with the ability to actively reach and engage with those in need to support. Within nine months of its first intervention, the ORT had written 831 referrals for treatment to 489 individuals. While there are additional interventions and iterations to be taken by the ORT, this data shows that our approach is building trust, relationships, and rapport while we connect with those who are seeking recovery support.
We spread the following messages...
OUD is a medical condition that can be medically treated. When medication is used, it is vital to secure a legitimate prescription and oversight from a licensed medical professional.
There are three Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)—Suboxone, Methadone, and Sublocade—that are clinically proven to reduce mortality among those suffering with OUD.
Medical treatment alone is not likely to resolve OUD for an individual that is struggling with additional factors like homelessness, lack of income or social supports, health care coverage, etc.; there are often many complex barriers to recovery that must be addressed in order to help an individual be successful. There is no one-size-fits all approach to recovery or “right way” to embark upon recovery. The ORT and/or its partners can help provide consistent case management, service navigation, and support to those who need assistance.
There are many ways to reduce potential harm (i.e. overdose, injury, or death) among people who use drugs, including those with OUD. Individuals who participate in harm reduction programs or services are five times more likely to eventually enter recovery treatment.
Those suffering from OUD (as well as their loved ones)deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Therefore, they:
- Deserve to be provided factual information about mortality rates related to a variety of recovery options (MAT included);
- Deserve to be provided information about strategies and services that can reduce harm to their life or livelihood; and
- Deserve to be offered genuine, reliable assistance and navigation that yields clear points of access to effective services and as few “dead ends” as possible.
All individuals who interact with COAR or the ORT must be afforded respect, patience, and factual information. ORT members are not meant to debate, argue, convince, shame, or coerce individuals into believing the above messages. This is in an effort to build trust between the ORT and Paterson community members over time.
Meet The team
City Leadership
Mayor
Department -
Administration
"We are proud of Paterson COAR leading the way on data collection and analysis so that we can begin to understand and address an issue as complex as the opioid epidemic. Through these efforts, my administration is confident that we will start to see progress on our streets."
COAR, ORT
Leiutenant
Department -
Police
Lt. Todd Pearl earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) as well as his Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. He joined the Paterson Police Department in 2007 and now serves in the department's Bureau of Administrative Services, overseeing policy and planning objectives. During his academic career, Lt. Pearl served as a research assistant at the Rutgers Police Institute and was soon hired as a civilian employee by the Paterson Police Department to assist in the community outreach necessary to institute a CeaseFire Program in Paterson.
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
City HHS
"Our City needs to change its view of addiction; sharing and collecting appropriate data and resources to share internally and with the community is a first step in the right direction toward compassion. By understanding the issue thoroughly, we can begin to see where gaps in service exist and start working together to create bridges and improve pipelines for recovery success.”
COAR, ORT
Sr Program Manager
Department -
Police
Joyner is an experienced case manager and program developer for the City's Department of Health and Human Services. Her experience serving the City's homeless population brings an intimate wealth of knowledge regarding the barriers experienced by homeless and/or addicted individuals.
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
Public Safety
"COAR's data should be the first stop for those looking to understand what our first responders’ reality is on the ground. I am proud of the police and EMS members volunteering their time to the Paterson ORT and hope that their leadership-by-example improves all of our sworn officer’s understanding of addiction."
COAR
System Director of Addiction Medicine - RWJBarnabs Health
Department -
Hospital
Dr. LaPietra is the Chief of Pain and Addiction Medicine for St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson's local Emergency Department. She worked closely on the development of St. Joseph's Alternative To Opiod (ALTO) program in 2009, which quickly became a nation-wide model for best practices in pain management and drug treatment.
ORT
Retired - Fire Chief
Department -
Fire and EMS
“If our goal is to drive down the number of overdoses in our City long-term, we need to start by partnering with the right institutions so we can share data and learn best practices to help people suffering from addiction. From there, we can see how our teams can better-allocate resources and improve our first responder’s approach when addressing these high-need individuals in the field.”
