Educational, Prevention, & Support Programs

The Supported Employment Program: This program was established in 1988. The program offers a range of vocational services to adults with a history of serious mental illness. Self referrals are accepted as well as referrals from other community agencies. Available services include career exploration career exploration, job skills development, internship placements, situational assessments, integrated employment opportunities and group placement services. Various levels of support are available to program participants, both on and off the job site. The program also provides benefits management and service coordination for the individual.

The Intensive Family Support Services Program (IFSS): This program was established in 1997. The program works with family members of the seriously mentally ill and provides them with a variety of psycho-education and support services designed to help them improve family functioning and coping. Services are delivered both off-site in the community at families' homes, and in the Center's three locations within the County. Services include group and individual psycho-education, family support groups for families, individual consultation, opportunities for families to meet with a psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse and other professionals to discuss medication and related mental health issues, respite services for ill family members, referral and linkage, and advocacy. During the first nine months of operation, IFSS staff was able to work with concerned families to develop Warren County's first NAMI-NJ chapter. The IFSS program serves approximately 180 family members each year.

The Better Future Self Help Center is a consumer-operated self-help center, established in 1998, for adult mental health consumers living in Warren County. The Center offers social, recreational, educational and advocacy activities to its members. There is a focus on Health and Wellness with specialized services and activities offered such as a fitness center, nutritious meals, seminars on health topics, smoking cessation services and exercise classes. Transportation is available.

Prevention Connections: This prevention and education program was established through a grant from the NJ Department of Human Services in 1998 as the Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) program. Prevention Connections is currently facilitating two evidence-based programs in Warren County. Community Trials Intervention (to reduce high risk driving) is a long-term environmental change program that will work to reduce alcohol abuse among Warren County Community College and Centenary College students. Life Skills Training is a science-based primary prevention program which focuses on reducing substance abuse among Warren County youth attending Lopatcong, Pohatcong, Alpha and Greenwich school districts. Incoming sixth grade students will receive an annual education series that will conclude upon their eigth grade graduation.

The School Based Youth Services Program: This program, which was established in 2000 at Warren Hills Regional High School, was expanded to the Middle School in 2004. It provides a comprehensive array of services for students including employment counseling; late night as well as before- and after-school recreation programs; mental health development and intervention; referrals to health and social services; substance abuse prevention; family life education, counseling and services; support services for truancy reduction and dropout prevention; vocational development workshops; and workshops for parents, teachers and staff.

Services were expanded In September 2005 under a grant from New Jersey After 3 to include an after school program in the Taylor and Memorial Elementary Schools in Washington Borough.  This program runs each school day from 3 to 6 PM and provides structured programming including recreational activities, homework assistance, and personal growth activities.