About the Nonprofit
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Incorporated in 1970, Visions and Pathways (V&P) was New Jersey’s first private 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth shelter. Our mission is to provide abused, neglected, homeless and missing youth with housing, a stable environment and supportive services that help them become self-sufficient.Through our outreach and prevention programs, we are at the forefront of efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and help human trafficking victims. Since our inception, we have helped over
11,300 youth throughout New Jersey. We currently provide the following programs for youth and their families:
1. Prosperity (est. 1986). A home visitation program. Adolescents ages 14 to 24 throughout
central and Northern New Jersey receive independent-living skills education, career
counseling and employment preparation through weekly workshops, mentoring groups
(i.e., Jewells for young women, Journey to Manhood for young men and Skittlez for
LGBTQ+ youth) and one-on-one support. Youth who live in Visions and Pathways’
residential programs participate in in the workshops, mentoring groups as well as other
services alongside youth from the community.
2. Intensive in-Community Services (IIC). Intensive In-Community Service (IIC) is an
analytical, focused, goal oriented, and needs based clinical intervention that addresses
emotional and behavioral challenges of youth with moderate to high needs. It may be
provided in a youth’s home or in an amenable community location by a licensed behavioral
health clinician and is intended to stabilize and support the youth and family to deter more
intensive interventions. This is a short-term, solution focused intervention that addresses
presenting behaviors resulting in the youth and her/his family/care giver/guardian gaining
insight and improving function at home and in the community.
3. Wellness Program (former Arts and Recreation program). Provides youth access to
the arts, recreation, fitness, nutrition, and faith or spirituality-based programming. These
components encourage learning, improve mental and physical health, and foster an
appreciation of the arts. Within the context of faith and spirituality, it allows our youth to
explore what may best interest them.
4. Transitions (est. 2015). A program that provides services for youth who have been
discharged from a Visions and Pathways program and wish you continue receiving support
during their transition to permanency. The goal of the program is to prepare youth to
become self-sufficient and establish community-based support.
5. Street Smart (www.streetsmartoutreach.org, est. 1998). A street outreach program to
help keep youth, ages 13 to 24, off of the street, prevent exploitation of high-risk youth,
combat human trafficking and stop the opioid epidemic. Services include food and
clothing, job and educational counseling, HIV/AIDS information, and access to a crisis intervention or transitional living program. Street Smart has offices in Bridgewater, Morristown and Plainfield NJ and serves youth throughout central and northern New Jersey.
6. Village House (est. 2013). Visions and Pathways provides case management and
supportive housing through rental “scatter-site” units. Village House serves young adults
18 years of age and over. The majority of Village House clients have aged-out of foster care.
7. Loving Care Homes (LCH - est. 2019). Located in Plainfield, New Jersey, LCH is a five bed shelter for young women who are 18 years old and older. Many of the women are domestic violence victims and human trafficking survivors.
8. Bridge House I (a two-bedroom house, est. 2010) and Bridge House II (a two-bedroom
condominium, est. 2011). Agency-owned properties located in Bridgewater, NJ for young
adults 18 years of age and over who have aged-out of foster care. An expansion to ten (10)
units is planned for Bridge House I.
9. Brahma House (est. 1973). A short-term group home for 13- to 18-year-olds. We provide
food, clothing, counseling, health care and education. Our goal is to reunite youth with
their families; when that isn’t possible, we help them find alternate stable homes where
they are able to thrive.
10. Passages (est. 1988) My Place (est. 1988) and Whitney House (est. 2006). Residential
transitional living programs for eleven males and eleven females, ages 16 to 21 who
continue to need support services as they “age out” of the foster care system. While they
are in residence, they attend school and hold a part-time job. They also learn independent living skills such as food preparation, financial literacy, finding housing and employment tools to equip them to live independently when they leave.
11. Transitional Learning Center (TLC). A program that ensures that our youth’s
educational needs are met by; (a) providing in-house instruction, (b) coordinating with a
youth residing in a Visions and Pathways residential program’s current school and (c)
working with the new school district that a youth will transfer into due to an extended stay
in a Visions and Pathways residence.
12. Scholarship; General, Warren, Spreading Joy and Magic Money. The general
scholarship program supports youth who have participated in Visions and Pathways
programs. Named in honor of a long-term former member of the Board of trustees, the
Warren Scholarship Fund provides recognition for youth who have demonstrated a
commitment to community service and academic achievement.
The Sharing Joy Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Joy Mathiowdis, who was
a strong advocate for social justice. Joy served on the Board of Visions & Pathways for
many years and her efforts helped thousands of youth in-need. Joy was a beacon of light
for many. Ultimately, the goal is to establish a residential home for homeless LGBTQ++
youth.
The Magic Money, Kristina Lorelle Walker Empowerment Fund. Kristina Walker died in
a tragic motorcycle accident. She was twenty-five years old. Magic Money is used to
support women who are pursuing an undergraduate degree. Priority will be given to women
who have also experienced domestic violence (dv). A survivor herself, Kristina’s life
course was impacted by dv, and she was devoted to empowering women.
13. ART Center (est. 2021). The Arman Roy Technology Center (ART Center) at Brahma
possesses a 25-person seating capacity. The ART Center functions both as the centerpiece
of Visions and Pathways STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)
program, and as academic resource room where residents can get help with schoolwork.
The ART Center features a Smart Board, classroom desks, a 3D printer, and desktops at
computer banks for residential use. When completed, it will also feature electronic gaming
and Virtual Reality headsets. Ultimately, V&P desires to expand past serving our
residential youth and offer services to the community.