Overview
FREE short-term 1-on-1 support sessions
FREE monthly outdoor group trips
Talk about life, stress, happiness, anything and everything
Non-judgmental and confidential
Program
Youth will meet with our Principal Counselor/Social Worker on a weekly basis for 45-55 minutes via a telehealth video conferencing platform. Youth may be in the program for a minimum of 3-4 months and a maximum of 12-18 months. Youth may be presenting a need for mental health support regarding the following themes amongst others: Depression, Anxiety, Identity Exploration, Body Image, Motivation, Self-esteem, Interpersonal Relationships, School related behaviors.
Youth will also have the opportunity to engage in monthly outdoor trips with some of their peers. These trips are limited to around 12 participants at a time.
Funding for this program was made possible through the Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services, NJ State 2026 Opioid Settlement Grant.
This project is also made possible by the support of Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and the Board of County Commissioners.
Eligibility
Eligible youth must be between the ages of 12-18 and reside within Hudson County.
At this time, we have some exclusionary criteria which we may not be able to effectively treat at this time. If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss with the primary counselor, please feel free to complete the referral form regardless. Please review the following exclusionary criteria carefully:
Youth experienced a psychiatric inpatient hospitalization within the last year
Youth engaged in suicide attempts within the last year
Youth experienced suicidal ideation within the last year
Youth has been diagnosed with a psychosis, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder
Youth has a history of violence or sexual assault
Youth requires prolonged or intensive medical care or monitoring
Enrollment
North Star Project is not currently accepting new participants.
North Star Project is temporarily unavailable as we work to prepare for the next phase of the program. We appreciate your understanding and encourage families seeking mental health support to explore other available community resources in the meantime.
Please check back for updates about the future availability of the North Star Project.