Bringing Social Services Directly to the Community

Citing the size of Ocean County and the challenges in accessing transportation to acquire services, a new mobile outreach unit specifically for social service programs will bring assistance directly into communities across the County’s 640 squares miles. With large ceremonial scissors in hand, members of the Ocean County Board of Social Services, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, social service providers, and social service staff celebrated the arrival of the first mobile outreach unit for social services in Ocean County during a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 26. The Ocean County Board of Social Services created its first mobile Outreach Program with the purchase of a Chevy G4500 cutaway van fitted with an 18-foot box body which was modified to meet the needs of the Social Services Outreach Staff. The vehicle has two workstations where the staff can take applications for Work First New Jersey programs such as General Assistance (GA), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or provide information and referrals to the residents of Ocean County that may be harder to reach. “This is a fully functional office on wheels,” said Director of the Board of Social Services Meredith Sheehan. “We will be available to attend special events in the community and to partner with other providers on a regularly set schedule.” Sheehan was joined by Ocean County Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea, liaison to the Board of Social Services, members of the Ocean County Board of Social Services including Chairman Pastor Peter M. Hartney Jr., and Vice Chair Chaplin Barbara Miles, providers, and the Social Services Mobile Outreach Unit Staff to cut the ceremonial red ribbon highlighting the new mobile outreach unit that will make its way across Ocean County providing information and assistance to County residents on the programs and services available to assist individuals and families in need.