United Family & Children's Society is a direct descendent of the first privately organized efforts to help needy people in the Plainfield, NJ area in 1877. The Plainfield Relief Society was established with the philosophy "that the best charity was to aid and teach the destitute to help themselves.

Today the focus is on mental health services, adoption, foster care, special programming for pregnant and parenting teens, and services for 175 de-institutionalized adults in a Plainfield residential healthcare facility. The agency is licensed by the NJ Department of Human Services for adoption and mental health outpatient services.

Professional counseling is offered to help individuals, children, couples and families cope better with a variety of problems. We also provide children's services and special programs, as well as adoption services to prospective adoptive parents. Foster parents for infants are needed.

Mental Health Services
Individual, couple, group, or family therapy is offered in addition to:

• Intake Assessments
• Custody Evaluations
• Anger Management Program (Adolescents and Adults)
• Court Ordered Evaluations
• Spanish Speaking Anger Management Services

Adoption Services
United Family & Children's Society offers adoption services to prospective adoptive parents and adult adoptees.

• Home Studies
• Follow-Up Supervision
• Post-adoptive Counseling
• Personal Counseling
• Placement Referrals
• Search

Children and Adolescent Services
Specialty counseling programs for children and adolescents are in place with a focus on liaison with schools and other community providers.

• School and Behavioral Interventions
• Anger Management Training (Teens and Pre-teens)
• Family Counseling & Couple Therapy
• Group Therapy (Social skills & self-esteem)
• Parent Counseling
• Play Therapy

Special Programs

• Young Mothers Group (pregnant and parenting teens)
• Community Support Project at Park Hotel
• Union County Family Court Evaluations
• Speakers Bureau and Workshops
• Parenting Skills Group Workshops
• Foster Care Home Studies
• Foster Family Supervision & Recruitment
• Anger Management Program (adults and adolescents)
• Foster Care ("Boarder Baby Program" for infants)*
  • *Note: To apply to become a foster parent for a newborn or infant in our "Boarder Baby" program, please contact Karen Flanagan, CSW. Eventual certification as a foster family under agency & state regulations is required and United Family will assist in this process. A stipend is provided. The experience will last a lifetime!

Medicaid and most insurance (out-of-network benefits) are accepted. When necessary, counseling fees are based on the ability to pay.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults
Community Services	Family & Support Services Adoption / Foster Care Caregiving Divorce & Co-Parenting Parenting & Caregiving Pregnancy / Teen Pregnancy
Health Services	Behavioral / Mental Health Anger Management Family Conflict & Distress Grief / Loss Teen Issues Trauma / PTSD Intellectual and Developmental Needs Advocacy
Payment Options	Medicaid Private / Commercial Insurance Self Pay Sliding Scale / Payment Plans
Areas Served	Union County

Last Updated: 04/22/24