Daytop New Jersey

Daytop New Jersey Mendham New Jersey

Treatment at Daytop New Jersey is behaviorally based and individualized to meet the needs of adolescents and adults with substance abuse and co-occurring problems. It is based on the premise of self-help in an atmosphere of positive peer interaction, within the context of a “family” structure, and includes a full educational element. Twelve Step Program concepts are incorporated. Accountability, honesty, and integrity are strongly emphasized within the context of a family structure. Family participation in the treatment process is essential and integral to the recovery of the adolescent and adult.

ABOUT DAYTOP NEW JERSEY – MENDHAM

Daytop New Jersey operates two adolescent residential treatment facilities, three outpatient facilities, a recovery high school, and a women’s halfway house. On its 26-acre campus in Mendham, Daytop houses one of its residential treatment facilities for adolescents (ages 13 to 18) and The Academy which is a full-day, recovery-based middle and high school for individuals in the program and day students from the community. These facilities focus on treating clients with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Detox services are not provided on site.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Treatment at the Academy and Daytop New Jersey is rooted in the 12-Steps and maintains a strong, family-like structure. Clients receive a personalized treatment plan and work with a psychiatrist and case manager throughout their stay. Treatment focuses on removing clients for environments that contribute to their substance abuse and related issues, and immersing them in an environment that is conducive to learning. Here, clients learn coping and sober living skills while continuing their education and development.

Daytop emphasizes a peer-based social learning model so that clients support and encourage one another in their recovery. In addition, residents participate in evidence-based and experiential therapies, including individual, group, and family counseling, music therapy, art therapy, and recreational activities. There’s also a Family Association, which supports clients’ loved ones.

While in treatment, residents attend school at The Academy. This educational facility maintains class sizes of four to eight students and has a total capacity of 75 students. It offers coursework focused on core academics, which meets state special and general educational requirements, and follows a traditional school year schedule to keep adolescents on track with their studies.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Daytop New Jersey and the Academy are are staffed by multidisciplinary teams of licensed and certified professionals. The medical and treatment staff includes licensed psychiatrists and nurses. The Academy is staffed by licensed and certified educators in the state of New Jersey that are able to provide educational services on par with public and private schools around the state. There is also a school psychologist a student assistance counselor available during school hours.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

The Daytop New Jersey has 130 beds while the Academy can accommodate up to 75 students. Clients also have access to a gym with weight and fitness equipment, and activities both on campus and in the community.

The on-site chef prepares nutritious meals and can satisfy special dietary requirements. Once per month the facility hosts a motivational or inspirational speaker.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

At the time of this writing, five alumni provided feedback to Best-rehabs.com. The feedback is mixed.

Although some alumni appreciated the level of personal accountability, the food and facility itself generally received negative feedback.

On its Facebook page, which the facility can manage, the facility earned four out of five stars from 25 reviews. [1] Reviewers praised the organization for equipping youth with the tools they need for sobriety. In a representative review, alum Pete wrote: “It was popin lml Naw but I learned a lot from them daytop forever in my memories.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

The five reviews to date from loved ones are also mixed. Three of the reviews were very negative, while two were more positive.

Positive feedback referenced above satisfactory care for teen clients in a controlled environment, as well as supportive staff and adequate family involvement. Loved one T.D. noted: “Daytop has change my life and the lives of my family members and for that I will be forever grateful.”

Negative reviewers complained of favoritism, ineffective treatment, “filthy” physical conditions, unqualified or generally incompetent staff, and extremely poor communication between staff and the parents of clients.

WHAT STAFF SAY

Staff reviews submitted to Best-rehabs.com were mostly positive. Four reviewers gave the facility near-perfect ratings for its treatment effectiveness, accommodations, and meals. Elizabeth told Best-rehabs.com, “Daytop improves not only the lives of the adolescents in the program; it also changes the lives of its staff members… I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful and committed organization and anyone would be lucky to attend or be employed by Daytop New Jersey.” J.B. echoed that sentiment: “Daytop has a tremendous amount of beneficial characteristics because of the way they support the residents with an all-encompassing approach. I truly believe Daytop is the best program out there!”

Yet another staff member expressed an opposite opinion To Best-rehabs.com and gave the facility two and three star ratings. “Daytop used to be one of the best programs in the state. Today it is a run of the mill kind of place” and added: “It’s a couple steps above the detention center. The food is horrible to the point that staff doesn’t even eat it, undercooked chicken and nothing really nutritional items offered.”

