Mailing Address:
610 Beverly-Rancocas Road
Willingboro, NJ 08046
Phone: 609-261-5400
Fax: 609-261-1824
Program Director: Kristen Tahaney
Clinical Case Manager: Michelle Schmidbauer
- Program Goal
Project DISCOVERY provides specialized foster homes for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning) youth, ages 12 to 21, who are not able to live at home but who are capable of functioning in a home environment with extra support. They may or may not have been in a more restrictive residential placement previously but they are ready for life in the community. The program was designed to work in partnership with the community to provide a therapeutic family environment that addresses social, emotional, and/or behavioral difficulties, along with individual LGBTQ issues, to help the youth stabilize in a community setting.
- Service Overview
Each youth receives individual, family, and group therapy services while in a Project DISCOVERY home. While family sessions may not be an option for some youth, family work is an important part of this program, with the hope of family reunification or at least forming some type of healthy relationship. Foster parents receive training in identifying and managing LGBTQ-specific issues. Case management services include an emphasis on teaching LGBTQ-oriented life skills.
- Access to Services
Project DISCOVERY is funded by NJ’s Department of Children & Families, Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, via Medicaid. The program accepts referrals from Value Options.
