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Ms. Cherie Castellano

Program Director, Cop 2 Cop

Ms. Cherie Castellano, MA, CSW, LPC, AAETS is the Program Director for Cop 2 Cop, the first legislated law enforcement crisis hotline in the United States. She is a faculty member of the New Jersey Medical School Department of Psychiatry -UMDNJ where she has honed her clinical skills as an expert in law enforcement psychological services as a member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. As the Director of Cop 2 Cop, Ms. Castellano has facilitated response to over 23,000 calls from police officers in need and subverted 157 suicides. Cop 2 Cop is certified by the American Association of Suicidology, receiving a near perfect score in accreditation; and Ms. Castellano is a "trained trainer" at both Q.P.R. for law enforcement officers as well as the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation CISM coursework.

She has co-authored several books, “Law Enforcement Families: The Ultimate Back-Up” with Dr. Jim Reese, “Psychological Counterterrorism and World War IV” with Dr. George Everly, and several chapters and publications with Dr. John Violante. Ms. Castellano has a column in the International Journal of Counterterrorism magazine, and has been published over 100 times in journals / articles related to police suicide, law enforcement stress, police families, and suicide prevention techniques. Outreach, advocacy and “real life” cop survival stories combined with data collection are the “hallmarks” of her law enforcement suicide prevention approach. Ms. Castellano is also Director of the “New Jersey Veterans Helpline“ serving first responders and the military with the same concept of partnering peers with clinicians with a focus on “Cops in the Military." She coordinated counseling support for over 3,000 soldiers who returned from Iraq in June 2009.

Ms. Castellano has been recognized internationally as an expert in the field of behavioral healthcare and crisis intervention for law enforcement professionals. Her experience as a lecturer has included Australia and Europe as well as prestigious national forums such as the FBI National Academy. As a member of the 9/11 New York Emergency Services Delegation for the Port Authority Police Department she traveled to Belfast, Ireland and England to share “9/11 Lessons Learned."

Following September 11, Ms. Castellano coordinated critical incident response in New York and New Jersey featured in the "New York Times" as a “model for the nation.” Utilizing a “Rescuer Victim” concept, she expanded on the Cop 2 Cop model with over $3 million in program funding from the Department of Defense and FEMA in response to 9/11/01 and Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Castellano later led the civilian 9/11 services to all New Jersey residents impacted with the “For You New Jersey 9/11” program.

Various awards include Governors Proclamations, New Jersey Governors Excellence Award, New Jersey Attorney General Recognition Award, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation World Congress Award, Commerce Bank New Jersey Hometown Hero, Unico Woman of the Year, and the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition for the Disabled Lay Person Award for her faith based activity. Ms. Castellano was selected as one of five “People Who Made A Difference in 2005” featured in the "Star Ledger." In 2009 she was awarded the Italian American Police Society  “Woman of the Year." Ms. Castellano served on Governor Codey’s Mental Health Task Force and recently served on Governor Corzine’s Task Force on Police Suicide.

Ms. Castellano and her peer team partner with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by participating in the “Out of the Darkness Walk." Every year to honor officers lost to suicide, they create a memorial banner made up of patches and stars and walk alongside police suicide survivors. Ms. Castellano has been featured in television and video on the topic of police suicide and participated in a documentary entitled “Shattered Lives” to highlight this issue and raise awareness about police suicide and fight stigma. Ms. Castellano has developed police survivor support groups to include a wounded officer support group which culminated into legislation for officers wounded in the line of duty entitled “The Blue Heart Law Enforcement Assistance” bill signed into law in 2007.

On a personal note, Ms. Castellano is an expert in law enforcement families as she is married to Mark, a Detective Supervisor with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, has two young sons, Louis John and Domenick, and believes her role as a police wife is her greatest achievement.

 


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