Children's Aid and Family Services is one of northern New Jersey's leading nonprofit providers of human services and child welfare programs. We help children who don't have families able to care for them, and we support children, young adults, the elderly and their families through the everyday challenges and transitions in life.
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Services Offered
ADOPTION Adoption is a life-changing experience for both the parents and the child. We believe families thrive when they have support during the challenging times that may occur. We offer a variety of services for adoptive families.
Post Adoption Counseling Services (PACS) Post Adoption Counseling Services (PACS) are available to any family that resides in Bergen, Passaic, or Essex Counties and has an adopted child under the age of 21. Although the majority of adopted children adjust well to their adoptive status, there are a considerable number of children and families that face challenges that are unique to the adoption experience. Services include family and/or individual therapy, wraparound services and support groups.
KLG Counseling Children's Aid and Family Services provides KLG counseling to families that reside in Bergen, Passaic and Essex Counties, excluding Newark. This service is available to families that have achieved kinship legal guardianship through the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. There is no fee charged for services that include individual and/or family therapy, educational and wraparound support. Services are provided either in-home or in our Fair Lawn or South Orange offices.
Birth Parent Support Group A free support group for anyone who is contemplating placing a child for adoption or who has placed a child for adoption in the past. This group is also open to the birthparents' family members. The group discusses issues of grief and loss that may arise as a result of this decision. FOSTER CARE Foster Care is a temporary placement that helps children to prepare for either the return of their birth parents or for another more permanent placement, such as adoption. Children are often placed in foster care because they have suffered abuse, neglect, and trauma. They need the love, guidance and stability of a family to help them heal and eventually become happy, healthy, and self-confident. The foster children in our care range in age from infants to older teenagers.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Children's Aid and Family Services (CAFS) creates rich, full lives for individuals with developmental disabilities by providing and promoting quality, community-based and shared housing programs, supports, and services. We mentor and support excellent caregivers to create the environment for residents to grow and experience independence in the community through our programs without walls.
SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Individual Support Services (ISS) Children's Aid and Family Services provides in-home community-based habilitative Individual Support Services for eligible children, youth, and young adults under the age of 21 with challenging behaviors and developmental disabilities eligibility. It is the purpose of this service to transfer skills necessary to achieve and/or maintain outcomes of increased independence, productivity, enhanced family functioning, and inclusion in the community.
Intensive In-Home (IIH) Children's Aid and Family Services provides intensive in home (IIH) habilitation individualized intervention supports and services for eligible children, youth, adolescents, or young adults under the age of 21 who have intellectual/developmental disabilities. It is the purpose of this service to facilitate transition from an intensive treatment setting back to his/her home, while including a comprehensive integrated program of services to support improved behavioral, social, educational, and vocational functioning.
Respite Services Children's Aid and Family Services provides Respite Services that are designed to offer families and caregivers the opportunity for a break from caregiving responsibilities on a temporary or emergency basis for intermittent or short periods of time. This service provides care and supervision to youth either in their family home or in a community setting during after school hours, to temporarily relieve the family from the demands of caring for them.
STRIVE STRIVE is a structured skill development day habilitation program for adults ages 21 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program fosters independence, develops social/life skills and strengthens community inclusion by honoring personal development and choice. FAMILY SERVICES Trauma and Crisis Services Triage assessment and intervention provided at times of individual and community crisis.
Post Adoption Counseling Services (PACS) For children, teens, parents and families. PACS staff provides counseling and resources for families involved in the adoption process, available to any adoptive family within Bergen, Essex and Passaic County. The PACS clinical team provides family, individual and group counseling using today's most effective therapeutic techniques, including life book, identity work, and child play therapy. EPIC Parenting Program The EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) parenting program gives parents and caregivers the support and education they need to 1) develop more confidence in what they already know; and 2) add new skills that will help them raise their children to become responsible and caring adults.
Family Counseling Center Children's Aid and Family Services is proud to introduce the Family Counseling Center, our new program that provides therapy for children and families at our location in Fair Lawn. Our team of professionals will be helping children with a wide range of emotional, behavioral and relationship problems, including those who are struggling with loss or trauma; school-related difficulties; and challenges with focus. We also offer family therapy and support and guidance for parents.
The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources a program of Children's Aid and Family Services, is a recognized leader in community and school-based education programs about alcohol and drug abuse prevention. The Center provides extensive resources, information, expertise and support in understanding and preventing alcohol and drug abuse and advocates for responsive prevention and treatment services.
Fees and Payment
This is a non-profit, 501 (c)3 organization.
Services Offered To: Teens Children
Payment: Medicaid
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