FINANCING

Treatment is free for adolescents of New Jersey via the NJ Children’s System of Care. For out-of-state residents, the facility accepts insurance and charges $425 per day. Daytop New Jersey also offers scholarships and payment plans. There are additional fees for attending The Academy. However, Daytop will negotiate reimbursement with an adolescent’s home school district at no cost to the family. There may be charges for incidentals or other services, depending on insurance coverage.

[1] https://www.facebook.com/pg/daytopnewjersey/reviews

Reviews about Daytop New Jersey

  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • I really wish I could some how warm every single person about this place. This was basically like a fake rehab that everyone was in. We learned absolutely nothing about addiction. There was many times I had to beg to get out of the house to go to a NA or AA meeting, but sometimes there just wasn’t enough staff. Children ran away almost every day & the weekends were probably the worst. There is absolutely nothing to do making you really want to use drugs your entire stay here. The kids out of school would mainly sit in what people callled a basement all day long and wait for the kids in school to get out of school to just do the same exact thing. You would get written up for “J walking” which is walking anywhere without staff, but with there being nothing to do... kids went absolutely crazy. You barely ever get a phone call unless you beg. The food was a step up from prision food. There was many nights I would go to bed hungry. One time for a snack we got 2 graham crackers each. Some staff members were awesome (the ones who tried their best to get us out and doing things). Other than that I would definitely send your child to another place that will actually teach them about addiction and not just keep them caged like animals!
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • This place is a JOKE! DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD THERE!! cant stress it enough!!!! My friends kid lived there and went to school there. She broke every rule every day, she smoked cigs. They should of thrown her out after the first month! But of course they didnt, why? She along with the others were just walking dollar signs to them. Not only did not she get rehabilitated but shes WORSE now then she was after the year of being an inpatient then outpatient. They do not care about your kids, its all about the money they get from the state for keeping them there. DON'T DO IT!!!
    Please save your time and save your child's life by NOT sending them to this facility. Majority of residents are transferred from Juvenile correctional facilities and should be more of a Behavioral facility than a Rehabilitation center. The staff do NOT care about the clients. They care more about making money than the safety of residents. Please, for the sake of your child. DO NOT DO IT.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • This place was once a great rehab. It no longer is, the place is filthy and where residents used to have to clean from top to bottom the standards enforced by staff have dropped lower and lower. Discipline is a thing of the past. There used to be a set of rules that were enforced by the residents. Staff seemed to just accept when that happened so it fell to staff to enforce the rules until she decided that enforcing rules and consequences was not good for the sensitive children. She would always defend the worst of the residents and target the ones she just didn't like. There are constant fights, residents having sex with each other, drugs and tobacco products are constantly being smuggled in and staff is not doing a good enough job screening kids coming back in. Almost every resident that I have spoken to since they left are all drinking and doing some type of drug even if it is just weed. Don't waste your time or money sending your child to this place.
    Day top is filthy, there are constantly fights. My son was there for 4 days before he even met hi counselor. I think Dayton love to take the state money and puts nothing back into the programs. The State and Board of Health should do a complete inspection of the place.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • Daytop facilities need much improvement. The well being of your child is at risk because the staff are either not trained/educated or do not meet the requirements of their jobs and management does not oversee or follow through to see that staff is doing their job. Complaints are not taken seriously. They will move your child between facilities in Mendham and Pittsgrove as they see fit but it makes no difference as both locations are just as loosely run. Additionally, your child will will make new undesirable connections. If you have any choice at all, my advice is go elsewhere.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • THIS PLACE WAS A JOKE. The facility was DIRTY. ..the school was just packets and movies, there were people bringing in cigarettes and smoking in their bathrooms, and the heating in the rooms did not work. I had to take my daughter out of that program because of the lack of cleanliness of the facility and the fact the staff did not work with my daughter and her needs. The staff did not listen to any of my concerns about schools or anything. Overall I would NEVER send my child to this facility again nor would i reccomend it to anyone seeking help.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • As a long time Daytop parent volunteer, I have seen many changes in the Daytop program. They are always looking for ways to improve their program and to stay current with the most effective treatment models. When my daughter attended the program my life and my family’s lives were in turmoil. Daytop worked with us and got us back on track. Daytop often says that addiction is a family problem and it takes a family to address it. Daytop has an outstanding family support system called the Daytop Family Association. The Association is run by experienced Daytop parent volunteers whose own children have completed the program but continue to get involved because they want to pass along the wisdom and coping tools that had been shared with them when they were in crisis. This is primarily done with the parent peer support groups where some parents for the first time realize that they are not alone in their pain. They are surrounded by loving and caring parents who understand the family struggles. Parents learn to change and learn how to set limits and boundaries with their children. For most, the meetings provide a life vest in their sea of chaos. I can honestly say that the staff truly care about the adolescents in the program and this intangible effects the outcomes. Daytop is not a Malibu rehab. For those looking for that, they can spend $40,000 a month but they still wouldn’t get the family support that Daytop offers. In the end it doesn’t matter how much you spend, its about the family making changes and creating open and honest communication and enforcing the consequences for negative behaviors. Daytop has change my life and the lives of my family members and for that I will be forever grateful.