Center for Great Expectations

About Center for Great Expectations

The Center for Great Expectations (CGE) was established in 1998 to house women with children, pregnant women, and pregnant adolescents during their treatment for substance use and co occurring mental health disorders. This unique program allows children under 5 years of age to stay with their moms while they receive treatment. The residential facilities are on one large property in Somerset, New Jersey. Child and family services and state welfare fund the programs.

Onsite Childcare for Moms in Recovery in Somerset

The adolescent program treats parenting or pregnant women ages 13-20. Children up to age 5 can live with their moms while they’re in the program. One of the great things about the facility is Katy’s Place, an onsite licensed child development center. Moms can focus on recovery and not worry about their children.

Since many of the young children in the program have already experienced trauma, the teachers at Katy’s Place are trained in trauma informed interventions. The children engage in supportive daily activities, and the center provides moms with daily updates about the children.

If a child has a developmental challenge, the teachers work with the parent and specialists to create an individualized improvement plan. There’s also a registered nurse available on the premises and direct care support 24/7.

Clients participate in early relational health therapy which promotes nurturing and positive interactions between caregivers and their children. There are allied therapies such as music and art therapy. Clients participate in family engagement events and recreational activities.

Relational Recovery Model in New Jersey

The adult residential program, CGE uses a relational recovery model approach to offer trauma informed care in a nurturing and safe environment. This approach addresses relational trauma and explores how past attachment experiences have influenced relationship dynamics and their impact on substance use recovery.

The relational recovery model aims to amplify moments of joy while reducing parental stress and strengthening the mother child connection. Many of the moms in the program have had adverse childhood experiences and grapple with homelessness. The program keeps families together and focuses on outcomes based care.

Latest Reviews

Kiera Taylor

4 months ago on Google

I m going to be real honest and truthful about my experience at the Center for Great Expectations I see all these comments on how the center is so great and they take care of you aye I mean y all can have y all opinions but let me tell you my experience this comment might get taken down but who cares imma put it right back on here I came to the center for great expectations with my newborn baby on October 19th, 2023 and left on October 19, 2024 so that makes it a year don t get me wrong the program is amazing the younger women I met there aren t just women to me they were my long lost sisters I m not going to name any names for the sake of their privacy and there babies this is about me but you know I had problems of my own I have a weed habit you know I m going to admit to it but when you been smoking for 2 years make it 3 now it will be hard trying to get someone to quit and in my situation I couldn t I felt like it was the only way to cope with what I was dealing with so yes I would be paying off girls for a vape pen or weed pen here and there but I just got to sloppy with my stuff like to sloppy leaving it on the bed hiding it on my body or in my bag or dropping it on the floor in the van my restriction record in there is like real top of the charts it s not something to be proud of but one day they just so happened to drug test me and my clinician decided to refer me to go to Roots 2 Recovery basically it s sessions and drug testing but never in my life and I put my hand on my grandmother s grave never in my life have I ever smoked in the same room as my baby I would go in the bathroom and put her in her crib with 2 toys and a laptop with Mickey Mouse club house or Coco melon also when I did have a weed pen it did not leave a big high it may pull hard but it just left a buzz and my eyes low with my time there I did manage to cut back what like 2 months. They were saying I wasn t paying attention to my baby enough there were times my baby had fallen off of the bed and fell out of her stroller also the fact that I left her on a elevator by accident cause one of the staff wanted to call me last minute of me getting on the elevator due to all of that they had to call DCFS on me I had 2 court appearances also they referred me for treatment right around where I stay at and I have to get reminded every other day that I can get my babygirl ripped out of my arms and I can t do anything about it also that a judge will be looking at my levels how in the world do you think I feel and I kept telling my CMO worker I wanted to leave asap but she kept persuading me. The whole point I m getting at yes I had some good times but in some kind of way they ruined me if any young women reading this if you wanna go and give it a try I m not stopping you just be careful and Thank you for listening

carissa byrd

11 months ago on Google

Amazing place for woman and children. They have helped me to be able to reach my dreams

Response from the owner1 year ago

Thank you so much for the nice rating!

Sofia Montilla

1 year ago on Google

if your pregnant this isn t the place for you not enough food and the place never has enough money to provide for all of the girls food is always either old or not enough of something Stress levels go high and you won t feel welcomed or respected all staff members and employees are very unprofessional . the manager Ms.Leigh doesn t care for the clients if you speak to her about any situation or problems that you feel uncomfortable about she will never handle the issue. And make you stress more about it and make you feel unsafe and uncomfortable this place should not be recommended for anyone who has a kid and needs help because this place doesn t help with anything but anxiety and stress when you are pregnant staff can have a attitude with you and treat you differently and not be spoken to about there unprofessional behaviour but when you speak up and your pregnant you get treated very disrespectfully and staff and employees only do it for the fact that your pregnant and have a lot to loose the center of greater expectations is very neglectful to all residents and if your pregnant again please be mindful of this place they will starve you because they say there on a budget there are 5 girls in the house and one is pregnant that female that is pregnant get's neglected they neglect her and her unborn child and have her eat microwave stuff like hot pockets or Jamaican beef patties those are the only two microwaveable things I ve seen other stuff are old in the freezer causing freezer burnt and the fridge is always empty some of the females have to spend there own money out of pocket for stuff when it shouldn t be necessary. this place says there a Chef and there is no chef a lady would come to cook during the week and only make lunch which is canned foods the girls should not be treated like dogs and neglected and for dinner she makes the same every nights leaving the girls to feel sick and not hungry and not eating. there are mice here as well and bugs that are in the cabinets that crawl in the boxes and leave the girls nothing to eat this place needs to be taken care of and child protective services needs to look more into this place as well as the state. Staff would make the girls try to make things look better and switch the way things look and tell them the state is coming and for them to make something if they don t like it to throw it away that is called abuse and a form of neglect. If I were able to shut this place down I would it isn t in any good condition and low staff. In addition the place is very low on food every day and every week leaving the girls to starve IVE witnessed a lot of things and have bought a lot of females food and meals. My heart was to good to sit and watch this and when the girls eat they rush like they ve never eaten before .

