It's 10:00PM - Do You Know Where Your Children Are? Sadly Many Do Not!

With November being National Runaway Prevention Month, the Union County Runaway Shelter in Elizabeth has changed its outdoor lightbulbs to green, the color of support of youth who have left home, and will be handing out green ribbons in the community to raise awareness about the problems of runaways.

According to the National Runaway Safeline, one in five youth run away from home at some point. Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year and youth aged 12-17 are at higher risk for homelessness than adults. The primary motivation for running away, at 47 percent, is conflict between the youth and their parent or guardian. Twelve percent of runaway and homeless youth spent at least one night outside, in a park, on the street, under a bridge or overhang or on a rooftop.

The Union County Runaway Shelter has provided shelter and support to more than two dozen runaway youth so far in 2014. The shelter serves as transitional housing for up to five runaway youths aged 13-17 for up to 21 days and offers 24 hour assistance; safe emergency accommodations; food, clothing and medical attention; educational assistance; life and social skills training and support; respite opportunities for families in crisis; and family reunification support. Referrals are accepted from the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, law enforcement departments, teachers, school social workers and school administrators, social services agencies, self-referrals, youth from the streets and good neighbors.

The shelter is designated as a Safe Place by the National Safe Place Organization, a national outreach effort that connects young people in crisis to local community resources provided primarily by runaway and homeless youth agencies. Local agencies recruit businesses and other public locations to serve as “safe places” for youth to go when needing immediate help.

The shelter is funded by the federal government and operated by Community Access Unlimited, the Elizabeth-based nonprofit that provides support programs and services to people with disabilities statewide and youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, in areas including housing, vocational and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation and in-home services.

The mission if the shelter is to provide more than just a roof over the heads of runaway youths.

“When a teenager comes in and has nowhere to go, our first steps are to provide them a safe place of shelter, a meal, a shower and clothing,” said Julia Leftwich, director of the shelter. “Then we try to find out what went wrong with this youth and why they’re here. If they claim abuse we contact the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. If not, we notify the parents and try to get them in within 48 hours. We work with them to devise a plan to unify them with their child.”

Available for interviews are Leftwich and Tanya Johnson, senior assistant executive director for youth services, as well as one of the youth (first name only). If you would like to do a story about the shelter, please contact me at your convenience.

What Sets CAU Apart

Financial Strength – After using its initial grant as collateral for a loan to make payroll in 1979, CAU now has a $7.9 million line of credit backed by $45 million in assets with only $2 million in debt. Few social services agencies have this depth of financial strength while many are closing their doors.

Social Entrepreneurship – CAU employs social entrepreneurship business techniques to reinvest into and strengthen the services it provides its members, identifying needs and filling those in ways that generate revenue. (e.g. Building mixed-use properties that generate commercial rents)

Advocacy – CAU is a social movement rather than simply an agency, with advocacy for and by its members at its core. Members operate several advocacy arms with the mission of changing societal perceptions about people with disabilities and at-risk youth and changing the community.

Adaptation – Unlike other social services nonprofits, CAU continually adapts to change, adopting new business models as opportunities arise and new missions as needs develop. Once again this flexibility makes CAU a leader as New Jersey’s landscape for people with disabilities is redefining.

Staffing – CAU has unique staffing stability. Eighteen percent of the agency’s staff has been with CAU for more than five years and 40 percent of its supervisory personnel have been promoted into their positions. Seven percent are people with disabilities. CAU holds a hiring fair twice monthly and did so throughout the recession.

Added Value – CAU provides benefits to its members no other agency offers, including computer and car donations; funds and scholarships; and recreation and social life enhancement, such as a Couples Night.

Mileposts

1979

Opens with a staff of three. Today the agency has a staff of more than 1,000.

1984

Responds to the needs of youth in New Jersey’s child welfare system and parents with developmental disabilities through a provision to provide supportive transitional living programs and educational training.

1987

Purchases its first housing units for adults with developmental disabilities and youth members. Today, in addition to 64,000 square feet of commercial space, CAU owns more than 245 units of housing throughout Union County.

1999

Begins providing respite care to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Union and Somerset counties.

2006

Becomes certified by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) in the areas of aging services, behavioral health, Opioid treatment programs, business and services management networks, child and youth services, employment and community services, vision rehabilitation and medical rehabilitation.

2013

Is named the support coordination agency for in-home services provided by the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) for all counties in the state except its home county of Union.

2014

Celebrated 35 years of service on May 7.