The Churches of the Manasquan Area Ministerium
Click underlined chuches
to visit church web site
Rev. Louis J. LaFazia
Rev. Joe Gratzel
Rev. Jim Dunson
Rev. David Cotton
Rev. Mary Farnham
Rev. Arnie Hansen
Rev. Joe Santucci
Patricia Burke
Rev. Reggie Albert
Rev. Eusun Kim
Fr. Edward Blanchett
Sr. Josephine Wade
Msgr. Sean Flynn
Rev’d Fr. Russell A. Griffin
Shiloh Baptist Church
Rev. Michael Morgan
This page was last updated: May 19, 2014
and supported by our partners:
The Office of the Attorney General • Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office • Manasquan PBA • Wall Twp PBA • You Can Not Be Replaced • Denise Wegeman, LCSW • Prevention First • Jersey Shore University Medical Center • Mental Health Association of Monmouth • Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide • The Samaritan Center • Manasquan Elks • Algonquin Arts
For additional information contact the Alliance Office at
732-820-4792 or e-mail kmeyler@townshipofwall.com
Say something... ABOUT HEROIN is a collaborative effort sponsored by the Wall Community Alliance, the Shore Community Alliance and the churches of the Manasquan Area Ministerium and supported by a broad coalition of community partners. It is a multi-faceted program and all of our partners are fully involved in and committed to a long term strategy of education, prevention, intervention, treatment and postvention. This series of programs has been commended by addiction and mental health specialists throughout the state and county because it is based on a model of a competent community response to the problem.
Although heroin has been a problem in our area for many years, it has never been to this extent - - in fact, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has called it an "Epidemic"
This month alone (April 2014) in Ocean County, Law Enforcement Officers have used Narcan® to save the lives of 6 people who otherwise may have died of heroin overdose.
Our initial programs, including the upcoming program on May 14, are intended to be educational programs. Despite hundreds of hours I have spent on this project in the last 6 months, I learn something new about heroin, addiction or treatment every time I attend a program which makes me better able to help people in my congregation and community.
Our first event was aimed at "gatekeepers" in the community, some of whom are well informed and some less so. By bringing everyone "up to speed" together we are better able to reach into our individual communities and educate out respective "constituencies."
The next event is aimed at the broad community. I know that there are many people in my congregation who are unaware of some of the key facts in this crisis - - this is one opportunity for them to hear from the experts.
In June we will be hosting an event to provide information in intervention, treatment and recovery.
A youth focused event is planned to follow - date TBA
In the fall we will be hosting a course on Mental Health First Aid because addiction is so often accompanied with a co-occurring mental health issue (http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
We are also in discussion with the representatives of the Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention about a community based implementation of the Sources of Strength program which also builds community strength and resilience. This is an evidence based program designed around suicide prevention, but the underlying principles may be adaptable to our current situation. (http://sourcesofstrength.org/)
In my discussions with mental health, law enforcement, addiction and religious leaders across the region and state I have not heard of a single community that is addressing this issue as broadly as we are.
Rev. Joe Gratzel, Pastor
First Baptist Church of Manasquan
Intervention and Recovery
A forum for friends
and loved ones
June 4, 2014 - 7:00 PM
Wall Municipal Building -
Downstairs Meeting Room
Sponsored by:
Click image below for downloadable resources
