Morristown Neighborhood House

We currently run programs in five cities and eight locations in Morris County, New Jersey. Through programs in Morristown, Dover, Randolph, Denville and Frelinghuysen Middle School on an average day over 1,500 children, youth receive and adults receive services from Neighborhood House. The agency has a yearly budget of over $3 million, has a staff of over 70 full and part time employees and benefits from the help of hundreds of volunteers.

The demographics of the constituents the MNH has served has changed over time. Initially serving Southern European immigrants in the early part of the 20th century, the House shifted focus to the African American population of Morristown mid century. Later in the 1990’s and into the Twenty First century, the MNH has been there to meet of needs of the growing population of Hispanics/Latinos who have move into Morris County. In Morristown, Hispanics/Latinos represent almost 80% and African-Americans represent less than 20% our clients. Over eighty five percent (85%) of the families we serve have very low or low incomes. Our demographics are similar in Dover, Denville and our after-school program at Frelinghuysen Middle School. In Randolph, although a substantial portion of the families are demographically similar to our Morristown population, the majority of the families we assist are Caucasian and moderate income.

The Neighborhood House currently provide the following services/programs:

Pre-School. Early childhood should be a time of fun, security, exploration and discovery. Our preschool programs’ goals are to provide opportunities that promote social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth in a diverse environment. At present, we operate in three locations; Morristown, Randolph (on the Morris County College’s campus) and Denville. Our centers have a total capacity of over 230 children.

Program: Dalrymple House Pre School
Location: 214 Center Grove Road
Age Group Served: 2 ½ to 5 years old
Hours of Operation: 7:30am to 6:00pm
Director: Jane Carotenuto

Description: Traditional preschool program designed to prepare children for kindergarten. Our preschool programs’ goals are to provide opportunities that promote social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth in a diverse environment. Dalrymple uses NAEYC’s standards as the foundation for its educational program. In addition, Dalrymple has implemented a “Kindergarten Readiness” program to ensure that Dalrymple’s preschoolers are prepared for the next stage in their educational, social and personal development. Our Kindergarten Readiness approach places a greater emphasis on academic fundamentals and behavioral expectations associated with elementary school than other preschool curricula. Through our experience, Neighborhood House has found that the Kindergarten Readiness approach is especially effective in helping new immigrant families and children who need additional support (such as children who are experiencing a high level of family dysfunction due to DYFS involvement, contentious divorce or other disrupting circumstances).


School Age Child Care (SACC). SACC provides a structured environment that is academically, socially and culturally enriching for children before and after school. SACC serves youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade. Our program provides; homework assistance, tutorial services and structured activities. Students are engaged in amusing activities with a focus toward scholastic, emotional and social development. In Morristown, our Curriculum Coordinator serves as liaison between Neighborhood House and the Morris School District. Additional activities have been added to SACC such as Girls Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girls on Track, Jumpstart, and Morristown Community Theater. At present, we operate in five locations: 12 Flagler Street, Morristown; 44 Peer Place and Project Safe (which has sites at 62 Academy Street, 51 Highland Avenue and 300 East McFarlon Street in Dover). There are over 350 children currently enrolled in SACC.

Summer Camp. For nine weeks, each summer, SACC offers an enrichment program of activities to make summer vacation a positive experience. Many activities and field trips enhance self-esteem and promote self-sufficiency and other learning skills. Moreover, this program provides structured, supervised enjoyment that keeps children off the streets. Because of the academic component of the summer program, children are more readily prepared to learn when classroom instruction resumes in the fall.

STARS. STARS is an after school program at Frelinghuysen Middle School. STARS is open from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm during all full days of the school year. Our goal is to help improve 150 Frelinghuysen students’ academic performance and prepare them for their next developmental stage. Services include: general homework/academic lab sessions for all students for one hour daily; targeted instruction for poor performing students based on their needs (the criteria to identify these students includes; grades, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations and/or parent requests); bilingual labs for English Language Learners; and a large variety of clubs for all students. Youth choose clubs from the following categories: academic, cultural, recreational, technological, fine arts and performing arts.

Arts. Our Performing Arts program helps provide children with cultural enrichment and an outlet for creative expression. The Dance Program includes, modern, tap, jazz, step (drill) and Latin dancing. The Dance Program currently enrolls 43 youth from 3 to 14 years of age. During 2010, our goal is to expand our arts program to include visual arts, music and theatre.

Homework Center. Our Homework Center provides an atmosphere conducive to study and self-improvement. Individual tutoring by adult and high school volunteers are available and our computer laboratory is an exciting resource available for our students. The computer lab gives our youth an opportunity to learn through special CD ROM language, biology and encyclopedia programs. They can also surf the internet for school related assignments or for instructional games.

Youth Development Program. Our Youth Development program targets at-risk female and male youth from the age of 12 through 18. The program has four components; social events, Rites of Passage, a Career Center (through which homework/tutoring assistance, a computer lab and job related educational services are available) and mentoring.

Recreational Services. More than 400 boys and girls from throughout Morris County participate in our basketball and soccer leagues for youth 7 to 18 years old. In addition to the regular leagues, we also offer clinics to help improve and maximize the sports performance of our youth. In January of 2008 Neighborhood House added K.O. Boxing to its recreational service, at no cost to Morristown’s youth.

Community Development. The Community Development’s Career Center, Mothers on the Move (MOM), and Family Resource Program assists our families by providing employment referrals; information; completion of forms; interpretation services; among other services necessary to improve their lifestyles. The Community Development department also networks with different county agencies, non-profits, private businesses and churches to minimize conflict, encourage cross-cultural education, enhance inter-group relations and forge solutions to issues of common concern throughout the 2nd ward and the surrounding communities. Each year, Neighborhood House hosts an Art Expo, the Annual Community Family Day festival and topical workshops. Participation is open to all.

Operated by Morristown Neighborhood House, “Pathways to Work (PTW)” strengthens our community by engaging people of diverse backgrounds in a common goal. The program connects potential employers with people in need of casual work regardless of race, national origin, and gender as part of an organized and fair system of obtaining employment. PTW makes referrals to services that workers or their families may need and does not duplicate existing programs. The program provides educational opportunities such as job skills, language, safety, civics, and workers rights and duties in an environment free of fear, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and exploitation. Over 340 participants are enrolled in PTW; 77% are Latino, 15% are African-American, 7% are White and 1% is Asian, 70% are men and 30% are women. In the last year and a half, it has successfully connected participants with over 1,000 diverse work day opportunities. Women have obtained work ranging from clerical to housekeeping and men from general skilled labor to highly skilled painters, masons, and landscapers.