9:3A-15 "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline.

1. a. The Department of Children and Families shall establish, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, a toll-free "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline, or a similar helpline.

b. The helpline shall be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week, and shall respond to calls from mothers, caregivers, and their families. The staff of the helpline shall seek to identify the mothers, children, caregivers, and their families who should be referred to further support and counseling services, and provide informational resources.

c. The peer staff shall be trained by University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be mothers of children with special needs, who are:

(1) familiar with developmental disabilities, brain injury, behavioral healthcare issues, medical illness, cancer, and the emotional and mental health burden and psychological tension, depression, and anxieties unique to these mothers, children, and their families, or

(2) trained to provide reciprocal peer support services involving children with special needs and family life, mental health, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and related well-being of children, mothers, caregivers, and their families.

d. The Department of Children and Families and University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the callers, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling; provided, however, that the Department of Children and Families and Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the child or mother or any other person.

L.2013, c.281, s.1.