Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse Commission (HAASA)

Members

• Authorized Membership: Seven residents of the Township as well as Ex Officio members (Mayor, Chief of Police, Presiding Judge and Superintendent of Schools or designees); Members continue serving until successors are appointed
• Term of Appointment: Three Years
• Appointment Authority: Mayor with advice and consent of Council

How to Join

If you're interested in joining the Municipal Alliance, please complete the Township's Citizen Leadership Form.

Our Mission

The mission of the HAASA is to serve as the official Township coordinating body for the planning, awareness and education of substance abuse prevention efforts on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATODs). The committee is dedicated to promoting safe, healthy and responsible lifestyles through community involvement, education programs and family oriented events for all residents of Hamilton Township. HAASA is advisory in nature; and awards State allocated funds to programs that meet certain criteria.

Programs

HAASA uses the funding it receives to support the following programs in Township schools:

Strive to Thrive

Camp Fire NJ provides this Social-Emotional Character Development Program that empowers young people with the tools to rise above their everyday challenges and become the best they can be.  The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies are incorporated into an 8-week program presented to 8th grade students. Camp Fire instructors help students develop a positive self-concept necessary for thoughtful decision-making regarding coping skills and relationships, as well as conflict resolution, achievement of goals, and avoidance of substance abuse.

What's In Your Backpack

This program is presented to middle school students during one session of their health class. The program will provide information about how the family disease of alcoholism and addiction can affect adolescents’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Specifically, the program explains how emotions and feelings that adolescents carry daily can affect their social interactions and relationships with others. “What’s in Your Backpack?” provides information and discussion about trust, choices, shame, and loneliness. It gives a different perspective on what adolescents are dealing with in their homes and other environmental influences. The program will be used as a tool for empowering individuals to focus on positive qualities and helping adolescents to change their outlook on their current situation. This program aims to provide the students with the knowledge to rethink challenging situations and help change their daily reactions to them. Along with the explanation of the 12-step program, information about other options and support systems offered within their community can be given. 

teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA)

Mental Health first aid training for adults who work with youth have been an effective tool in diffusing mental health crises, however, studies have shown that peer to peer interactions can have an even more personal impact on teens.  The creators of Mental Health First Aid have developed an evidence based program for teens to learn Mental Health First Aid so that they can better understand, more easily identify, and respond to their own peers struggles with mental health challenges, suicide risk and other risk factors in their peers, including substance abuse.  This program was designed specifically for those in grades 10-12.  Peers are trained to help de-escalate potentially life-risking situations, provide resources, and helping with specific areas such as trauma, self-injury, substance use, violence and many other vital topics.

Count On Me Kids 

Camp Fire NJ Count On Me Kids Social Emotional Educational program is evidence-based and empower children with life tools to resist the threats of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs and handle life situations assertively.  Youth will gain coping skills, cognitive development, self-image, resiliency, goal setting abilities, and positive decision-making which will help them deter from the use and abuse of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.  The program is 8 sessions and provided to First Grade classrooms within Hamilton Township. 

Open Access to Recovery Services 

HAASA receives grant funding to support Hamilton residents with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) with their recovery through a partnership with Recovery Advocates for America.  The program helps support costs associated with transportation to treatment centers, recovery housing support and care needs for participants going into or coming out of treatment.  The goal of this program is to help individuals heal from SUD through a full length of care.  Recovery Advocates of America have a 24/7 hotline for support services, 888-360-7788.

Mini-Grants to Hamilton High Schools' Project Graduation and After Prom

In 2023, 2024 and 2025 Mayor Martin and the Hamilton Township Division of Health have provided funding to the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) of each public High School in Hamilton Township.  The funding was made possible by a grant received by the Division of Health from the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials (NJACCHO) and the National Opioid Settlement Program.  The funds are used to support After Prom and Project Graduation events which are a cherished tradition in the community.  These programs offer students drug and alcohol-free options to create lasting memories with classmates in a safe, healthy and fun environment! 

Support for Hamilton Police Division's K9 Narcotics Unit 

Funds from the National Opioid Settlement Program allowed the Hamilton Township Division of Health to support the Hamilton Police in securing two Narcotics Unit K9s.  These K9s are highly trained at detecting illegal substances and help make our community safer.