On Friday, April 24, the gym located stalls from a multitude of non-profit organizations dedicated to helping those who were facing issues such as food insecurity, abuse and neglect either at home or through other relationships, or financial instability to not receive the medical care that they needed.
To get students to ask more questions at the events fair, they were given problem situations on yellow laminated placards, and their “mission” was to locate the stalls that would have the resources to best help them provide a solution to their problem. When students went to a location who couldn’t directly provide services to assist them, they would be directed towards another location that had services that could assist them. After receiving information about people at stalls, their signatures would be written on their “Passport to Wellness.”
The services consisted of the following: Deidre’s House, Teenhealth FX- Atlantic Health, Mental Health Association NJ4S, Child & Family Resources, DAWN Center for Independent Living, MCOHA, Zufall Health Center, Center for Family Services, Interfaith Food Pantry Network, Comfort Zone Camp, Morris County Sexual Assault Center, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, Morris County Vocational School District, Department for Child Protection & Permanency, Newbridge Services, Center for Evaluation & Counseling, JBWS, Rockaway Twp Division of Health, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, NJ Courts- Morris and Sussex Vicinage, Good Grief, Family Support Organization of Morris & Sussex Counties and Family Promise of Morris county. The following is about just several of the support organizations at the fair.
The Youth Partnership program helps out youth from the ages of 14-21 with their social, emotional and behavioral challenges. The JBWS in Morris and Passaic County provide safety, support and solutions for abuse, in addition to the Teenhealth FX- site for providing on-demand clarity to teenagers around the state.
The Mental Health Association inspires hope and healing through providing resources for substance use disorder, medical/dental help, eating disorders, daytime resource centers, food and clothing, shelter, special needs housing, housing/rental assistant, case management services, vocational services, financial aid, eldercare services, families & youth at risk, veterans, self-help, state hospital transfers, transportation, legal advocacy, crisis intervention, substance abuse, counseling and services for homeless people.
The Comfort Zone Camp is a “fun and safe place” for children in grieving of a lost loved one, providing a nurturing environment where kids acquire the assets to help them cope with loss and receive validation from their peers to break free from isolation. Several activities of the camp are “circle of remembrance” and memorial services. Good Grief also hosts community sessions for those who have lost a loved one.
Even if students were directed to stands who did not provide solutions to their situations immediately, they were eventually able to find the resources they needed, such as portrayed in life.