The Community YMCA Expands Counseling and Social Services to Two New Locations in Ocean County

The Community YMCA’s Counseling and Social Services has expanded its reach into Ocean County, offering outpatient therapy to children and adolescents in Little Egg Harbor, at the Lighthouse Alliance Community Church, 455 Route 9 South, and Manahawkin at the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 333 Main Street. The outpatient program focuses on play therapy for children 3-12 and counseling for adolescents.

The expansion was possible in part from a $25,000 grant from Ocean Partnership for Children, a community based nonprofit organization, dedicated to helping children who are having mental health, substance abuse, emotional, intellectual or developmental challenges.

“We’re thrilled that the Y has been given the opportunity to provide these services in an area where we are needed,” said Rhonda Anderson, President and CEO of The Community YMCA. “It is important to be accessible to serve the needs of our community,” she added.

Colleen Verriest, Vice President of the Y’s Counseling and Social Services branch, said: “We would like to thank Ocean Partnership for Children for their collaboration in opening these locations. We expect to be able to make a great impact helping children and adolescents in these areas.”

Ocean Partnership for Children provides help to children and their families through care management services, ensuring that the right resources, from counseling to mentoring to substance abuse treatment, are available to meet the needs of children. It is the state’s designated Care Management Organization for Ocean County and one of the local components of New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care.

Mary Jo Buchanan, CEO of Ocean Partnership for Children, said the organization is pleased to partner with The Community YMCA to provide services in Ocean County. “These additional services are vital so that our children and families can access services close to home, in addition to avoiding any delays in accessing these services,” she said.

The grant from Ocean Partnership for Children also provides funds for training clinicians who are working with families with children on the Autism spectrum and on trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

Therapists will be available by appointment at the new locations in Little Egg Harbor and Manahawkin.

In addition to the new locations in Ocean County, the Y has outpatient counseling services available throughout Monmouth County, including Freehold, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Matawan, Middletown and Red Bank.

Since 1970, the Y has been strengthening children, teens and adults living with depression, substance abuse and other difficult situations. For information on appointments and services at any Y Counseling and Services locations, call 732.290.9040 or visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.

About The Community YMCA

The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, health and wellness, leadership, arts enrichment, personal and family counseling and summer day camp. With a mission to serve all, more than $660,000 in reduced and free membership fees and programs is provided by the YCares financial assistance program to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.