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
COAR
Executive Director
Department -
HCPC
Birdsall is the Executive Director of the state-designated Regional Health Hub, known locally as the Health Coalition of Passaic County (HCPC). The HCPC is meant to coordinate and guide the efforts of 60+ public safety, public health, and behavioral health agencies toward best practices aiming to address social determinants of health in order to improve public health outcomes over time.
COAR
Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Passaic County
Department -
County HHS
Chou is the Division Director for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Passaic County Department of Health and Human Services. He brings a knowledge of resources toward and strategy behind county-wide initiatives that are similarly targeted to address the opioid epidemic.
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
ORT
Battalion Chief
Department -
Fire/EMS
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
COAR, ORT
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Department -
CUMAC
Andrea Ramalho earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Theory from the Catholic University of America, as well as Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy. Ramalho currently serves as a civilian employee of the Paterson Police Department as the Sr. Program Manager for Alternative Public Safety Strategies. In this role, Ramalho oversees all opioid-related funding awarded to the department and consults on adjacent programs.
COAR
Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Northeastern University
Department -
COAR Evaluator
Dr. Piza’s research agenda centers on data-based solutions to urban public safety problems. In support of his work, Dr. Piza has received outside research grants from the National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of State, Swedish National Council on Crime Prevention, and the Charles Koch Foundation’s Police and Criminal Justice Reform program. He previously served as GIS Specialist of the Newark, NJ Police Department, responsible for the day-to-day crime analysis and program evaluation activities of the agency.
COAR
Sr. Assistant Prosecutor
Department -
County Prosecutor
Walsh is the Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the County's Narcotics Division, bringing knowledge and access to narcotics prosecutions, Recovery Court, and other opioid-based projects operating at the County level, including “Project Helping Hand," a post-arrest diversion program for those with addiction.
COAR
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College
Department -
COAR Evaluator
Dr. Wolff's research interests include the spatial and temporal patterning of crime, juvenile justice, criminological theory, program evaluation, and quantitative methods. His work has appeared in Justice Quarterly, the Journal of Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Criminal Justice, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, and Journal of Youth and Adolescence. He recently received the Tory J. Caeti Memorial Award and the Feliks Gross Award in recognition of his contributions to the criminal justice field.
COAR, ORT
Leiutenant
Department -
Police
Lt. Todd Pearl earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) as well as his Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. He joined the Paterson Police Department in 2007 and now serves in the department's Bureau of Administrative Services, overseeing policy and planning objectives. During his academic career, Lt. Pearl served as a research assistant at the Rutgers Police Institute and was soon hired as a civilian employee by the Paterson Police Department to assist in the community outreach necessary to institute a CeaseFire Program in Paterson.
COAR, ORT
Sr Program Manager
Department -
Police
Joyner is an experienced case manager and program developer for the City's Department of Health and Human Services. Her experience serving the City's homeless population brings an intimate wealth of knowledge regarding the barriers experienced by homeless and/or addicted individuals.
COAR
System Director of Addiction Medicine - RWJBarnabs Health
Department -
Hospital
Dr. LaPietra is the Chief of Pain and Addiction Medicine for St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson's local Emergency Department. She worked closely on the development of St. Joseph's Alternative To Opiod (ALTO) program in 2009, which quickly became a nation-wide model for best practices in pain management and drug treatment.
COAR
Executive Director
Department -
HCPC
Birdsall is the Executive Director of the state-designated Regional Health Hub, known locally as the Health Coalition of Passaic County (HCPC). The HCPC is meant to coordinate and guide the efforts of 60+ public safety, public health, and behavioral health agencies toward best practices aiming to address social determinants of health in order to improve public health outcomes over time.
