Tyler is a 13-year-old boy with autism who had become uncontrollable and was at risk of harming himself and his family.
After being placed in a Youth Consultation Service home, Tyler has made incredible progress. He is now toilet trained, able to speak in short sentences, and was even named student of the month at his school.
By donating to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, you can make a difference in the lives of children like Tyler!
Each day, Youth Consultation Service (YCS) provides services to thousands of New Jersey families who have children with special needs.
Some of the children at YCS’s group homes are separated from their loved ones and have been affected by trauma, others are affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities that adversely affect their behavior.
Many families receive the intensive in-home and community support that enables their families to stay together.
Whatever the need, the caring YCS staff is prepared to offer individualized educational, mental health and/or behavioral health programming to families and children, birth – adulthood, with special needs.
How YCS Services Changed A Life
When Bruce was a child, his life was wrought with struggles. He suffered abuse, displacement, and extreme disappointment. As a result, his anger had turned into rage, and he struggled to manage his emotions.
Through YCS services, Bruce connected with a special home administrator who has become a life-long friend. Eventually, Bruce was placed with YCS foster parents — the same parents who were found beaming at Bruce’s recent wedding.
Services to children with autism are provided through the YCS Sawtelle Services. Resources include the Learning Center, preschool, and residential care, all provided with a unique approach that focuses on each individual’s strengths, abilities and needs.
Foster parents may all look very different, yet they all share a heart that is prepared to give a child understanding, patience, compassion, empathy, guidance, a strong arm to lean on and a warm embrace when times are tough.
EDUCATION
The YCS Educational Division serves students, grades K–8, with diverse behavioral issues at the YCS George Washington School in Bergen County. Classified students come to the YCS schools through Child Study Team referrals or residential placements when a structured program is needed. The YCS-Sawtelle Learning Center in Montclair offers outstanding educational and related services for students with autistic spectrum disorder, ages 3-21.
INFANT INSTITUTE
The YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health, established in 2000, provides training, consultation and clinical services related to infants, toddlers, preschool-age children and their families.
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
YCS offers an array of nurturing therapeutic, and life skills teaching residences
for children, teens and young adults with emotional/behavioral health challenges,
developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Psychiatric Children’s Homes
Residential Treatment Centers
Intensive Residential Treatment Centers
Emergency Diagnostic / Crisis Stabilization Center
Sawtelle Residential Program
Sawtelle Homes for children with developmental/intellectual disabilities and Behavioral challenges.
Specialized Treatment Centers
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SERVE DIVERSE GROUPS
YCS’s services span the vast needs represented in New Jersey, including:
21st Century Program is an after-school/summer program.
Make ONE DONATION to the Holiday Fund and support 10 life-changing organizations in New Jersey.
How It All Began
In 1918, YCS originated from the church mission of help of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for abandoned women and children. By ‘32, the emphasis shifted to counseling young people through provision of a broad range of services.
In 2021, YCS served 2,675 children and families through their 57 programs.
Volunteer With YCS
There are several ways to volunteer at YCS, including serving as a mentor, joining the advisory council, organizing a fundraising drive, just to name a few.