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • Flexibility, Individualized treatment, medication management, friendly and well trained staff, welcoming environment Organization is sometimes weak. As of May 22nd, I will have been working at Daytop for 2 years. I started my journey at Daytop as an intern and from my beginnings I knew it was unique. From my humble beginnings as an intern, I was able to take a more observatory role at first. I watched as teachers assisted the residents in the classroom, paying close attention to their individual needs and adjusting their teaching material to better suit each individual. I witnessed staff members redirecting behavior in such a kind and thought provoking manner, challenging the residents whenever appropriate. I soon began to work with a counselor and got the hands on experience I so desired. At this time, I was exposed to the therapeutic side of Daytop, observing not only how this counselor worked with particular residents but how residential aides to directors of the programs truly put their “blood, sweat and tears” into helping residents. I went to my graduate courses explaining to my peers how amazing it was to see how everyone truly worked together to help support a resident when they were most in need. On May 22nd, I received a call that would ultimately change my life. Not even yet graduated, Daytop took a chance and hired me as a full time clinician. I was so excited to be a part of such a wonderful organization changed troubled adolescents’ lives. As I said, I have officially been working at Daytop for almost 2 years and my life has never been the same. I was challenged in ways I never thought possible, was pushed to my limit and sometimes even cried, much like our residents do. However, I never once thought of turning my back on Daytop because of the opportunities it has given me and the constant support I get from my supervisors to fellow clinicians to residential aides and even our janitor! It is so refreshing to wake up in the morning and actually be happy to go to work. Not only do I get to be a part of a team that changes lives, but I get to see coworkers who have become like family and mentors who have changed my life. Working in such a dynamic environment, challenges obviously arise however; they are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner. At a young age, I already have opportunities to grow as part of the Leadership Development Team, am attending Trauma Trainings to become a Certified Trauma Counselor and was encouraged to pursue my LCADC in conjunction with my LPC, not something I thought of previously but am excited to have the opportunity of doing. You see, Daytop improves not only the lives of the adolescents in the program; it also changes the lives of its staff members. I am looking forward to my future at Daytop as I, the residents and the program in general grow together. I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful and committed organization and anyone would be lucky to attend or be employed by Daytop New Jersey.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
    • Daytop is a multifaceted program that addresses drug use, behaviors, mental health issues and communication skills while encouraging families to be involved in treatment. Daytop is not perfect and as with other programs can use improvement. They depend on suggestions from families and adolescents. Daytop requests that families express any concerns or criticisms to improve the program. There are staff that are motivated and passionate in assisting the children through the program to provide tools to live a happy, healthy future. The biggest challenge for substance use treatment is that the clientele need to want to change and with treatment it is possible to facilitate that change. Daytop has changed their program dramatically by addressing as many of the needs as possible for the children, their families and their communities.
    • Treatment Effectiveness
    • Accommodations & Amenities
    Daytop NJ is a residential treatment facility that address the needs of adolescents struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders. From the time I began working at Daytop, I felt inspired by the dedicated staff who devoted so much to these kids. These kids who have struggled with drugs and/or alcohol finally had a place in which they felt safe, which the supportive staff only contributed to. As far as working for Daytop, there are so many opportunities to grow and develop in one's professional career. I have seen many co-workers start out as a residential aids and move up to case managers and even to therapists once obtaining appropriate credentials. The leaders of Daytop support ones professional development which is encouraging to see and great to be part of. Daytop staff work together as a team to best serve the children we work for and I am glad to be part of this family.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
