Caring Partners is excited to announce that the following organizations have been awarded Community Resource Development (CRD) Funds to enhance family and youth programming in Morris and Sussex counties:
Alliance for Morris County Parks will expand its Branching Out Program, which oversees horticultural therapy. This program helps participants develop independence, learn the benefits of growing and eating healthy food, and encourages social interactions. Open to youth up to age 21 with special needs in Morris County, it will offer three sessions for up to eight participants each.
The Arts Council of the Morris Area will expand "Her Words," an arts therapy program for female and gender-expansive youth in grades 6-12. Partnering with the Dover Free Public Library, this program targets at-risk youth and those with emotional, behavioral, intellectual, or developmental differences. To meet the needs of Dover’s largely Hispanic community, they will hire bilingual teaching artists and a licensed social worker, focusing on social-emotional learning. The program will run two free 10-week after-school sessions (September-December 2024 and January-June 2025) serving up to 40 participants total.
Girls on the Run NJ North will add two new running groups in Stanhope and Ogdensburg, serving 3rd-8th grade girls from Sussex County. The program blends physical activity with life skill development, such as managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. At the end of the program, participants will complete a 5K race, with 23 girls benefiting from the expansion.
Silver Lining Services will launch Expressions Dance Camp, an 8-week therapeutic dance program for Sussex County youth, ages 8-14, in July-August 2024. Led by two licensed clinicians who are experienced dance instructors, the camp will help participants use movement and dance to build coping skills and express creativity. The camp will offer two sessions per week, serving up to 24 youth.
These organizations are well-established in our community and are uniquely positioned to implement their programs successfully. We are confident that these initiatives will have a meaningful, positive impact on the youth in Morris and Sussex counties.