Children’s Services

Allies, Inc. recognizes that children with intellectual, emotional, and behavioral issues have unique needs, and sometimes families require support that goes beyond what can be provided in the family home. Allies’ youth programs provide this support through customized treatment and education that encompasses and empowers the entire family. Treatment is provided in a safe, nurturing and home-like environment, while keeping family members engaged with their child’s progress throughout treatment.

Allies currently offers two Out-of-Home treatment programs in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. These programs provide short-term treatment for male and female children and adolescents diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as a co-occurring mental health diagnosis or crisis.

We also offer longer-term care for youth with IDD who require behavioral and/or medical support. This care is provided at two Level 2 Group Homes, where youth receive services for up to 24 months or longer, depending on the needs of each youth.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about these programs and how they support youth and their families.

Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) Program

Allies’ Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) Program, approved by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, provides short-term, out-of-home treatment for male and female adolescents aged 14-18 years that have been diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a co-occurring mental health diagnosis. A youth’s stay at the home is normally between six and nine months or more, depending on their needs. Five children may attend the program at a time, allowing us to deliver more time and attention to each child and focused care.

A Team Dedicated to Supporting Youth and Family

A psychiatrist, as well as behavioral and youth therapists, work with each child to create a customized treatment plan to meet their individual needs and goals. Treatment includes a full array of clinical services including one-on-one therapy with clinical staff, group therapy, and sessions that include family members. A nurse in the home tends to medical needs and assists with medication administration, while a Program Director ensures that each child’s needs are being met and planned for.

Treatment in a Warm, Home-Like Environment

One of the unique benefits of the program is that treatment is provided in a home-like environment instead of in a hospital or other medical setting. The community-based, residential setting of the home gives us the opportunity to have more interactions with the youth, build rapport and work on treatment goals.

The IRTS home is big, open, and bright and features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a dining room, sitting room, a kitchen, and a great room. The windows allow a lot of natural light in, boosting the mood of its residents. Each child has their own bedroom, which gives them some time away to self-regulate, do their homework, enjoy personal activities, and rest in their own personal space. In addition, the surrounding area is quiet and calm, and the large backyard features a big deck as well as a basketball net for kids to play and connect with each other. A family-like environment is fostered in the home, with staff and children often cooking and sharing meals together.

Empowering Families to Work Together and Preserving Their Special Bond

Our program works to preserve the bond between adolescents and their family by teaching both the child and family members strategies and coping skills to stabilize behavior challenges. The youth learn lasting self-regulation skills that can be easily utilized upon their return to the family home, school and in other community environments. Once children meet their treatment goals, we prepare them for reunification with their families, a transfer to a step-down program that is less restrictive, or to a long-term group home, depending on their individual needs.

For more information about the IRTS Program, please contact our Clinical Director of Children’s Services, Kristen Kierney, at 609-690-3300 or kkierney@alliesnj.org.

Crisis Stabilization and Assessment Program (CSAP)

Allies’ Crisis Stabilization and Assessment Program (CSAP), approved by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, provides short-term, out-of-home treatment for male and female adolescents aged 12-19 years that have been diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a co-occurring mental health diagnosis, and are in need of support during a crisis.

The CSAP aims to bridge the gap between a family who is struggling to support their child through challenging behaviors and medical conditions, and the social, adaptive and life skills needed to help youth stabilize. The skills and support provided helps youth thrive at home, in school and become a productive part of the community.

A Structured Program in a Warm, Home-Like Environment

Our highly structured program provides youth with a safe, consistent, and home-like environment for treatment, rather than in a hospital or other medical setting. The CSAP is nestled in a quiet suburban area where families of deer can be seen playing in the yard daily. The home features two double-occupancy bedrooms with a bathroom, and one single bedroom. The bedrooms provide children with their own personal space to self-regulate, complete homework, enjoy their favorite activities, and rest. The residence is also equipped with a kitchen, and open living room and dining room areas. Various windows and skylights fill the home with lots of natural light, which boosts the mood of everyone in the home. A big back yard lends itself to summer BBQs, family visits, and play time for our residents.

