The Children’s System of Care (CSOC) serves children, youth, and young adults with a wide range of challenges associated with emotional and behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and substance use. CSOC is committed to providing services based on the individual need of each child and family within a system of care approach that is strength-based, culturally competent, family-centered, and in a community-based environment.

The McKinney-Vento National Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431) is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for displaced children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve displaced students. Under this program, State educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth. McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth should have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, displaced students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. 

New Jersey Administrative Code for special education (N.J.A.C. 6A:14) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) are laws that ensure children with disabilities a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. An important part of these laws provides parents with the right to participate in their children’s education.

You and representatives of your school district are team members who are responsible for developing an appropriate educational program for your child. This document will describe the state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education to help you understand your rights in the special education process. With this knowledge, you will be prepared to take an active role in your child’s education.

This document has been developed for you by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, in an effort to provide the most comprehensive and up­to­date information. The document is periodically revised to reflect changes in the law, provide additional information that would be of use to you, and to provide the information in a more clear and concise manner.

The Kids' Guide is New Jersey's only guidebook created especially for kids, teen and families. Most of us who live here acknowledge New Jersey's truly unique environment. Within an hour or so, we can find ourselves in the midst of mountains, forests, farms, lakes, rivers, the ocean, or in the incomparable cities of New York or Philadelphia. America's rich history surrounds us. Few places have the quality and quantity of personally enriching experiences so close to home.

The Kids' Guide is designed to inform and remind residents and visitors of New Jersey's wealth of cultural, recreational and educational opportunities and to promote the many businesses and services dedicated to children, teens and families.

New Jersey's Kids’ Guide is published twice a year, in December for the winter/spring seasons, and June for the summer/fall seasons. The print edition is available free at libraries, schools, child care centers, real estate/relocation offices, township offices, medical offices and retail businesses throughout north central New Jersey, at tourist info centers throughout the state and online at www.kidsguidenj.com.

The Somerset County Council for Young Children is a partnership of providers and parents working together to address the needs of families with children birth to age eight who live in Somerset County. The SCCYC is located at the Empower Family Success Center and welcomes new parent members at any time.

The 2016 Edition of the Camp Directory for Children with Special Needs is provided by the Somerset County Council for Young Children & the Somerset Children’s Center. The inclusion of a camp within this guide in no way implies a recommendation or endorsement. The directory is intended to assist parents in their search for an appropriate camp for their child. Each camp provided the description of their programs for this directory. Consumers are responsible for researching specifics about a camp’s services.