Visions and Pathways
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Mission Statement
Visions and Pathways addresses the community problems of child abuse, homelessness, runaway youth, and families in conflict. The agency's programs for vulnerable youth include: Brahma House residential crisis intervention program; Passages, My Place, Whitney House and Loving Care Home residential transitional-living programs; Prosperity independent-living skills education program; Street Smart street outreach program; Transitional Learning Center for in-house education instruction; Bridge House and Village House, supportive-housing for young adults who are aging-out of the child welfare system, a Welness Program, and Transitions, an aftercare program. Pathways to Community Counseling (PCC) therapy services is our most recent initiative. In addition, V&P has an affiliation agreement with Newark's International Youth Organization (IYO), IYO has served Newark's highest-need youth for 50 years.
About This Cause
Incorporated in 1970, Visions and Pathways (V&P) is a New Jersey private 501(c)(3) non-profit youth shelter. Our mission is to provide abused, trafficked, neglected, homeless and missing youth with housing, a stable environment and supportive services that help them become self-sufficient. Since our inception, we have helped over 11,800 youth throughout New Jersey from Somerset, Morris, Mercer, Middlesex, Union and Essex Counties. Visions and Pathways (V&P) currently provides the following programs for youth and their families: 1. Street Smart (www.streetsmartoutreach.org, est. 1998). A street outreach program to help keep youth, ages 13 to 24, off the street, prevent exploitation of high-risk youth, combat human trafficking and stop the opioid epidemic. Services include food and clothing, job and educational counseling, HIV/AIDS information, and access to a crisis-intervention or transitional living program. Street Smart has offices in Bridgewater, Morristown and Plainfield NJ and serves youth throughout central and northern New Jersey. 2. Prosperity (est. 1986). A home visitation program. Adolescents ages 14 to 24 throughout central and Northern New Jersey receive independent-living skills education, career counseling and employment preparation through weekly workshops, mentoring groups (i.e., Jewells for young women, Journey to Manhood for young men and Skittlez for LGBTQ youth) and one-on-one support. Youth who live in Visions and Pathways’ residential programs participate in in the workshops, mentoring groups as well as other services alongside youth from the community. 3. Brahma House (est. 1973). A short-term group home for 13- to 18-year-olds. We provide food, clothing, counseling, health care and education. Our goal is to reunite youth with their families; when that isn’t possible, we help them find alternate stable homes where they are able to thrive. 4. Passages (est. 1988) My Place (est. 1988) and Whitney House (est. 2006). Residential transitional living programs for eleven males and eleven females, ages 16 to 21 who continue to need support services as they “age out” of the foster care system. While they are in residence, they attend school and hold a part-time job. They also learn independent-living skills such as food preparation, financial literacy, finding housing and employment – tools to equip them to live independently when they leave. 5. Transitional Learning Center (TLC). A program that ensures that our youth’s educational needs are met by; (a) providing in-house instruction, (b) coordinating with a youth residing in a Visions and Pathways residential program’s current school and (c) working with the new school district that a youth will transfer into due to an extended stay in a Visions and Pathways residence. 6. Wellness Program (former Arts and Recreation program). Provides youth access to the arts, recreation, fitness, nutrition, and faith or spirituality-based programming. These components encourage learning, improve mental and physical health, and foster an appreciation of the arts. Within the context of faith and spirituality, it allows our youth to explore what may best interest them. 7. Bridge House I (a two-bedroom house, est. 2010) and Bridge House II (a two-bedroom condominium, est. 2011). Agency-owned properties located in Bridgewater, NJ for young adults 18 years of age and over who have aged-out of foster care. An expansion to ten (10) units is planned for Bridge House I. 8. Village House (est. 2013). Visions and Pathways provides case management and supportive housing through rental “scatter-site” units. Village House serves young adults 18 years of age and over. The majority of Village House clients have aged-out of foster care. 9. Loving Care Homes (LCH) (est. 2019). Located in Plainfield, New Jersey, LCH is a five-bed shelter for young women who are 18 years old and older. Many of the women are domestic violence victims and human trafficking survivors. 10. Transitions (est. 2015). A program that provides services for youth who have been discharged from a Visions and Pathways program and wish you continue receiving support during their transition to permanency. The goal of the program is to prepare youth to become self-sufficient and establish community-based support. 11. Scholarship; General, Warren, Spreading Joy and Magic Money. The general scholarship program supports youth who have participated in Visions and Pathways programs. Named in honor of a long-term former member of the Board of trustees, the Warren Scholarship Fund provides recognition for youth who have demonstrated a commitment to community service and academic achievement. The Sharing Joy Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Joy Mathiowdis, who was a strong advocate for social justice. Joy served on the Board of Visions & Pathways for many years and her efforts helped thousands of youth in-need. Joy was a beacon of light for many. Ultimately, the goal is to establish a residential home for homeless LGBTQ youth. The Magic Money, Kristina Lorelle Walker Empowerment Fund. Kristina Walker died in a tragic motorcycle accident. She was twenty-five years old. Magic Money is used to support women who are pursuing an undergraduate degree. Priority will be given to women who have also experienced domestic violence (dv). A survivor herself, Kristina’s life course was impacted by dv, and she was devoted to empowering women. 12. ART Center (est. 2021). The Arman Roy Technology Center (ART Center) at Brahma possesses a 25-person seating capacity. The ART Center functions both as the centerpiece of Visions and Pathways STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program, and as academic resource room where residents can get help with schoolwork. The ART Center features a Smart Board, classroom desks, a 3D printer, and desktops at computer banks for residential use. When completed, it will also feature electronic gaming and Virtual Reality headsets. Ultimately, V&P desires to expand past serving our residential youth and offer services to the community. 13. Pathways to Community Counseling (PCC) is an analytical, focused, goal oriented, and needs based clinical intervention that addresses emotional and behavioral challenges of youth with moderate to high needs. It may be provided in a youth’s home or in an amenable community location by a licensed behavioral health clinician and is intended to stabilize and support the youth and family to deter more intensive interventions and to support the youth and family. This is a short-term, solution focused intervention that addresses presenting behaviors resulting in the youth and their family, care giver, and/or guardian gaining insight and improving function at home and in the community. For more information visit us at: www.visionsandpathways.org or www.streetsmartoutreach.org