COAR
Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Passaic County
Department -
County HHS
Chou is the Division Director for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Passaic County Department of Health and Human Services. He brings a knowledge of resources toward and strategy behind county-wide initiatives that are similarly targeted to address the opioid epidemic.
COAR, ORT
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Department -
CUMAC
Andrea Ramalho earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Theory from the Catholic University of America, as well as Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy. Ramalho currently serves as a civilian employee of the Paterson Police Department as the Sr. Program Manager for Alternative Public Safety Strategies. In this role, Ramalho oversees all opioid-related funding awarded to the department and consults on adjacent programs.
COAR
Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Northeastern University
Department -
COAR Evaluator
Dr. Piza’s research agenda centers on data-based solutions to urban public safety problems. In support of his work, Dr. Piza has received outside research grants from the National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of State, Swedish National Council on Crime Prevention, and the Charles Koch Foundation’s Police and Criminal Justice Reform program. He previously served as GIS Specialist of the Newark, NJ Police Department, responsible for the day-to-day crime analysis and program evaluation activities of the agency.
COAR
Sr. Assistant Prosecutor
Department -
County Prosecutor
Walsh is the Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the County's Narcotics Division, bringing knowledge and access to narcotics prosecutions, Recovery Court, and other opioid-based projects operating at the County level, including “Project Helping Hand," a post-arrest diversion program for those with addiction.
COAR
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College
Department -
COAR Evaluator
Dr. Wolff's research interests include the spatial and temporal patterning of crime, juvenile justice, criminological theory, program evaluation, and quantitative methods. His work has appeared in Justice Quarterly, the Journal of Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Criminal Justice, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, and Journal of Youth and Adolescence. He recently received the Tory J. Caeti Memorial Award and the Feliks Gross Award in recognition of his contributions to the criminal justice field.
COAR, ORT
Leiutenant
Department -
Police
Lt. Todd Pearl earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) as well as his Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. He joined the Paterson Police Department in 2007 and now serves in the department's Bureau of Administrative Services, overseeing policy and planning objectives. During his academic career, Lt. Pearl served as a research assistant at the Rutgers Police Institute and was soon hired as a civilian employee by the Paterson Police Department to assist in the community outreach necessary to institute a CeaseFire Program in Paterson.
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
City HHS
"Our City needs to change its view of addiction; sharing and collecting appropriate data and resources to share internally and with the community is a first step in the right direction toward compassion. By understanding the issue thoroughly, we can begin to see where gaps in service exist and start working together to create bridges and improve pipelines for recovery success.”
COAR, ORT
Sr Program Manager
Department -
Police
Joyner is an experienced case manager and program developer for the City's Department of Health and Human Services. Her experience serving the City's homeless population brings an intimate wealth of knowledge regarding the barriers experienced by homeless and/or addicted individuals.
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
Public Safety
"COAR's data should be the first stop for those looking to understand what our first responders’ reality is on the ground. I am proud of the police and EMS members volunteering their time to the Paterson ORT and hope that their leadership-by-example improves all of our sworn officer’s understanding of addiction."
ORT
Retired - Fire Chief
Department -
Fire and EMS
“If our goal is to drive down the number of overdoses in our City long-term, we need to start by partnering with the right institutions so we can share data and learn best practices to help people suffering from addiction. From there, we can see how our teams can better-allocate resources and improve our first responder’s approach when addressing these high-need individuals in the field.”
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
ORT
Battalion Chief
Department -
Fire/EMS
ORT
Social Worker
Department -
City HHS
COAR, ORT
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Department -
CUMAC
Andrea Ramalho earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Theory from the Catholic University of America, as well as Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) Degrees in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy. Ramalho currently serves as a civilian employee of the Paterson Police Department as the Sr. Program Manager for Alternative Public Safety Strategies. In this role, Ramalho oversees all opioid-related funding awarded to the department and consults on adjacent programs.
