Family Connections
Adolescence is hard enough without navigating it alone. For many young people in Essex County who are questioning their sexual identity, wrestling with anxiety or depression, or struggling to feel understood, the absence of accessible mental health support can make it that much harder. Family rejection, social isolation, and bullying are all associated with elevated risk for depression, anxiety, and substance use among adolescents.
To meet the need for accessible services, HFNJ supported four consecutive years of Family Connections‘ Pride+ program, providing $601,647 across four grants from 2021-2025. The grants funded counseling, case management, and school-based support for vulnerable and questioning youth and their families throughout Essex County.
Pride+ takes a multi-layered approach: individual and family therapy, care management and referrals, psychoeducation groups, partnerships with school-based Gender-Sexuality Alliances, and professional development training for teachers and staff. The program is embedded within Family Connections’ broader continuum of services, allowing youth to access on-site counseling, care coordination, and community connection all in one place.
The work of Pride+ extends directly into Essex County’s school system, where the program has supported Gender-Sexuality Alliance clubs in middle and high schools and delivered professional development training to teachers and staff. In the program’s final year it reached 235 school employees, 94% of whom reported greater knowledge and confidence supporting students. The program also receives supplemental support connected to the Newark Board of Education.
By the final year of the program in 2025, 34 youth and family members completed 397 individual and family therapy sessions, and 88% of those attending at least six sessions showed a measurable reduction in symptoms. Every single family who completed at least three sessions reported significantly improved family dynamics, a critical outcome given how much a supportive home environment shapes a young person’s wellbeing. Case management served 16 youth, while 45 psychoeducation groups reached 275 young people, and 13 professional development trainings strengthen the ability of 235 school staff to support the students in their care.
The final year of the project also tested the program’s resilience. Shifting federal policy created a climate that made some youth, families, and even school partners hesitant to participate openly. Family Connections adapted to meet the challenge, finding quieter and more private ways to keep services accessible without compromising the trust of the young people who rely on them.
Recognizing the importance of the program, Family Connections’ Board of Trustees has pledged to sustain the program with operating funds while pursuing a broader long-term funding strategy. Thanks to HFNJ’s steady investment, Pride+ has built a strong track record, a trusted reputation across Essex County, and a foundation sturdy enough to carry the work forward—ensuring that vulnerable young people continue to have a safe place to seek mental health support.