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MHADA approves long‑standing psychiatric screening waiver as members review screening and crisis services
Summary
MHADA voted to accept a screening waiver that has been in place since 1989 and heard presentations on psychiatric screening, the ARRIVE response program and EISS utilization.
At its May 13 meeting, the Mental Health Addiction Drug Alliance of Cape May County (MHADA) voted to accept a psychiatric screening waiver and reviewed county screening and crisis services.
Why it matters: The screening waiver governs how psychiatric emergency screenings are performed and the vote formalizes MHADA’s acceptance amid staffing challenges and evolving hospital utilization.
Christina Jackey and Michele Myles presented a PowerPoint on the psychiatric screening waiver and New Jersey screening practice. Michele Myles, representing Acenda, summarized psychiatric screening services in New Jersey and at Cooper University — Cape Regional hospital; the presentation included utilization trends for Cape May County. The transcript states the screening waiver request “has been in existence since 1989” and that staffing shortages pose a primary challenge to implementation.
Following the presentation, Mary Dozier moved to accept the screening waiver; Lisa Shaffer seconded the motion and the minutes record “Motion carried.” The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or tally.
Members also heard updates on joint police-mental-health response and crisis services. Myles reported the ARRIVE program has served 175 individuals since inception with an average response time of 12 minutes. Emergency Intervention Support Services (EISS) recorded 19 new admissions in February, most coming from screening; Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at Cooper/Cape were described as the ER-based screening program certified under the New Jersey screening law.
Discussion vs. decision: Acceptance of the screening waiver was recorded as a formal action (motion carried). Other information—ARRIVE and EISS statistics—was presented for situational awareness; no formal changes to program budgets or staffing were recorded in the minutes.
Ending: MHADA members noted staffing shortages and asked for continued coordination with hospital partners and peer-support programs to maintain screening and crisis response capacity.
