Eva’s Village, Paterson, NJ
Paterson, NJ, 07501
Table of Contents:
Eva’s Village Overview
Located in the large city of Paterson, New Jersey, Eva’s Village is a non-profit provider of recovery and support services founded in 1982 at the peak of the recession and as a response to the growing number individuals dealing with homelessness and hunger in Northern New Jersey. The organization was founded by Vincent E. Puma, who wanted to provide individual care to people in need and also open a kitchen for the hungry. The kitchen, popularly known as Eva’s Kitchen, now serves nutritious meals to more than 400 individuals. Since the beginning of its formation, the kitchen (basement) served as a place for individuals to receive mental and medical health screenings and obtain referrals to appropriate substance addiction treatment programs. Now the organization as its own shelters designed to accommodate adults dealing with all kinds of behavioral, substance abuse, and co-occurring issues. Eva’s Village has also expanded its treatment scope to include residential programs for men and women and an outpatient mental health program. Additionally, the organization offers a recovery community center, founded in 2009, which provides a safe space for persons in need of recovery before, during, and after treatment. This center also provides pre-treatment recovery support, on-site childcare, peer support groups, and volunteer opportunities.
Accommodation And Food
The residential programs are gender-specific and consist of a 36-bed capacity for women (and a 24-bed accommodation for women with children) and a 103 bed-capacity for men. The overnight shelters for adults can accommodate up to 29 men and 34 women (or 58 men and 37 women in harsh weather conditions). The programs take place in separate buildings and rooms are set up in a dorm-style. Bedrooms can accommodate between 2-6 persons and is furnished with bunk beds. Women with children enjoy cozy rooms furnished with twin beds, rocking chairs, toys, and a crib.
Meals are prepared by the residents who take turns to cook in groups of six and residents eat together in the dining room.
Treatment & Therapy
The center offers some treatment and therapy services depending on the unique needs of the client. Some of these are:
- Residential program
- Halfway Housing
- Outpatient Program
Residential Program
The residential program offers separate treatment tracks for men and women suffering from substance use disorders. Both programs are in three phases and provide therapies and services needed for the process of recovery. The program is also overseen by licensed alcohol and drug counselors. Clients will be involved in comprehensive assessments and on-site 12-step programs.
Outpatient Program
The organization’s licensed outpatient mental health program is overseen by certified clinicians who provide various models of therapy to men and women dealing with co-occurring and substance use disorders. The program usually starts with a biopsychosocial assessment and clients are provided with a wide range of evidence-based treatments.
The following are a list of conditions treated at the facility:
- Substance addiction
- Co-occurring disorders
Therapy Options
The facility offers various options of therapy which include:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Addiction education
- Family support
- 12-step program
- Relapse prevention
Pricing
Eva’s Village is free as they help financially challenged clients.
Eva’s Village Advantages
The facility offers multiple self-development courses and classes including workforce development assistance and skill acquisition. A culinary school is also made available to residents and it includes training on how to cook and the business of food service as a whole. Residents registered into these programs have access to free medical and dental clinic services.
As the organization also admits women and their children, daycare, and education programs are available for resident children to attend while their guardians are in treatment or at work. Children brought in that have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect of any kind are referred to qualified professionals. Trips to museums and zoo are offered as an afterschool or summer program to children who are residents of the organization.
In conclusion, Clients suffering from addiction or chemical dependency issues and have no funding to get treatment will find Eva’s Village to be a good option, as the facility helps financially challenged individuals seeking to gain long-term recovery, rebuild their lives, and to live a life of sobriety.
Staff
Chief Executive Officer
Mark has many years of experience working in administrative positions at several companies and in different settings. Prior to holding the position of Chief Executive Officer, he held the position on Board president and member of advisory board of Eva’s Village (Culinary School).
Executive Vice President
Vito holds a Master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Counseling Psychology and Organizational Behavior. He also has over 19 years of experience in the behavioral health sector and has worked in different settings both inpatient and outpatient. He began MAT (medication-assisted treatment) at the facility and introduced an outpatient clinic for MAT treatment. He is also currently looking into expanding its services to offer clinical services to the community as a whole.
Executive Vice President (Development and External Relations)
Heather went to the University of Michigan where she earned a Master’s degree and New York University where she earned a Fundraising Certificate. She manages and oversees funding, operations, and partnerships for Eva’s Village. She has held different positions at different organizations including Citymeals-on-wheels and Park Avenue Armory before working for the facility.