Hope Not Handcuffs (HNH), a community-police partnership that offers a single point of access to substance abuse treatment, has opened chapters in Walden, the Town of Montgomery and Crawford.

Individuals suffering from substance abuse can walk into or call any participating police station and ask for help through the HNH program. The individual will go through a brief intake process to determine if they are eligible. Then, they will be placed into treatment as soon as possible through a HNH angel.

Angels are ordinary people who undergo HNH training and volunteer to place individuals into treatment. They offer compassion, kindness, and respect, as well as comfort items such as snacks, blankets, notes, clothes, toiletries and candy.

The program is coordinated through the Tri-County Community Partnership (TCCP), a community coalition centered in Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties that raises awareness of the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.

Crawford Police Chief Dominick Blasko said all 27 officers have been trained in the HNH program. While the department was already helping individuals who asked for help getting into treatment, the addition of the HNH angels streamlined the process immensely.

“We are excited to help our community any way we can,” Blasko said.

Transportation to and from the station and the treatment center will be judged on a case by case basis, Blasko said.

As of March 22, HNH chapters have opened in the Town of Wallkill, Middletown, Mount Hope, Crawford, Wappingers Falls, Maybrook, the Town of Montgomery, and Walden. Several more departments are interested in the program as well.

TCCP President Annette Kahrs said the key to the program’s growth is to make sure the infrastructure and support from volunteers and police departments is in place in each area as HNH continues to expand, so the growth is responsible and manageable.

“We’re taking one area at a time and trying to be mindful of our growth,” Kahrs said.

Kahrs said she first wants to spread to more police departments in Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties.

“I would love to see it in every police department,” Kahrs said.

Town of Montgomery Police Chief Arnold Amthor said the solution to the opioid epidemic takes everyone, from law enforcement to educators to community members.

Kahrs echoed Amthor’s sentiment, saying the key to turning the tide in the opioid crisis is to get the community directly involved, and the HNH angels are a direct means of doing so.

“It’s community mobilization in its purest form,” Kahrs said.

So far, Kahrs said about 140 volunteers have signed up to be angels. Many angels have experience with substance abuse, whether it be the angel’s friend, neighbor, family member, or loved one.

“The people who are angels are people who are invested because they have lived experience,” Kahrs said. “Nobody knows better than the people who have been directly affected.”

Anyone can sign up to be an angel; the only requirement is a desire to help others.

“We just want to be out there to help people, and this is a great opportunity to give back to the community,” Angel Coordinator for the Hudson Valley Laura Beck said.

To fill out an angel volunteer form or seek help through the program, visit tricountycommunitypartnership.org. The Hope Not Handcuffs program can also be contacted at angel@tccpartnership.org or 833-428-4673.

To seek help through the police department, either walk into the station or call. The Crawford Police Department is located at 121 NYS Route 302 and can be reached at 744-3300. The Town of Montgomery Police Department is located at 110 Bracken Road and can be reached at 457-9211. The Village of Walden is located at 1 Municipal Square and can be reached at 778-5595.