Our Services

Services

Jefferson Park Ministries Inc.(JPM) is a qualified support coordination agency by the Division of Developmental Disabilities to coordinate, monitor and design a plan of support services that will help you explore your potential and attain your goals. When you select JPM as your support coordinator, our dedicated professional team will work with you, along with your families and guardians to develop an Individualized Support Plan (ISP) to connect you with the appropriate support services and programs.

Support Coordination Services

All individuals who are eligible for and wish to access Division of Developmental Disabilities services must either choose or be assigned to a Support Coordination Agency(SCA).

The Support Coordination Agency is an organization that will help you get the services you need. JPM Support Coordination will help you discover your interests while you learn new life skills for your present and your future. We are here to answer all of your questions. We operate 7-days a week with a 24-hour emergency hotline to help you whenever you are in need.

JPM Support Coordinators(SC) are experienced professionals who will consult with you to locate programs and services such as:

Transportation Providers
Day Programs
Recreation and Social activities
Educational Programs
Community Inclusion Programs
Home Care Services
Employment Resources

Who Can We Help with JPM Support Coordination Services?

Any individual who is eligible for and wishes to access DDD services in New Jersey may choose JPM as a Support Coordination Agency. Our Support Coordinators live around New Jersey and are knowledgeable about services available in your community. Majority of these services to individuals with developmental disabilities are delivered at home and in community-based settings.

JPM offers support coordination service to residents of Bergen, Essex, Morris, Middlesex, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties and support services for Hudson County residents who are eligible for the Division of Development Disabilities (DDD) services.

Support coordinators help you by:

Listening to what you need and want in your life
Developing your Individual Service Plan
Finding service providers in your community that meet your needs
Checking in to make sure the services are meeting your needs
Answering your questions
Responding to emergencies

Here how it works:

At JPM, your SCA journey is developed a plan that fits you.
Your assigned Support Coordinator (SC) gets to know you, your family, and your goals so SC can best understand your needs.
Our team researches programs and services by local, state, and federal agencies to find you the right supports.
Our team connects and coordinates all appropriate supports and helps create a service plan that acts as an outline for your future.
When you are ready and satisfied with your plan, the Support Coordinator helps you approve and implement the services you have selected.
Our team continues making you a priority with regular monthly contact, quarterly in-person meeting and an annual in-home visit

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Foster Grandparents Program

Foster Grandparents are role models and friends to children with exceptional needs. The program provides a way for volunteers age 55 and over to stay active by serving children and youth in their communities.

Help children learn to read and provide one-on-one tutoring
Mentor troubled teenagers and young mothers
Care for premature infants or children with disabilities
Help children who have been abused or neglected

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Immigration Services

Jefferson Park Ministries Immigration Services (JPMIS), provides assistance to clients with immigration needs by providing low-cost assistance in all phases of immigration and naturalization proceedings. JPMIS has been approved in 2012 by the board of Immigration and provides immigration services according to the law (8cfr, 1292.2-a). The goal is to reduce immigration scam and facilitate legal immigration so the immigrants can be part of the vibrant American economic system. Clients will be informed about the kind of benefits they are entitled to and JPMIS will ensure that they take an active part in the process so they become more aware about the immigration system and subsequently get the needed benefits.

Walk-ins are welcome and consultation is free.

Food Pantry

Jefferson Park Ministries Food Pantry (JPMFP) is committed to improving the quality of life and to promote the health of low income persons and/or their families.

Low income, struggling, and working families can get free food at the Jefferson Park Ministries, Inc. Food Pantry (JPMFP). JPMFP provides free groceries, diapers, as well as hygiene supplies to those who need help. A number of other assistance programs and supports are offered. It also distributes baby food, clothing, diapers, or guidance on applying for SNAP food stamps.

JPM works with the Community Food Bank of NJ (CFBNJ) to reach people in need across the state. CFBNJ helps JPM get healthy food to hungry men, women, and children in the communities through its food pantry.

Furthermore, JPM partners with CFBNJ and is trained to connect its clients to SNAP benefits. The partnership helps to engage clients and assess client’s food needs to reduce barriers to accessing food assistance, facilitate the CFBNJ screening JPM clients over the phone for SNAP, and providing online application assistance for those that are eligible.

“More than 1.2 million people in New Jersey face hunger every day. Nearly 400,000 of them are children. When they don’t have enough food to eat, they can suffer direct and dramatic effects on their physical development and mental well-being”.

Food insecurity exists in every county across the United States, from the poorest neighborhoods to the most affluent. Parents skip meals so they can feed their children, seniors choose between buying medicine and food, and students decide between their education and food. These tough choices are an unfortunate reality for many of our New Jersey neighbors.” Community Food of NJ Period Initiative

We all know plenty of people that have a period. But not everyone knows that one in four people struggle to purchase period supplies due to lack of income. This is called period poverty, and chances are we each know someone who has experienced this need — a neighbor, a coworker, a friend. No student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the supplies they need, said Alliance for Period Supplies.

1 in 4 American women do not have consistent access to menstrual products. An allied program of the National Diaper Bank Network’s Alliance for Period Supplies, the Period Initiative, provides free period products every month to women in need, said CFBNJ. JPM partners with CFBNJ to distribute periods pads to all women. Period pad distribution is on every 2nd Thursday of the month.

