When children suffer sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect or exposure to domestic violence, the CARES Institute helps those children and their families overcome the trauma. Our experienced medical and mental health professionals work as a team to provide a spectrum of evidence-based services to children and adolescents in the seven southern counties of New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem).

The CARES Institute accepts referrals from the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), county prosecutors' offices, community medical and mental health providers, social service agencies, hospitals and parents. A referral form must be completed for every child referred to the Institute. If a child or family is involved with DYFS, the referral usually comes from the DYFS caseworker.

For more information about accessing abuse and neglect services at the CARES Institute and to determine whether a child would benefit from our expertise, please contact the Intake Coordinator, Eileen Rozelle, at 856-566-7036.

The CARES Institute's foster care screening program, known as the Comprehensive Health Evaluation for Children (CHEC), is available for children ages birth to 18 entering a foster care or kinship placement involved with DYFS. To make a referral to the CHEC Program, the DYFS caseworker for the child should fax the completed CHEC forms to 856-566-6838, or call 856-566-6799.