Child Care, Early Education, Family Service | Child and Family Resources | Morris County, NJ

Need Food? Shelter? Medical Care?

Income and expenses vary widely between a single millennial to a household of two parents and three kids. The bare-minimum Household Survival Budget does not include any savings, leaving a household vulnerable to unexpected expenses. Social Services are available to assist with basic needs.

The mission of the Morris County Department of Human Services is to provide help and assistance to residents in need, from children to families to seniors. Services provided by the Department include financial and emergency assistance, access to mental health and substance abuse services, job training and support, prevention services for youth, support for veterans, transportation for elderly and disabled, meals on wheels and adult protective services for vulnerable adults at risk of abuse. https://hs.morriscountynj.gov/

Social Service Intake 973-829-8264
Full range of social services available by calling 973-829-8264. Anyone with an identified problem such as housing, medical needs, financial needs, transportation or personal problems may receive help. Target populations are vulnerable adults or families experiencing housing, financial, child rearing, or mental health problems. Social workers do an initial needs assessment, screen for program eligibility, give information and referrals, and provide short-term services such as links with shelters, back rent/mortgage assistance, utility and relocation assistance. Individuals/families with on-going needs are assigned to the appropriate service unit.

Food?

Food Pantry 973-326-7871
Emergency food for persons in need is available during normal business hours. Volunteers help maintain a food pantry at 340 West Hanover Avenue, deliver/distribute food, stock shelves, provide and distribute food donations. For more information call 973-326-7871. List of local food pantries.

Interfaith Food Panty 973-538-8049
The Interfaith Food Pantry is a community of neighbors helping neighbors committed to ending hunger and supporting self-sufficiency. Through our community partners we provide food, education and resources to inspire confidence and hope to Morris County families in need. VISIT WEBSITE.

Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center 973-267-0709
The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center provides nutritious meals in a warm, safe and caring environment, free of charge, no questions asked, to anyone who comes seeking nourishment. As part of our hospitality we also encourage and assist our guests in accessing community resources, services and educational programs. VISIT WEBSITE.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 973-326-7800
Provides assistance for food purchases to single individuals or persons who live together and purchase and prepare food together. The program considers the household members’ incomes and selected expenses. In many cases an application can be made by mail or telephone without the necessity of an office visit. Benefits are issued through an electronic benefit system which has eliminated the need for coupons or stamps, and are automatically transferred into a customer’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account at the beginning of each month. Applications on MyNJHelps.org

WIC program is available to low to moderate income pregnant women, recently delivered women, breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. Fathers can also bring their children to apply for WIC. You may apply for WIC if you are working or unemployed. FIND OUT MORE.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Child Care/Adult Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. Each day, 2.9 million children receive nutritious meals and snacks through CACFP. The program also provides meals and snacks to 86,000 adults who receive care in nonresidential adult day care centers. CACFP reaches even further to provide meals to children residing in emergency shelters, and snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible afterschool care programs.

The CACFP program is funded by the USDA and reimburses child care providers for a portion of the cost of meals served to the children in your care. Child & Family Resources is the sponsoring organization that makes the CCAFP available to Family Child Care homes in Morris County. FIND OUT MORE.

Shelter?

Rental Assistance 973-829-8264
One Month Back Rent, First month’s Rent or Security Deposit may be provided to clients who present at the agency homeless or in danger of homelessness and with financial hardships. Assistance is based on future affordability and proof that there was a hardship within the home that prohibited the client from paying the rent. Clients will be seen by a social worker in the office to better assess their needs. Currently, OTA does not have funding to assist clients with ongoing rental assistance.

Homeless Program 973-326-7800 – 1-800-640-9783 (Homeless Hotline)
Preventive services to keep low-income individuals and families in their own homes, if possible, or to provide temporary shelter if they are homeless until they can be relocated to permanent quarters. Social workers work with the individual/family to help them relocate into affordable housing. Housing may be saved with back payments of rent, mortgage, utilities, or a time-limited subsidy. The customer needs to demonstrate that they will be able to afford their housing after the assistance is given. Other services include transportation, food, and medical needs. If the individual/family does not have a social worker or is unsure who their worker is, they should contact the Intake Unit (973-829-8264) to request services. OTA maintains a 24 hour Homeless Hotline 1-800-640-9783, for people experiencing housing emergency.

One Door Leads Home
If you are experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness in Morris County, there is help. Morris County’s approach involves a coordinated effort. Community service partners focused on ending homelessness in Morris County are working together to find real solutions that will bring you closer to home with every step.