“Times are hard, and hygiene products are so expensive in the store. The Period Initiative helps me get through the month”. – Frankie Period Program

Diaper Program

Low-income families with young children often struggle with diaper need, having to make tough choices between diapers and other necessities. 1 in 3 mothers in the U.S. cannot afford diapers and must make these impossible decisions every day. As a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, we partner with 50 of our agencies to provide parents with diapers each month to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. JPM partners with Moms Helping Moms to distribute diapers to families. Diaper distribution is every 3rd Thursday of the month from 1-5pm. Parents must bring the child birth certificate and a picture ID.

Bringing a picture identification (ID) is the only condition that needs to be met by clients. The food, period pad and diapers are served on first comes, first serves basis. Food pantry is every 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month from 1-5pm.

Links for local food pantries:

Food Pantries

UCNJ Blog Page

After School Program

Jefferson Park Ministries’ youth program strives to help the community achieve success by promoting positive educational experiences, leading to growth and development. After School programs serve low income families by providing homework assistance to students to help achieve their academic goals which includes social skills building as well.

JPM After School (k-8^th) – JPM youth program strives to help students achieve success in school and become more confident in themselves by promoting positive educational experience, leading to responsible development and positive change. The Afterschool program give kids a chance to interact with peers in order to build their social skills. The program is built around fun activities. Making friends may be easier for some students in this environment. The Afterschool program includes many opportunities to socialize. Kids would help each other, check answers and complement each other’s work. During gym time, they would dance together or play games. Rarely did they work or play alone. Kids feel more comfortable interacting with teachers.

Summer Camp – The primary purpose of the summer camp is educational and/or cultural development. The environment may allow children to take healthy risks in a safe and nurturing environment.

Family Success Center

Family Success Center is a place where any community resident can go for family support, information and services such as computer classes, ESL classes, financial literacy, and family strengthening program, fatherhood initiative, family games, family picnic and movie night.

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ESL Classes

English as a second language (ESL) classes are offered for new immigrants, and other adults whose first language is something other than English. Varying levels of ESL classes help adult students of varying proficiency levels. Programs can be made up of informal sessions that focus on conversation, or they can include structured courses that focus on written and oral proficiency. ESL classes are typically offered in the morning or evening for adult students

Beginner ESL – Beginner classes are for those who speak little or no English. These classes focus on basic conversational English speaking and reading skills needed for survival. Vocabulary lessons might cover words needed for routine activities, such as catching a bus, renting an apartment, finding a job and cashing a paycheck. Adults who complete a beginner program can move up to intermediate programs, which include instruction in English grammar and reading.
Intermediate – Intermediate programs are designed for adults who have good speaking skills, but who may need help with reading and writing in English. These programs prepare adult students for career training to enter the workforce or to move on to advanced English programs that can prepare them for college courses.

Computer Classes

Computer Class offers basic instruction on computers. Classes geared toward older adults emphasizing straightforward learning of computer basic.
Life skill program- Life skills are important and are necessary for us to survive. They are what we use to advance through our lives. They are gained and developed as we grow and age through the experiencing of trials and struggles. As these types of things happen in a person’s life they learn these Life skills and they begin to become greater and more important. Another way to learn and strengthen life skills are through involvement of uplifting programs such as seminars, life coaching programs, and other types of positive uplifting encounters.

Our Team

Coordinators receive continual cross training in crisis management, community building and integration, and employment.
We link the individuals we support with resources that celebrate their culture and religious beliefs.
Need help? Support Coordination operates a 24-hour on-call system in the event of an emergency.
Our coordinators are highly knowledgeable and educated with a minimum bachelor degree requirement and certification in person-centered thinking/planning.
Our professional team is patient and have many years of experience working with families. We are committed to helping you find the best array of services to meet your families and individual’s needs. Please call (908)662-7802 or email wphilippe@jeffersonparks.com

Family Support Services

Family support services can help in times of crisis when a family member or loved one becomes ill, or when things get difficult at home for other reasons. These family support services may include:

Information and referral
Family and individual counseling
Recreation
Support groups

Health Information

Please contact us for Health Referrals.
Contact us today to start your journey, or visit our resources guide for more information.

Our Youth

Jefferson Park Ministries’ Youth Program strives to help students achieve success in school and become more confident in themselves by promoting a positive educational experience leading to responsible development and positive change. JPM offers an After School Program (ASP) during the academic school year and a Summer Camp (SC) in the summer to the youth.

ASP provides youth, grades K-8th, a chance to interact with peers in order to build their social skills. The program is built around a multitude of recreational activities. Making friends may be easier for some students in this environment as it includes many open and safe opportunities to socialize. Youth help each other, check answers and complement each other’s work as our program fosters peer interaction. During gym, our program implements fun ways to be active and promotes healthy living. Our youth find a supportive staff of teachers that help them feel comfortable to be and express themselves.

There is nothing like Summer Camp at JPM. A six week long JPM camp is where your child can make new friends, learn and discover, get creative and have fun trying new things in a safe and nurturing environment.