Our Mission
For more
than 35 years, Hunterdon Youth Services, Inc. has been in the
business of altering the course of history, one young life at a time.
From it's humble beginnings, Hunterdon Youth Services has grown from
an emergency shelter helping a handful of troubled teens to healing
hundreds of adolescents. Through the implementation of it's caring,
compassionate and effective programs, Hunterdon Youth Services has
been positively impacting New Jersey's endangered youth and their
families.
Hunterdon Youth Services' goal is to
foster a commitment to young people that will promote pro-social
friendships, strong interpersonal skills, life and vocational skills
and reassert a sense of hope in the future. Only through personal
relationships can a sense of individual responsibility be
reestablished that will give youth the commitment to follow through
on a healthy path to adulthood with a sense of pride and
accomplishment.
The Lives We Serve
Hunterdon Youth Services focuses on middle and high school male
youths. This age group is particularly problematic and at the same
time seeking guidance and love from others. This is the perfect time
for Hunterdon Youth Services' programs to be most effective.
Typically, adolescents come to
Hunterdon Youth Services on the cusp of something big, something
monumental, in their lives. They are at a crossroads without a map,
without directions and without a clue as to which way to turn.
Hunterdon Youth Services gives them the tools and skills, the
self-confidence and the self-worth, to find their way in the world –
a better, healthier way to be a positive force in society.
Through repeated failures in the classroom, dysfunctional home
life and the development of destructive habits, at-risk young people
have lost faith in the possibilities that await them if they are
successful in putting their lives together. To accomplish this goal,
young people must be in a safe, caring, inclusive learning
environment that promotes their best effort and reinforces personal
respect.
Why We Do What We Do
Hunterdon Youth Services is a program that is in direct response
to the growing number of young people that are either falling through
the cracks at school or are already entangled with the state social
services system or the juvenile court system. The goal of the program
is to identify youths who are going to have a turbulent transition to
adulthood and offer a positive support system to avoid the pitfalls
that can derail their lives. The focus is slightly different at each
level but the goal remains the same; empower the young person to make
positive changes in his/her life.
and the entire community in which they live. That enrichment, well, you just can't put a value on that!
Find out more about us on the web at http://www.hunterdonyouthservices.org
Services We Provide
Hunterdon Youth Services offers youth, that have already been
identified as at-risk and have been placed by governmental agencies,
an opportunity to live in a safe, caring and learning environment
while they work with a team of caring professionals to improve their
ability to develop positive tools and attitudes. The long-term goal
of Hunterdon Youth Services is to empower the young person to break
the destructive cycle that is leading to trouble in school, at home
and in the streets.
Hunterdon Youth Services presents a variety of facets designed to
address a variety of issues. They are as follows:
- Residential:
Providing a stable, safe and compassionate place to live is the
foundation of the services. All of the other programs are based in
the provision of a stable living environment. Residential care
provides the essential living conditions to the youth at Hunterdon
Youth Services. The 2 story residence is approximately 4,250 sq.
ft. and contains everything a “normal” home would contain –
kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living room, rec room, etc. The
residence sits on a 4.2 acre parcel complete with garden area,
lawns, basketball court and other accessories. The youth
participate in the care of the facility and the grounds on a regular
basis. - Counseling: All
of the clients at Hunterdon Youth Services receive formal and
informal counseling. Formal counseling consists of individual and
group therapy from licensed clinicians. Trained Youth Care Workers
provide informal guidance on a regular basis. Through these
interactions, the youth learn new and healthy coping skills to
process and work through the traumas of their past. - Life Skills Training:
Residents are taught basic life skills in order to become
responsible and productive members of society. Examples of these
skills, taught in the context of real world environments, are:
banking, cooking, budgeting, laundry, cleaning and social
interactions. - Vocational Training:
Residents participate in career exploration and learn how to prepare
a resume and complete an employment application. They also learn
and practice job interview skills. Residents also have the
opportunity to get hands-on experience in running a business.
- Education: All of
the youth served at Hunterdon Youth Services receive appropriate
educational support in partnership with the local school district.
Particular attention is paid to those academic areas where the
individual demonstrates a particular need. - Family: Hunterdon
Youth Services strives to reunite the resident with their family,
when safe and appropriate. To that end family therapy sessions,
planned family outings and co-ordination of in-home and
reunification services are offered.
What Sets Us Apart
Our organization continues to evolve in
a way that is best-practice driven. Most recently we've been
investing significant resources in the implementation of a new
behavior management system that offers a Trauma Informed Approach
with Motivational Interviewing as the crux of implementation. This
framework allows us to provide unique responses to the individual
needs of our residents. Also, as a smaller nonprofit we remain more
nimble in our ability to create and sustain change at all levels of
functioning.
We also provide a higher level of
“freedom” to our residents to pursue afterschool activities,
employment and recreational opportunities. Residents can even earn
independent community time. Our location in a rural, home-like
environment also creates a level of stability for our residents. The
local community and education system embraces the needs of our
residents and supports the organization – there is a true community
feel.
You can keep up to date with the latest happenings on Facebook here: HYS Facebook
Our Project and How You Can Help
We've been providing love and care to our people for over 35 years and we've been doing it in the same house for almost as long. You can imagine the wear and tear on a house bursting with active, young men! There haven't been any major renovations to the house in a long time and the kitchen is showing it's age.
The kitchen is the central hub of any house and we're not just talking about preparing meals; relationships are made, bonds are strengthened, conversations are held and laughter is heard while breaking bread together. We recognize the importance of good food and family time and how they help build strong, healthy relationships.
So, what we need to do is renovate, upgrade and improve the kitchen in our house. We are looking at new cabinets, appliances, counter tops, flooring, redesign .... and that gets expensive. We estimate these costs will run around $70,000 and we're tapping into lots of resources. However, we really could use your support to the tune of at least $25,000.
Estimated breakdown of kitchen costs
Electrical & Plumbing Fixtures - $975
Granite & Tile - $4,000
Appliances - $2,400
Cabinets - $15,000
Plumbing & Electrical - $4,000
Architect Fee - $1,500
Flooring - $2,000
Permits - $1,500
Labor for Demolition, Construction & Contractor Fee - $38,625If you can helps us reach our goal, we'll trust our other resources to cover the rest.
Remember, you're not just rebuilding a kitchen ... you're rebuilding lives!! Thank you!