A Team Dedicated to Supporting Youth and Helping Them Thrive

While in the program, youth receive 24-hour supervision and a full array of clinical and therapeutic services that emphasize stabilization and help develop important life and social skills. A youth’s stay at the CSAP is normally between three and six months or more, depending on their needs. Five children may attend the program at a time, allowing us to deliver more time and attention to each child and focused care.

Youth in the program work with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a psychiatrist, nurse, and a youth therapist; and treatment is always tailored to address the distinct emotional needs of each child and their customized goals. A varied range of modalities are used in treatment, including the Nurtured Heart Approach®. A Program Director ensures that each child’s needs are being met and planned for.

Giving Parents, Families and Educators the Tools to Support Youth Now and in the Future

We work to ensure that parents/guardians play a vital part in their child’s treatment as well. Our team has an on-going dialogue with the family in person, via phone and email, giving parents a voice in the direction of their child’s care and plans to transition home. We provide a great deal of education and coaching to give families the tools to do things in a way that will meet the needs of their child at home; and create a structure that will maximize their child’s ability to remain in their home and continue attending their local school.

Throughout treatment we also strive to actively involve case managers, educators, clinical teams, and anyone else identified as crucial. This ensures that proper support is in place for the adolescent to complete the program and gain the skills needed to resume their successful journey into adulthood.

For more information about CSAP, please contact our Clinical Director of Children’s Services, Kristen Kierney, at 609-690-3300 or kkierney@alliesnj.org.

IDD Treatment Homes for Youth

Allies offers two IDD Treatment Homes for youth aged 12-18, approved by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. The homes are designed for youth who are deemed eligible for IDD services and are in need of behavioral and/or medical support that cannot be safely and consistently managed in their primary home environment or in a less intensive treatment setting.

Programming and Therapeutic Services to Help Youth Realize Their Maximum Potential

Long-term care is provided in the homes, with a stay of up to 24 months or more depending on the unique situation and needs of each youth. Each home provides care for up to five children, allowing us to deliver more time and attention to each child.

Youth receive 24-hour comprehensive integrated programming and therapeutic services with treatment goals that include:

  • Improving the youth’s health and welfare
  • Helping them realize their maximum physical, social, psychological, and vocational potential
  • Developing, to the greatest extent possible, their capacity to engage in useful and productive activities in the home and the community

Compassionate Care by a Team Dedicated to Supporting Youth and Families

Each child’s treatment plan is customized to meet their unique needs. Youth in the program work with a caring and compassionate team that includes a Master Level Clinician, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a consulting psychiatrist, as well as a Program Director and Program Manager. A nurse coordinates the delivery of each youth’s healthcare needs, provides health education and monitors medication administration.

Our team is not only passionate about supporting each child’s needs, we also strive to support and empower the entire family. We ensure that family members play an integral role in their child’s treatment. They are included in therapy sessions and are provided with the tools and knowledge to help their child maintain positive behavior, good health, and achieve their personal goals.

Treatment in a Warm Home Environment

Like our group homes for adults, our IDD Treatment Homes for youth are warm and inviting. As community integration is an important part of the program, the homes are situated in beautiful suburban neighborhoods. Each home has five bedrooms, allowing each child their own personal space to self-regulate, enjoy their personal activities, do homework and rest. Each residence is also equipped with a kitchen, living room and dining room.

In addition to being spacious, various windows throughout the homes offer mood-boosting sunlight to residents and staff. Both homes also feature scenic backyards with a deck, providing the perfect space for outdoor gatherings, family visits, and play time.

For more information about our IDD Treatment Homes for Youth, please contact our Program Director, Lorriana (Lou) Dix at 609-649-8029 or at ldix@alliesnj.org.