GROUP PROGRAMS | STREET OUTREACH | PEER LEADERS
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
This year our outreach team has united behind a common message to the youth of this community-You are NOT ALONE. We have an incredible family at Harbor House made up of Staff, Volunteers, Donors, Board Members, along with other community leaders, partner agencies, and civic organizations. They all work tirelessly together to help youth and their families when they need it most. And because of that effort there will always be someone here for them-a 24 hour hotline, an interactive website, a counselor, a friend, and an open door.
The Outreach counselors hit the streets in 32 towns in Ocean County to work with thousands of kids right on the streets every year. In addition the Outreach Program travels to speak at schools and community events.
Our outreach services include:
INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY COUNSELING
For youth and their family who might need a little more than a group can offer, we provide individual and family counseling sessions on a short term basis. The goal of these sessions is to help the individual and/or family through the crisis situation that has caused some disruption in the normal, daily functioning of the individual or family.
GROUP PROGRAMS
Ocean's Harbor House offers a variety of groups for youth Monday through Friday. Some of the groups are designed to address specific youth challenges, while others provide the opportunity to explore various topics. These groups are open to all youth (10-19) from Ocean County and are free of charge. Each group is facilitated by an experienced counselor and will provide its participants with the opportunity to share and learn from others.
STREET WORKS
Through our Street Works Program, the staff reaches out to the youth in their own communities. Our purpose of going out into the communities is to inform and educate youth about services that are available to them. It also gives us the opportunity to assist any youth who may have need for immediate shelter, food or clothing. Each community that we provide this service to is done with the permission and support of the Police Department and community leaders. our vans are clearly marked, we travel in pairs and attempt to hit those spots where young people hang out.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Ocean's Harbor House participates in a variety of community events, with a goal of educating the community and preventing the crises that result in a runaway behavior, homelessness and child abuse. To this end, staff provide speaking engagements and outreach materials to schools, churches and youth/community organizations. If you are interested in getting a speaker, click here.
YOUTH PEER LEADERSHIP
Our agency believes that young people MUST play a key role in the development and implementation of youth service programs. Youth must be provided with opportunities to develop leadership skills and be empowered to develop a voice on their behalf, and on behalf of other young people.
Our agency operates the PLAY Program (Peer Leadership Activities for Youth). Former youth shelter residents and service participants meet weekly, with other youth from the surrounding communities to discuss trends, evaluate agency services, participate in team building exercises, and support agency services and events.
FOR A SCHEDULE OF ALL OUR GROUP PROGRAMS, CLICK HERE