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.

The Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Prevention Program: Established in 1998 with a grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, this program works with youth and their parents who live in Warren County. The program works with local PTA's, school substance abuse counselors, guidance counselors, and municipal alliance groups to identify youth at risk for substance abuse. The parents who participate in the program receive Family Enrichment training, Parent and Youth Communication training, and Alcohol and Drug Issues training. The program provides education to the families and the youth in a comfortable and safe setting, facilitates support groups for youth and for parents, provides education programs to classrooms and communities, and works with local police departments in their prevention efforts. All programs are free and can be held at school, at home or at the CASA office. This program will be open to youth through the age of 21 and their families.

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 free program runs each school day from 3 to 6 PM and provides structured programming including recreational activities, homework assistance, and personal growth activities.