The Union County Drop-In Centers are available to all Union County, NJ residents ages 10-18 (grades 6-12). To register, simply complete the registration form to attend workshops. Once you complete the general registration form you can attend any of the four sites below.

Program Description: UCCDIC will provide safe spaces for youth to receive tutoring, after-school activities, workshops, groups, and other services based on identified needs.

Weekly Activities: Youth will have access to fine arts (e.g. painting, sculpting, etc), Lego Spike, coding, robotics activities, and more. Case managers are on-site to provide one-on-one support to youth. Recreational activities are based on the sites; please reach out to learn about the activities at the specific sites. Transportation is available to the site with the parent accompanying the minor on Lyft rides.

Additional Workshops: Additional gender-specific workshops will cover topics such as healthy relationships, self-esteem, mental health, and bullying prevention.

A Typical Day at a Site:

1. Enrollment: Parents enroll their children in the program through referrals from friends, schools, flyers, and outreach events.
2. Arrival Options: Youth may walk, get a ride, or use the program’s transportation option.
3. Check-In: Upon arrival, youth receive snacks and an overview of the day’s schedule.
4. Enrichment: Tutors provide homework help while students engage in recreational activities.
5. Educational Sessions: Group sessions cover various topics.
6. Club Activities: Activities include arts, writing/music, STEM, etc.
7. Breaks: Students have breaks for free play or extended activities. Healthy snacks are provided.

Site Locations and Schedule

Each site operates from 3:30 – 6:30 pm on these designated days:

Roselle Site (Mondays and 2nd Fridays of the month)
– Anthony Amalfe Community Center
– 1268 Shaffer Avenue, Roselle, NJ, 07203

Hillside Site (Tuesdays and 3rd Fridays of the month
– Hillside Recreational Center
274 Hillside Ave, Hillside NJ, 07205

Rahway Site (Wednesdays and 1st Fridays of the month)
– Rahway Recreational Center
– 3 City Hall Plaza, Rahway, NJ, 07065

Plainfield Site (Thursdays and 4th Fridays of the month)
– Plainfield Performing Arts Center
– 724 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ, 07060

We are hosting workshops covering robotics, fine arts, etc. Check out some of our upcoming sessions: https://www.boxwoodnj.org/workshops/

Program Contact: Marie Thelusma-Chase

Email: info@boxwoodnj.org

Phone: 908-241-6862

Program Partners:

1. Project DNA
2. Innogenius

These partnerships offer a wide range of support, from substance abuse training to career exploration and fine arts workshops, contributing to the holistic development of program participants.