N.J. youths can get help via expanded hotline

New Jersey's Department of Children and Families has helped 180 Turning Lives Around extend its 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline to all children in the state.

The 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline is part of Gov. Jon Corzine's "Strategy for Safe Streets and Neighborhoods" and is funded in part by the Department of Children and Families, according to a press release from 180 Turning Lives Around.

Corzine said in a press release that improving the wellbeing of children is the most important investment people can make.

"The 2NDFLOOR youth helpline gives young people a place to turn to before violence or tragedy occurs," Corzine said in the press release. "It's important for kids to know that they can call about anything, anytime, from anywhere."

2NDFLOOR is part of 180 Turning Lives Around, a private Monmouth County nonprofit organization in Hazlet that is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault. The youth helpline, which previously only serviced Monmouth and Ocean County youths, provides young people with a toll-free number connecting them with adult counselors trained to offer nonjudgmental advice.

Since 2NDFLOOR has gone statewide, it is available to more than 1 million young people between the ages of 10 and 24. In less than four weeks after the program went statewide, 2NDFLOOR had already received nearly 3,000 calls from children living

in each of the state's 21 counties. An even larger call volume is anticipated as schools and nonprofit organizations continue to spread the word about the helpline.

"Before the statewide launch of 2NDFLOOR, there was no one place youth could call where no topic was off limits," DCF Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts said in a press release. "Now youth can call to talk through any challenges they might be facing — whether the issue is substance abuse, domestic violence, self-esteem, eating disorders, family conflict, racism, bullying, gangs or peer pressure."

2NDFLOOR Director Mary Pearson said callers bring up various subjects and remain anonymous. She said the helpline number is 888-222-2228.

New Jersey Natural Gas donated $100,000 to help fund 2NDFLOOR and to challenge other corporations to follow its lead. Also instrumental in obtaining capital and operating funds for the youth helpline were federal legislators including U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone Jr., Rush Holt and Christopher Smith, as well as Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg.

180 Executive Director Anna Diaz- White said, "This is a giant step forward for New Jersey in its prevention efforts, and it is very exciting to be leading the way."

For more about 2NDFLOOR, visit www.2ndfloor.org.