Bridgewater Groups Play a Role As County's Ratings for Child Well-Being Improve

For kids with nowhere else to turn, there is  a Bridgewater-based county program ready to provide the services they need.

And, according to one staffer there, that may be contributing to recent statistics finding that Somerset County has fewer children living in poverty than in past years.

"We are here to help find resources, and provide services," said Marshall Christie, program director for Brahma House, part of the Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children. "Our programs really do help with poverty."

Earlier this summer, the Association for Children of New Jersey released its latest county-by-county findings on how children were fairing in the state–data also used in the larger national Kids Count Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in late July.  The report examined 16 indicators of children's well-being, including child health, safety and education, according to Nancy Parello, a spokeswoman for the association.

From there, Parello said, the counties are ranked, and information about the results is sent to elected officials and advocates.

This year, Somerset County ranked second in the state for child well-being, up from third place in 2009.

In receiving that ranking, the association found that the county had fewer children living in poverty.

Although he was unaware of the study, Christie said he believes the programs with the Somerset Home could be part of the reason the county has a better rating this year. There are six different programs included in the organization, which aim to help children 13 years of age and older.

Brahma House, Christie said, is one of four facilities, and serves as a temporary shelter and short-term group home. It serves children ages 13 through 18, and brings in those dealing with family crises, as well as taking referrals from the court system to give children shelter or respite before returning home.

"We also take kids with no chance of going home while they look for foster or other long-term care," he said.

Christie said children stay at the house for 45 to 90 days, with the possibility of extensions if necessary.

"The main goal is returning the child to a home," he said.

While there, Christie said, the children have access to a school on the premises, as well as recreational opportunities.

"We don't take extremely aggressive children, but our kids are all victims," he said. "We help them through a rough period in their lives."

Christie said the house also provides information about teenage issues, including HIV/AIDS awareness and others.

"Brahma House was the flagship program (30 years ago)," he said. "It started as a youth center, and used to take walk-ins. We have seen a lot of kids over the years."

In addition to Brahma House, Christie said, the organization has a transitional living program, called Passages, to help children who are preparing to age out of the system, as well as two others to work with young adults ages 18 to 21.

There is also another program, Christie said, called Pathways for teenagers ages 16 and older, where they learn life skills, such as financial literacy.

"And we are looking into a model for those 21 years of age and older," he said. "We try to gear our programs to kids aging out of foster care. It is better than them being homeless. We see a good success rate of them being independent."

Cecilia Zalkind, executive director for the Association for Children of New Jersey, said Somerset County saw a drop in child poverty, and also ranked first for women who are receiving early prenatal care.

"Somerset posted some impressive gains, including a drop in child poverty, when many other counties saw more children living in poverty," she said.

Christie said the Somerset Home works with young mothers and others as well to provide the opportunities they need to be able to care for themselves without being homeless with their children.

"If the children are homeless at 13 or 14, we connect them with different programs," he said. "If they are 18 or older, we hook them up with social services. All things are key, most particularly if you are a young mother."

Despite the positive changes in dealing with child poverty, the county received low marks for the percentage of eligible children receiving free or reduced-price school breakfasts, and being enrolled in state-approved pre-K programs.

But Bridgewater-Raritan School District Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder said he expects about 70 students to be enrolled in the half-day preschool program in September. As for the breakfasts, he said, they will only be offered at John F. Kennedy Primary School.

"The district will offer a breakfast program only at JFK School next year since that school is over the threshold with the number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch," he said.

In addition, the county saw a higher percentage of households spending too much on rent, and its juvenile arrest rate has increased, according to the reports.

Bridgewater Township Police Chief Richard Borden said the department has seen an increase in juvenile arrests sent to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office over the past two years, with crimes ranging from shoplifting to disorderly conduct offenses to drug-related incidents.

There has also, Borden said, been an increase in underage drinking consumption complaints.

"Our officers believe that due to our township's attractions, like Commons Mall and Patriot Ballpark, juveniles from other towns and counties are drawn to this area, thus contributing to some of the aforementioned incidents," he said.

Borden said the department offers a Middle Earth Program, a post-arrest program that offers juveniles the opportunity to participate in community service instead of being charged with the prosecutor's office. It is designed for first-time offenders who have committed minor offenses.

"This program has been long-running, and is considered a successful alternative to the court system for juveniles who simply may have made an immature decision or exhibited bad judgment on a given occasion," he said. "For the majority, this program has been a success, but there is always a minority that will re-offend."

For the most part, Parello said, the results from the Kids Count program are designed to help municipalities as they care for the young children.

"We are targeting areas for positive change," she said. "Then the children can grow up safe, healthy and educated."