Rainbow of Hope NJ

When young people who have just been released from psychiatric hospitals need a safe place to receive counseling and support before re-entering their communities, some go to Rainbow of Hope in Woodbine, NJ. The nine-bed, co-ed facility accepts youth on a voluntary-placement basis on recommendations from inpatient hospitals, youth case-management programs, and care-management organizations. The encompassing support system at Rainbow of Hope, including NJ state agencies, family, and counselors, addresses social and environmental issues that affect children's behavioral and emotional health. The ultimate goal is to prepare youngsters to return to their families or other viable settings and eventually become contributing members of society.

In addition to receiving counseling and schooling, the residents at Rainbow of Hope, who range in age from 11 to 17, assist the community in a number of ways. The youth have walked to raise money for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and created artwork sold at the Family Success Center of Cape May County, NJ, to raise money for charity. Other efforts by the young people at the residential facility have included bake sales to benefit an AIDS fund and to purchase supplies for the Family Success Center, participation in the annual Sea Isle City Beach Clean-Up, and a car wash and bake sale to aid Beacon Animal Rescue in Ocean View, NJ.

The psychiatric community home, sanctioned by The Joint Commission, maintains licensing with the NJ Department of Children and Families, with funding provided by Medicaid. Working under the auspices of Cape Counseling Services, Rainbow of Hope received the Mental Health Corporations of America's Best Practices Award for the Highest Level of Client Satisfaction for Residential Service Delivery in 2005.