If you are in need of shelter or housing resources, contact us in one of the following ways to get started. These outlets are the ONLY forms of entry into most shelter and housing programs in Morris County.

Dial 2-1-1 to reach NJ 2-1-1
Hours: 24/7
What to expect: A phone conversation; referrals for housing assistance; and additional referrals to services to help with both basic needs and emergent situations.
Go to Our Promise (Drop-in Center)
Address: 51 Washington Street, Morristown, NJ (The First Baptist Church)
Hours: M-F 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
What to expect: This is a drop-in center where you will find access to case managers and social work staff and receive help navigating the system, including assistance in a phone conversation with 2-1-1 call specialists. Our Promise also serves as a warming and cooling center, provides toiletries and hygiene items, benefits screening, computer access, charging stations, and mail service.
Go to Edna’s Haven (Drop-in Center)
Address: 123 East Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ (Trinity Lutheran Church)
Hours: M-F 12:30 pm-4:30 pm
What to expect: This is a drop-in center where you will find access to social work staff and receive help navigating the system, including assistance in a phone conversation with 2-1-1 call specialists. Edna’s Haven also helps with basic needs, provides supportive counseling, refreshments, access to phones and newspapers, and mail service.

Medical Care?

Prescription Assistance 973-829-8176
The Office of Temporary Assistance may provide one-time prescription assistance while a client awaits the receipt of Medicaid or other prescription support programs.

New Jersey Family Care 1-800-701-0710
Free or low cost health insurance for uninsured children 19 years old or younger through participating HMO’s. Service include doctor visits, hospitalizations, lab tests, x-rays, eyeglasses, mental health services, prescription drugs and dental care for most children. Eligibility is based on monthly income and household size, and no one is turned down due to pre-existing conditions. Apply at Office of Temporary Assistance, download an application from www.njfamilycare.org, or call 1-800-701-0710.

Zufall Health Community Health Center 973-328-9100
The mission of Zufall Health is to provide quality, affordable, and culturally competent health care in partnership with our patients and the community in northern and central New Jersey. With the guidance of our consumer board and the efforts of our dedicated staff, we offer access to a broad array of medical and enabling services designed to eliminate health disparities and to improve the quality of life of our community. VISIT WEBSITE.

Medicaid 973- 326-7800
The Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance administers both Community and Institutional Medicaid programs, providing benefits to financially and medically eligible families and individuals.

Medically Needy Program 973-326-7800
Provides medical benefits to individuals or children whose income and/or resources are above the Medicaid Only eligibility level, but who cannot afford health care themselves. Applicants whose resources are too high when they apply will be allowed to “spend down” until they become eligible. Services are similar to those covered by Medicaid, with certain limitations. Services include physician, dentist, independent clinics, hearing aids, medical supplies and equipment, lab and x-ray, eye glasses, medical transportation, home health services, personal care assistance, services, medical day care psychologist, optometrist, artificial limbs, and outpatient hospital. In addition, pregnant women are entitled to inpatient hospital, podiatry, chiropractic and prescribed drugs. Needy children are entitled to prescribed drugs, and the elderly, blind or disabled are entitle to podiatry and medical day care services.

Other?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 973-326-7800
Provides financial assistance to parents and/or relatives or legal guardians who meet the income guidelines caring for a child up to age 18, or age 19 if graduating high school by their 19th birthday, or age 21 if in a specialized education program. Many recipients are also eligible for Food Stamps and Medicaid.

Utility Assistance 973-829-8264
Emergency Utility Assistance is available to clients who are in need of a one-time payment to their utility company and have received a shutoff notice. There is a maximum dollar amount that OTA can assist with, but the ultimate goal is to avoid shut off or restore service when possible. Clients will be seen by a social worker in the office to better assess their needs.

NJ211
NJ 2-1-1 can help you find solutions to personal needs by informing you of resources in your community like day care facilities, shelters, affordable housing units, social services, employment training programs, senior services, medical insurance, and more. Learn about our resource database, call center and website.

Do You Need Help Paying Your Heating Bills? 973-366-4770
MCOHA offers a federally funded program to assist you, if you are of limited income. It is called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, and it is available from November 1 through March 31. FIND OUT MORE.

Community Program of Morris County 973-989-1430
Head Start programs promote school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by supporting their development in a comprehensive way. FIND OUT MORE.