For Immediate Release: May 2, 2007

Contact: 609-633-8507 Kate Bernyk Tom Bell

Youth transitioning from foster care, homeless youth and children with behavioral health needs benefit

TRENTON - Department of Children and Families Commissioner Kevin M. Ryan announced today the expansion of residential facilities and services to aid youth who are homeless or transitioning out of foster care, as well as children with highly specialized behavioral health needs. This expanded capacity, working in partnership with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), will allow the department to accommodate an additional 200 youth in residential settings and is the state's largest ever one-time expansion.

DCF has dedicated a total of $15.6 million for new program slots in residential settings that will be located throughout New Jersey. The new programs are unique because of the additional behavioral health and transitional services the selected agencies will provide. These key services are intended to reduce the number of children who otherwise might have to leave New Jersey to receive specialized services at out-of-state facilities.

“Keeping our kids as close to home as possible while providing the services they need to heal and grow is an ongoing challenge and a top priority for Governor Corzine and this administration,” Commissioner Ryan said. “This expansion of specialty beds throughout the state is a significant step forward and one we must continue to build upon to ensure the well-being of our kids and families.” 

Of the $15.6 million, DCF is dedicating $12.9 million for 86 new specialty service residential placements needed for children with severe behavioral health needs and who often have a history of severe abuse or neglect. The new beds will supplement the 160 already in place in New Jersey for children needing specialized services.

As a part of the Youth Supportive Housing Initiative, DCF is providing $2.67 million to community organizations that will make 112 new housing options available to youth (ages 18 to 21) who are homeless or making the transition from the child welfare system to self-sufficiency and adulthood. The new placements will supplement the 150 transitional housing beds already in place statewide and represents the single largest expansion in transitional housing for homeless and aging-out youth in the state’s history. 

DCF is working in partnership with DCA and the HMFA to provide the expanded housing opportunities for transitioning youth under this program. DCA and HMFA are already providing funding to some of the selected agencies as a result of this DCF award, and now many other agencies are eligible for DCA/HMFA funding.

“The housing provided at these facilities is another example of the Corzine Administration’s ongoing efforts to protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said DCA Commissioner Susan Bass Levin. “Working in coordination with other state agencies like DCF, we are able to effect efficient change and maximize the resources and tools available throughout all of state government.”

The Youth Supportive Housing Initiative will include the first-ever program in New Jersey geared toward providing targeted residential services to gay and lesbian youth. Anchor House in Mercer County will provide these groundbreaking services. DCF is also funding nine new slots through the New Jersey Development Corporation in Passaic County to serve youth who are aging out of foster care and also have a disability – a vulnerable population that previously had few placement options available to them. 

The Youth Supportive Housing Initiative expansion also includes new transitional living options operated by:

• Corinthian Housing in Essex County, 18 new beds.Covenant House in Essex County, 15 new beds. Volunteers of America of Greater New York in Hudson, Bergen, Middlesex and Union counties, 10 new beds.
• Robin’s Nest in Gloucester County, 10 new beds.Catholic Charities in Hudson County, eight new beds. Catholic Charities in Monmouth County, eight new beds. Making It Possible to End Homelessness in Middlesex County, six new beds. Tri-City’s People, Corinthian Housing and Covenant House in Essex County, six new beds. Garden State Homes in Middlesex County, five new beds. Collier Services in Monmouth County, five new beds. Children’s Home of Burlington County, four new beds. Cape Counseling in Cape May and Atlantic counties, four new beds.

Many facilities will be able to accept youth from both the county they operate in as well as the surrounding counties.

The new specialized behavioral health beds within the statewide expansion will address the treatment of children and youth with severe behavioral needs. DCF has required that organizations and agencies delivering services to these children provide successfully operating evidence-based practices with the goal of individualized care that is needs-driven, family-involved and sustainable.

DCF selected the following agencies to provide the specialized services in the southern, central and northern regions of the state:

• New Jersey Mentor of Somerset, 45 new beds. 
• CFG Health Systems of Marlton, 19 new beds.   
• Bonnie Brae Residential Treatment and Special Education Center of Liberty Corner, 12 new beds.
• The Children’s Home of Mount Holly, five new beds.
• The Lester A. Drenk Behavioral Center of Hainesport, five new beds.

DCF’s Division of Child Behavioral Health Services has been conducting a comprehensive review of the specialized services needed in New Jersey to keep children from being sent out of state for treatment. Core populations of youth with severe behavioral health challenges were identified as requiring specialized services, such as very intensive clinical and therapeutic treatment services, which have been limited in the past. The expected length of stay for children in these programs is four to six months.

 

###