Early Intervention Program for Families

What is the Early Intervention Program?

The Early Intervention Program is an integral part of Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS).  The program is desgined to engage and assist families who are faced with a psychiatric screening or hospitalization of a loved one.

The program is available to any family in Bergen County who has a loved one in crisis and needs help navigating the mental health system.

The program operates primarily from the Bergen County Screening Center/Emergency Room at Bergen Regional Medical Center.  Additional services may be accessed through our offices in Hackensack, Lyndhurst and River Edge. 

How does it work?

Our program places a compassionate and professional IFSS staff member at Bergen Regional Medical Center to answer the questions and concerns of family members during what can be a confusing and overwhelming process.

The program aims to reduce stress and confusion by:

• Providing education and linkages to community mental health providers
• Acting as an advocate on behalf of the family and their loved one
• Providing referrals to self-help groups such as IFSS

The goals of the Early Intervention Program are simple:

• To decrease families' level of concern and stress during crisis
• To increase awareness of treatment options in the community, especially for those families who are not currently involved in the mental health system
• To assist families in encouraging their loved one to engage in treatment (adherence with medication regimen, attendance at treatment program, etc.)
• To decrease rate of recidivism at hospital emergency room

Hours of Operation

Early Intervention Staff are available 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Mon - Fri at Bergen Regional Medical Center and at various times during the weekends.  Other IFSS staff members can be reached 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Mon - Fri and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekends.  A 24-hour access line is also available.

To enroll in IFSS, call 201-646-0333, or contact Lara Zucker, IFSS Coordinator.