Rutherford, NJ— Felician University, in partnership with Children’s Aid and Family Services, is now home to Bergen County’s 15th Buster Box, a discreet, newspaper-style dispenser stocked with free Narcan, a life-saving nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses. This initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Janel Owens, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Felician’s Counseling and Wellness Department; faculty, and student representatives serving on the Bergen County Higher Education Addiction Prevention Consortium (BC HEAP).

BC HEAP, an extension of Children’s Aid and Family Services, focuses on educating academic community members about the risk factors associated with drug and alcohol use. Felician University is one of five higher-education institutions, alongside Bergen Community, Ramapo, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Eastwick, to receive a five-year grant from BCHEAP to fund on-campus events advancing its mission. The grant has directly funded initiatives such as Sober Pong, an Alcohol Awareness Month Mocktail Class, the annual Fresh Check Day, and, most recently, the Buster Box unveiling.

Children’s Aid and Family Services introduced the first Buster Box in 2025 in collaboration with the Marri family, who lost their son to a Fentanyl overdose four years prior. Now, as the second university to place a Buster Box on campus, Felician is grateful to carry forward one family’s mission to reduce the stigma around addiction and preventive care across America, protecting the lives of those in the community and the town of Rutherford at large.

“Across Bergen County, we’ve been welcomed into many public spaces, and part of our mission at Children’s Aid and Family Services is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities,” said Shavonda Sumter, President and CEO of Children’s Aid and Family Services and recipient of Felician’s 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award. “We are thrilled to report that the boxes are being refilled regularly because people are using them or keeping Narcan accessible just in case it’s needed.”

Students at Felician continue to play a vital role in fostering safe spaces for dialogue, education, and awareness surrounding public health in New Jersey. Each year, Felician conducts the Bergen County Collegiate Substance Use & Mental Health Inventory survey, which yields critical data informing countywide strategies and ensures that student voices remain at the center of our investment in student safety.

The Lodi Campus is expected to receive a Buster Box later this year. Together, Felician University and its partners remain steadfast in their commitment to building a stronger, more compassionate community where access to life-saving resources is always in reach.

Felician’s Bergen County Higher Education Prevention Consortium Members:

Kathy Murray, MSW, LCSW, Director of Counseling and Wellness Services

Colleen Mulligan, MSN-RN, Assistant Director of Counseling and Wellness Services

Gina Robertiello, Ph.D., Full Professor of Criminal Justice

Amy Dombach, Ed.D, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Jillian LaBletta, Class of 2027

Cynthia Amankwaa, Class of 2028

###

About Felician University

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.