City Leadership
Mayor
Department -
Administration
"We are proud of Paterson COAR leading the way on data collection and analysis so that we can begin to understand and address an issue as complex as the opioid epidemic. Through these efforts, my administration is confident that we will start to see progress on our streets."
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
City HHS
"Our City needs to change its view of addiction; sharing and collecting appropriate data and resources to share internally and with the community is a first step in the right direction toward compassion. By understanding the issue thoroughly, we can begin to see where gaps in service exist and start working together to create bridges and improve pipelines for recovery success.”
City Leadership, ORT
Director
Department -
Public Safety
"COAR's data should be the first stop for those looking to understand what our first responders’ reality is on the ground. I am proud of the police and EMS members volunteering their time to the Paterson ORT and hope that their leadership-by-example improves all of our sworn officer’s understanding of addiction."
ORT
Retired - Fire Chief
Department -
Fire and EMS
“If our goal is to drive down the number of overdoses in our City long-term, we need to start by partnering with the right institutions so we can share data and learn best practices to help people suffering from addiction. From there, we can see how our teams can better-allocate resources and improve our first responder’s approach when addressing these high-need individuals in the field.”
COAR & ORT
Partner Organizations
The mission of the Paterson Department of Public Safety is to protect and serve the residents of Paterson through the work of four divisions: Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Office of Emergency Management, and Animal Control. The Police and EMS divisions of the department are most involved with Paterson COAR and the ORT.
The mission of the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office is to investigate and prosecute all crimes that take place within its jurisdiction while promoting the security of its residents and respecting the rights afforded to all crime victims. The Sr. Assistant Prosecutor of Narcotics oversees all activity with Paterson COAR and assures that the County's comparable policies, procedures, and efforts are represented in all meetings.
St. Joseph's Health is home to Paterson's local emergency department, as well as a new low-barrier Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic. The goal of the office is to provide low barrier, evidence-based care for people in the community who are suffering from opioid use disorder. A low-barrier office meets people where they are in their disease and focuses on providing medication and resources with as few obstacles as possible during their early recovery.
The mission of the Paterson City Department of Health & Human Services is to serve the citizens of Paterson with dignity and respect throughout all programs and services. Each Division ensures that the mission of the Department is achieved. There are ten divisions: Planning and Program Analysis, Rent Leveling, Mercantile Licensing, Ryan White/HIV AIDS, Division of Health, Division of Senior Services, Youth Services Bureau, Silk City School-Based Youth Services, Municipal Alliance Prevention Program.
The Department of Human Services is an umbrella social service agency concerned with the planning and funding services for the county’s disadvantaged and homeless citizens. The department's Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services oversees all activity and partnership with COAR. Additionally, the department oversees divisions/offices related to the following: Community Outreach and Family Services, Juvenile Administration, and the Workforce Development Board (WDB).
Proudly serving the residents of the Passaic County, HCPC is composed of 80+ organizations dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health. The HCPC's mission is to significantly improve health equity, health and overall quality of life for residents of the greater Passaic County area by specifically addressing social determinants of health through a dedicated, thriving and sustainable community coalition and regional health hub.
Eva’s Village is a nonprofit, comprehensive behavioral health, and social service nonprofit organization with a mission to provide care and support for people struggling with poverty, hunger, homelessness, and addiction. Through nearly 40 years of service in Paterson, Eva's has established a unique record in helping individuals struggling with poverty, hunger, homelessness, and addiction.
Prevention Is Key CARES operates Passaic County Hope One, a Mobile Recovery Unit intended to reduce substance use disorder and help individuals with mental illness access appropriate treatment and resources, and support individuals on their path to recovery. The unit is staffed by a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, as well as a Mental Health Professional trained as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
City Relief is a mobile outreach to people struggling with or at risk of homelessness and we consistently go to the same eight locations in the NY/NJ area each week. City Relief creates an intentional space that is welcoming and dignifying by setting up tables and chairs on the sidewalk that welcome guests and invite conversation over a shared meal.
Join the team
