'Our House' For Young Adults With Autism To Hold Ribbon Cutting, June 23

Submitted by YCS Alliance of Services

WHO: YCS Sawtelle Services, Our House, guests from the Department of Developmental Disabilities, public officials & family members of residents

What: Family members join special guests from The DDD and local public officials to celebrate the opening of two new homes in Bridgewater for young adults with Autism and intellectual/ developmental disabilities who are in need of extensive services and round the clock care in a permanent, loving home environment.

Guests will be able to take a tour of one of the home and participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Burning Bush Home for four young men and the Pearl Street Home for four young women. 

The Alliance is working closely with DDD's Returning Home New Jersey initiative to bring individuals with I/DD back from out-of-state placements and into community-based, home-like settings so they can live closer to their families.      

WHEN:      Tuesday, June 24, 2014

TIME:        10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:    YCS Sawtelle Burning Bush Home

                  694-Burning Bush Road

                  Bridgewater, NJ  08807

Nearly two year ago, the YCS Alliance of Services - a partnership of Our House, Inc. and Youth Consultation Service (YCS), was officially created to provide a continuum of services and residential care for young adults with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health and challenging behaviors.  Prior to this time, YCS Sawtelle Services provided educational, in-home and short-term residential care for children on the autism spectrum.  This collaboration will make it possible for children to seamlessly transition into homes for young adults as they age out of the child care system.

"Between our two agencies, we'll be a comprehensive resource for the special-needs population," said Richard Mingoia, YCS President and CEO. In addition, YCS works closely with DDD's Children's Placement Enhancement Project (C-PEP) program to provide services for children and adolescents with the most complex and challenging needs.

“The variety of programs that both agencies can provide will offer greater opportunities to all the residents as they enter adulthood. Our House is excited about the opportunity to improve the lives of New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Michele Wernsing, executive director of Our House.

Our House opened its first group home for individuals with developmental disabilities in 1980 in Summit, NJ.  Our House now operates more than 30 homes in five counties. Residents are integrated into their communities and are given training, employment and volunteer opportunities commensurate with their abilities.

For more than 90 years YCS has been providing intensive therapeutic care to children and teens. In 2010, YCS began working with the NJ Department of Human Services-Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to provide residential and in-home care to children, teens and now young adults with similar challenges as well as cognitive limitations.