    • As of May 22nd, I will have been working at Daytop for 2 years. I started my journey at Daytop as an intern and from my beginnings I knew it was unique. From my humble beginnings as an intern, I was able to take a more observatory role at first. I watched as teachers assisted the residents in the classroom, paying close attention to their individual needs and adjusting their teaching material to better suit each individual. I witnessed staff members redirecting behavior in such a kind and thought provoking manner, challenging the residents whenever appropriate. I soon began to work with a counselor and got the hands on experience I so desired. At this time, I was exposed to the therapeutic side of Daytop, observing not only how this counselor worked with particular residents but how residential aides to directors of the programs truly put their “blood, sweat and tears” into helping residents. I went to my graduate courses explaining to my peers how amazing it was to see how everyone truly worked together to help support a resident when they were most in need. On May 22nd, I received a call that would ultimately change my life. Not even yet graduated, Daytop took a chance and hired me as a full time clinician. I was so excited to be a part of such a wonderful organization changed troubled adolescents’ lives. As I said, I have officially been working at Daytop for almost 2 years and my life has never been the same. I was challenged in ways I never thought possible, was pushed to my limit and sometimes even cried, much like our residents do. However, I never once thought of turning my back on Daytop because of the opportunities it has given me and the constant support I get from my supervisors to fellow clinicians to residential aides and even our janitor! It is so refreshing to wake up in the morning and actually be happy to go to work. Not only do I get to be a part of a team that changes lives, but I get to see coworkers who have become like family and mentors who have changed my life. Working in such a dynamic environment, challenges obviously arise however; they are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner. At a young age, I already have opportunities to grow as part of the Leadership Development Team, am attending Trauma Trainings to become a Certified Trauma Counselor and was encouraged to pursue my LCADC in conjunction with my LPC, not something I thought of previously but am excited to have the opportunity of doing. You see, Daytop improves not only the lives of the adolescents in the program; it also changes the lives of its staff members. I am looking forward to my future at Daytop as I, the residents and the program in general grow together. I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful and committed organization and anyone would be lucky to attend or be employed by Daytop New Jersey.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
    • I have been an employee at Daytop for almost 5 years. The field of addiction is sensitive to many families due to the reality of treatment potentially meaning life or death. Daytop has changed in many ways including becoming more trauma informed and taking on the “Nurtured Heart” approach. Throughout the years, Daytop has stayed true to its mission of helping youth succeed in treatment by giving them the skills to successfully transition back to their home by building their capacity to cope along with attaining necessary life skills. The staff at Daytop continuously goes above and beyond for the youth. It is, unfortunate, that not everyone is successful in treatment but it is a reality of addiction and there are times all that can be done is to “plant the seed”. I felt compelled to write a review after reading some negative comments. Daytop has a tremendous amount of beneficial characteristics because of the way they support the residents with an all-encompassing approach. I truly believe Daytop is the best program out there!
    I feel that Daytop misleads parents into believing they will go above and beyond to help your child as well as your family with behavior issues as well as drug treatment, and that's not the case. My child has not received any treatment as far as drug counseling or therapy in a 9 week period at Daytop . These children are at Daytop for all kinds of issues (behavior being the main issue) and they aren't receiving the help. The staff talk to the children as if they are their peers and disrespectful and when the children speak to the staff or say something that the staff doesn't like they put them on a behavioral contract. Where is the counseling, the meeting, the phone conference, the warning, the communication, the treatment plan, the phone calls... It's none of the above. This program cost up to $425 a day and all the parents receive is a call to come get your child the same way you sent them there. They claim to be the best, but I don't see it, all I've seen is three children kicked out in two days..and it's sad. This program isn't for families in need. They don't work with the families or children in need. All they wanna do is fill a bed, not a void. This is sad.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • Daytop Menham is aimed toward adolescents, so it also has a prep school component. It is an excellent option for kids who are struggling and who need a controlled environment. Very structured, staff are very communicative. Some simple upgrades to the gym and music area would be an improvement.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • Daytop used to be one of the best programs in the state. Today it is a run of the mill kind of place. They sold their soul for state funding and will take anyone in just for the money. This was a beautiful building at one point and now it's covered in filth, stink bugs, and gang graffiti. It's a couple steps above the detention center. The food is horrible to the point that staff doesn't even eat it, undercooked chicken and nothing really nutritional items offered. It's an embarrassment to work here, and more than a handful of staff including myself are currently looking for new jobs...Breaks my heart.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
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    • I was a Daytop resident for 8 months and Daytop definately will change you whether if its for the good or for the bad. on my part it changed me for the better .. Unfortunately they didn't really teach me how to be sober, they told me the tools and expected me to just learned then and use them as if it was that easy. Dont get me wrong the staff and residents are always there with open arms if you need help with things, but im my opinion it was more of a behavioral program. All we need was clean, eat, have free time, do groups and hold people accountable. Its a peer based program & thats what i liked the most about it. You learn from others mistakes & grow off of it because if one person does something it effects the whole " family'. Im not gonna rant about the program but if I could go back for a night and do the structure I would.
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    • Strengths: Behavior, technique, school included, great counselors. Weaknesses: Cleanliness, food punishment.