The Residential Services Division believes something miraculous is possible for troubled youth when they receive structure, caring and specialized services. Guided by this belief, the Division serves children and teens requiring extra assistance to successfully transition from childhood to adulthood. Too often these children come from chaotic or abusive homes that lack sufficient guidance and direction. Too often, these children are left unattended, raising themselves without parental support or intervention. Yet with vigilance, faith, support and care, their possibilities are endless and achievement is possible.

Therapeutic Group Home
Adolescence can be a trying time. For some youth, placement in a therapeutic group home setting is necessary to provide structure and redirection. The Peter and Paul House program is dedicated to working with youth in the context of their nuclear families and other community support networks. The program offers individual, group and family counseling with a behavior modification program that focuses on positive reinforcement and natural, logical consequences.

Diagnostic Facility
Many of the children referred to the Residential Services programs have experienced severe trauma in their childhood due to abuse or neglect. Many have been exposed to drugs and alcohol as a result of the addictions of their parents. Many have not received proper medical care. Add to this multiple placements in foster homes and hospital settings, and a picture emerges of an angry and troubled child with nowhere to go. At Nicholas House the emphasis is placed on administering comprehensive diagnostic assessments and teaching children new coping strategies, anger management and communication skills. The goal is to discharge clients to the least restrictive setting possible.

Independent Living Program
The Independent Living Program is for youth who are approaching adulthood yet remain unable to return to their families. This program provides a supervised apartment type setting to facilitate the transition from a group home to living in the community without adult supervision. While in the facility, youth receive case management services and opportunities for real life experiences in a supportive environment. The program provides education in household maintenance, food shopping, meal preparation, money management, methods for accessing community resources and assistance obtaining employment. Program participants are required to maintain employment and contribute financially to rent and groceries. All program components prepare these youth to live independently in the community.

Residential Treatment Programs
The Residential Services Division operates two Residential Treatment Programs. St. Agnes House located in Somerset County and Nazareth House located in Middlesex County. These programs provide intensive, short term treatment in a community setting. The focus of the program is to reintegrate a client, who has often been in the system for many years, to the least restrictive community setting. The program focuses on individual and family therapy with a behavior modification component. Clients are encouraged to earn unsupervised time in the community and to participate in community service projects. The program works with the client to become a productive member of the community.