Sometimes specific concerns arise in the lives of adolescents under our care.  These concerns may be poorly served in standard housing or service programs.  Specialized services and programs exist that may be utilized when standard options are not appropriate.

Parenting Youth

There are several programs available that provide care for pregnant adolescents and young fathers and mothers:

• "Capable Adolescent Mothers," Crossroads Programs, 609-386-3342.  Residential facility for females age 15 to 18 who enter any time during pregnancy and may stay until the child's first birthday.
• "Second Chance Homes," Crossroads Programs, 609-880-0210.  Services and supports for teen mothers and their children within private homes in the community
• Center for Great Expectations, 908-218-0570 ext. 203.  Residential facility for pregnant individuals ages 13 and older with addiction or family history of addiction.
• "Teen-Age Parents Program," Family Service of Burlington County, 800-963-3377.  Counseling, case management, consultation, and home visits for pregnant and parenting teens.
• Union Industrial Home (UIH), 609-695-1492, offers a number of programs for teen mothers (ages 13 to 18) including residential services for mothers and babies at New Empowerment Alternatives,  as well as summer and after school programs through their MAC (Mother and Child) Program.

UIH also offers programming for parenting fathers through The Father Center, The Trenton Men's Collaborative, and, for non-custodial fathers, Operation Fatherhood. Referrals for these programs should be directed to Ed Gittens at: 609-695-3663.

Youth Living with HIV/AIDS

Most residential programs have limited capacity to address the unique medical, emotional, and daily living needs of young people living with HIV/AIDS.  The following program was created specifically for that purpose:

• "Rainbow House," LifeTies, 609-394-6747.  A group home for medically fragile children including female adolescents, ages 12-21 who are HIV positive or living with AIDS. To reside at Rainbow House, residents may be alone, pregnant or with their children. 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Intersex Youth (GLBTQI)

Fear, discrimination, stigma, and misunderstanding place an added burden on GLBTQI youth in foster care.  Until youth-serving systems as a whole have the ability to protect GLBTQI youth and treat them with dignity and respect, specialized services are necessary.  The following programs offer safe housing options for GLBTQI youth:

• Urban Youth Development Corp, 973-672-1200. Residential services for homeless and aging out youth.
• "Mary's Place," LifeTies, 609-771-1600. Single and shared apartments for aging out youth. 

Juvenile Justice Involvement/ Mental Health Concerns

The programs listed below are distinctive for being uniquely situated to meet the needs of homeless and aging out youth who may be stepping out of the intensive services typically provided to the mental health and juvenile justice populations:

• "Transitional Living," Vision Quest, 609-894-4826.  Transitional living, apartment-style residential services to prepare youth for independent living.
• IEP Youth Services, 732-431-5872.  Independent living in supported apartments.
• "HAVEN," Family Service of Burlington County, 800-963-3377.  Scattered-site apartments for young adults age 18 to 25 with severe and persistent mental illness aging out of the children's service system (including DYFS and DCBH).  Independent living skills and case management are provided. 

Other Services

St. Barnabas Institute for Prevention (732-914-3842) offers two gender-specific case management/skills development programs:

• Project GROW: trauma-informed services for 14 to 18 year old girls in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
• Project MORE: services for hard-to-engage males ages 17 to 21 in Ocean County