JFS Recieves Grants from The van Ameringen Foundation, Inc. and The Turrell Fund for the Play Therapy Program

Jewish Family Service of Central NJ received generous grants from The van Ameringen Foundation, Inc. of NY and The Turrell Fund of NJ, to fund the JFS play therapy program, called “Project Play.” Although toys and games were always used in therapy for children, the Play Therapy Program was formalized ten years ago in the aftermath of 9/11, to help traumatized children and their families deal with their losses.   Over the years, The Hyde & Watson Foundation, The Grassmann Fund,  and The Union Foundation, all of NJ,  provided generous funding for JFS to equip three state- of- the art Play Therapy rooms with the necessary toys, puppets, games, and craft materials. 

Play therapy is a technique used with children ages 2-11 as an alternative to traditional therapy.  Often children, especially those with psychological problems, social skills deficits or learning disabilities have difficulty expressing themselves.  Experienced play therapists, who are licensed social workers, help children express what is troubling them and enable them to explore relationships when they do not have the verbal language to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
During a session, a therapist will observe the way a child plays in order to interpret how best to help him/her.  Play involves items such as dolls, clay, board games, and art materials, all of which are instinctively used by the child as a form of self expression. The therapist will also meet with the child’s parents/guardians in order to promote better understanding and communication in the family.  The goal is symptom alleviation and better coping abilities at home and in school.  

There is a high demand for Project Play and a lengthy waiting list. However, thanks to grants from The van Ameringen Foundation, Inc.  and The Turrell Fund, Project Play’s services will be provided to additional disadvantaged children and their families over the course of two years.
Jewish Family Service of Central NJ is grateful to The van Ameringen Foundation, Inc.  for their past support of our consulting child psychiatrist/ social work team,  and to  The Turrell Fund for their past support of our New Jersey After 3 program.
If you are interested in our Play Therapy services, please call the JFS Intake Coordinator at 908-352-8375.