Department of Children and Families Commissioner to tour children’s group homes

Jan. 20, 2012 - PRLog -- Community Options is a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment for people with disabilities since 1989.  For a majority of its history, Community Options primarily supported adults with disabilities until 2008, when it started opening group homes for children.  

In 2008, Community Options was the first provider in the State of New Jersey to open a children’s group home under the Children’s Placement Enhancement Program under the Division of Developmental Disabilities- Department of Human Services. Community Options worked to pioneer the manner in which children with disabilities are supported in out of home settings placing a vast emphasis on family and being close to home.

To this end, Community Options created the House Parent model that is used in all of its children’s group homes.  The House Parent model provides a maximum of two adults that live in the homes with the children on a permanent basis to provide structure, love and a sense of family.  This model has proven to increase the success of each child and decrease staff turnover.

The organization is fortunate to have Dr. Allison Blake, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to tour two of its children’s group homes on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.  Commissioner Blake will meet and spend time with the children supported in these two homes along with their caregivers and house parents.

"I am pleased to be able to tour the Community Options’ group homes and see firsthand how the house parent model is helping to positively transform the lives of our children every day,” says Commissioner Blake.

Since the initial opening of these two homes in 2008, Community Options has diligently worked with the State of New Jersey to open even more of these important programs across the state.  In addition to opening group homes for children, Community Options is also working to provide in-home support for children and families who require additional support but not out of home placement.

"Building the State's capacity to serve more children in family-like settings and close to home has been a major focus of our reform efforts. And it is through the great work and commitment of our partners like Community Options that we are able to give children the stability, support and love they need in order to succeed,” says Commissioner Blake.

“Having Commissioner Blake tour our homes that support our great children is such an honor,” says Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options. “Our organization puts a tremendous emphasis on family and we believe this is why these programs have been so successful,” he added.

For more information about Community Options, please visit www.comop.org.  If you are a member of the press and would like the opportunity to photograph the tour, please contact Jessica Guberman at jessica.guberman@comop.org.

About The Department of Children and Families:
The Department of Children and Families (DCF), New Jersey's state child welfare agency, was created in July 2006 as the state's first Cabinet agency devoted exclusively to serving and safeguarding the most vulnerable children and families in New Jersey. DCF includes the Division of Youth and Family Services, Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships and Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, and is focused on strengthening families and achieving safety,well-being and permanency for New Jersey's children.

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Community Options is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Robert Stack that works to develop homes and employment for people with disabilities. Community Options operates in 37 cities across 10 states supporting thousands of people with disabilities and their families with the help of over 2,500 employees.