Juvenile/Family Crisis Intervention Unit (JFCIU) Bergen County, New Jersey

Family Guidance Bergen County, Department of Human Services

County of Bergen

Department of Human Services

Division of Family Guidance

One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor

Hackensack, NJ  07601

Phone: (201) 336-7350

Fax: (201) 336-7370

http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/familyguidance

Crisis 24/7

(201) 336-7360

Overview:

*In 1983, the New Jersey State Legislature created Juvenile Family Crisis Intervention Units in each county to help stabilize family crisis situations on a 24 hour basis.

*The goal of the units is to help adolescents and their families, divert family crisis situations from the court and keep families together whenever possible.

*Crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

*JFCIU is not designated to work with those cases in which the primary problem is risk of suicide or child abuse and neglect.

Referrals:

*Referrals come from schools, families, police and other agencies. Services are available around the clock by calling the crisis hotline at (201) 336-7360.

*Referrals to JFCIU should be made if there is:

-Serious threat to the well-being and physical safety of the juvenile but where the situation is not appropriate for the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

-Serious conflict between a parent/guardian and a juvenile regarding behavioral issues.

-Runaway or unauthorized absence from home for more than 24 hours.

-Truancy or a pattern of unauthorized absences from school.

Services:

*All JFCIU staff members are clinical professionals with advanced degrees and are experienced in working with adolescents and families.

*Crisis Intervention services are free to Bergen County residents and may include:

-Assessment and Stabilization

-Short term family therapy, (approximately 6-8 weeks)

-Service coordination and advocacy

-Referrals to other agencies for additional services

-In extreme situations, there may be involvement with the Family Court for short term out of home placement in Bergen’s Place youth shelter.

County of Bergen

Department of Human Services

Division of Family Guidance

Mission Statement

Bergen County’s Division of Family Guidance provides clinical, residential, educational, correctional, case management and monitoring services to at risk children, adolescents and families, particularly those who are otherwise unable to receive needed services.

The Family Guidance Vision:

The Division of Family Guidance is Bergen County’s resource for youth and families in need.

Values:

*Collaborative, Creative and Empirically Driven Programming

*Safe, Respectful, Dependable and Therapeutic Environments

*Developmentally Appropriate Expectations

*Empowerment through Opportunity Community Safety

Juvenile/Family

Crisis Intervention Unit

One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor

Hackensack, NJ  07601

(201) 336-7360

Crisis 24/7

Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Division of Family Guidance of the Bergen County Department of Human Services and I give them full credit for the information. Please call or email the above numbers for more information.