Why do you want to be a PAARI Pro?
“I am proud to serve as the coordinator of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One law enforcement deflection program. Hope One assists individuals struggling with substance use and mental health disorders as well as distributes free lifesaving Narcan. This multidisciplinary team includes an Officer, peer recovery specialist and mental health professional. Through the PAARI Pro opportunity, I would be able to share my expertise of building partnerships and daily operations of a mobile outreach program.”
About:
Corporal Erica Valvano is a motivated law enforcement professional with over 19 years of experience dedicated to maintaining the high level of professionalism of her agency by improving relationships with the community and developing innovative ways to address community issues. Her career began in the Protective Services Division where she was assigned to access control and later prisoner transportation. In 2010, she was assigned to the Community Outreach and Planning Section to cover community services details, the Project Lifesaver Program, CALEA, Crime Stoppers as well as policy and procedures. She continues to serve as the head advisor with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post youth program. On April 3, 2017, Corporal Valvano launched the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One mobile outreach vehicle for addiction, recovery and mental health services. In October 2018, she applied for and received a Bureau of Justice grant to expand the Hope One Project with launch the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI). The Hope One Project received the 2019 IACP Michael Shanahan Leadership in Public / Private Cooperation Award. In 2019, Corporal Valvano was honored to receive the “Community Impact Award” from New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement. She has assisted eight counties replicate Hope One throughout the State of New Jersey. Her passion to help people in the community is reflected in these law enforcement diversion programs.
