Our Services

NJ4S Passaic County aims to promote the mental health and wellness of students, families, and educators across Passaic County by providing a wide range of prevention-based support services at no cost.

Our Free Evidence-Based Services

Staff deliver educational workshops, professional development opportunities, support groups, skill-building sessions, clinical assessments, therapeutic interventions, and much more, all at no cost to Passaic County residents.

These free services are available in-person at public and charter schools, community organizations, and our Paterson-based headquarters. All services are also available virtually, via Zoom, and other telehealth platforms.

The NJ4S Passaic County Hub serves only Passaic County residents. It is one of 15 regional NJ4S hubs across the State of New Jersey.

Serving the Community

NJ4S Passaic County services are developed utilizing evidence-based methodologies and direct input from community members, including educators, school administrators, parents, caregivers, and youth. Presentations and workshops can be customized to fit the needs of specific groups, including adjusting content to best serve audiences of varying ages and developmental stages.

NJCDC hires from within the communities it serves to ensure culturally competent staffing and programming, reflecting the diverse populations of Passaic County. To meet the needs of Passaic County’s expansive Hispanic and Latinx communities, the NJ4S team features several bilingual Spanish- speaking staff members and clinicians

NJ4S is committed to using evidence-based practices (EBP) to consistently and strategically improve the outcomes for the children we serve. Our methods are centered on the following evidence-based programs:

Good Grief: Builds resilience in children, strengthens families, and empowers communities to grow from loss and adversity. Provides a 9-week group curriculum, as well as guidance for 1-to-1 mentoring and therapeutic support for individuals of all ages coping with loss.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Widely adopted skills-based training program on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of emotional distress, behavioral crisis, mental illness, and substance use disorder.

Positive Action: Curriculum provided directly to K-12 students promoting positive self-concept, responsible self- management, and healthy social skills. Lessons include a variety of role-play scenarios, group activities, writing prompts, and discussions.

QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer: An emergency mental health intervention for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. Participants learn to identify a crisis, interrupt its escalation, and direct that person to proper care. NJ4S Passaic County staff receive training to be able to provide QPR certification to students, school personnel, community organizations, and others.

SOS: Signs of Suicide (SOS): Prevention program that has demonstrated a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts. Equips students, parents, and school staff to identify red flags, provide effective support, and intervene early.

Seeking Safety: Treatment model addressing trauma, PTSD, and substance abuse through cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. Exercises implemented with children and adolescents empower them to make healthy choices and develop positive coping skills.

Strengthening Families: Internationally recognized skills training program for families. Promotes healthy relationships, effective communication, stress management, and collaboration inside and outside the family unit.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Three-phase treatment model for youth impacted by trauma. Licensed clinicians assist clients through establishing safety, formal gradual exposure, and consolidation/integration. Shown to reduce PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms, as well as behavioral challenges and social difficulties.