The Hudson/Bergen/Passaic and Atlantic County Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) received grants from the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) to provide intensive services to youth released from correctional facilities and juvenile detention centers.

New Re-entry programs are designed to reduce recidivism rates for youth following release from a JJC facility on parole or probation status and to increase success rates in setting and achieving positive goals in the community.

Once YAP gets a referral from the Court, advocates begin providing services while the youth is still inside the facility to ensure a smoother transition upon release. Once in the community, youth and advocate will spend up to 10 hours a week together to develop and implement a plan that addresses individual needs including counseling, linkages to employment, housing support and access to educational programming.

Six YAP programs in New Jersey now are receiving funding from JJC to provide reentry services for high-risk youth. For more information contact Gary Hrynoweski, Hudson/Bergen/Passaic YAP Director, 201-933-2975