Rehab Score

Our Methodology

Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology

7.3 / 10

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Location

Other Forms of Payment

Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.

Free

Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.

Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

Medically Assisted Detox

Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

12-Step

12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

Aftercare Support

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Sober Living Homes

Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug rehab in New Jersey is the process of addressing the complex issues involved with addiction. Challenges are identified and addressed through individual and group counseling. Participants learn how to manage these issues without the use of substances.

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Substance rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction (both illegal and prescription drugs). They often include the opportunity to engage in both individual as well as group therapy.

Programs

Adult Program

Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.

Young Adult Program

Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Clinical Services

Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

Staff & Accreditations

Staff

Peg Wright

Founder & CEO

Edward Ratush, MD

Medical Director

Kim Ruoff, MHRM, LAC

Chief Program & Operations Officer

Debbie Haroldsen

Director of Finance

Anastacia Krosnick, DNP, PMHNP

Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse

Veronica Finlay

Director of Development

Noreen Whittemore

Director of Community Relations

Laurie Lachs

Public Affairs & Events Manager

Accreditations

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.

CARF Accreditation: Yes

Contact Information

(732) 247-7003

Website

19B Dellwood Lane
Suites A and B
Somerset, NJ 08873

Get Help Now - 732-708-2148

Rehab in Cities Near Somerset

Back to NJ

Reviews of Center for Great Expectations

4.2/5 (47 reviews)

Google Reviews

4.2 (47 reviews)

4 months ago

I’m going to be real honest and truthful about my experience at the Center for Great Expectations I see all these comments on how the center is so great and they take care of you aye I mean y’all can have y’all opinions but let me tell you my experience this comment might get taken down but who cares imma put it right back on here I came to the center for great expectations with my newborn baby on October 19th, 2023 and left on October 19, 2024 so that makes it a year don’t get me wrong the program is amazing the younger women I met there aren’t just women to me they were my long lost sisters I’m not going to name any names for the sake of their privacy and there babies this is about me but you know I had problems of my own I have a weed habit you know I’m going to admit to it but when you been smoking for 2 years make it 3 now it will be hard trying to get someone to quit and in my situation I couldn’t I felt like it was the only way to cope with what I was dealing with so yes I would be paying off girls for a vape pen or weed pen here and there but I just got to sloppy with my stuff like to sloppy leaving it on the bed hiding it on my body or in my bag or dropping it on the floor in the van my restriction record in there is like real top of the charts it’s not something to be proud of but one day they just so happened to drug test me and my clinician decided to refer me to go to Roots 2 Recovery basically it’s sessions and drug testing but never in my life and I put my hand on my grandmother’s grave never in my life have I ever smoked in the same room as my baby I would go in the bathroom and put her in her crib with 2 toys and a laptop with Mickey Mouse club house or Coco melon also when I did have a weed pen it did not leave a big high it may pull hard but it just left a buzz and my eyes low with my time there I did manage to cut back what like 2 months. They were saying I wasn’t paying attention to my baby enough there were times my baby had fallen off of the bed and fell out of her stroller also the fact that I left her on a elevator by accident cause one of the staff wanted to call me last minute of me getting on the elevator due to all of that they had to call DCFS on me I had 2 court appearances also they referred me for treatment right around where I stay at and I have to get reminded every other day that I can get my babygirl ripped out of my arms and I can’t do anything about it also that a judge will be looking at my levels how in the world do you think I feel and I kept telling my CMO worker I wanted to leave asap but she kept persuading me. The whole point I’m getting at yes I had some good times but in some kind of way they ruined me if any young women reading this if you wanna go and give it a try I’m not stopping you just be careful and Thank you for listening

Daniel A. Ortiz

11 months ago

April Ludwig

1 year ago

Response from the ownerInvalid relative date format:

Aden Rosado

if your pregnant this isn’t the place for you not enough food and the place never has enough money to provide for all of the girls food is always either old or not enough of something Stress levels go high and you won’t feel welcomed or respected all staff members and employees are very unprofessional . the manager Ms.Leigh doesn’t care for the clients if you speak to her about any situation or problems that you feel uncomfortable about she will never handle the issue. And make you stress more about it and make you feel unsafe and uncomfortable this place should not be recommended for anyone who has a kid and needs help because this place doesn’t help with anything but anxiety and stress when you are pregnant staff can have a attitude with you and treat you differently and not be spoken to about there unprofessional behaviour but when you speak up and your pregnant you get treated very disrespectfully and staff and employees only do it for the fact that your pregnant and have a lot to loose the center of greater expectations is very neglectful to all residents and if your pregnant again please be mindful of this place they will starve you because they say there on a budget there are 5 girls in the house and one is pregnant that female that is pregnant get's neglected they neglect her and her unborn child and have her eat microwave stuff like hot pockets or Jamaican beef patties those are the only two microwaveable things I’ve seen other stuff are old in the freezer causing freezer burnt and the fridge is always empty some of the females have to spend there own money out of pocket for stuff when it shouldn’t be necessary. this place says there a Chef and there is no chef a lady would come to cook during the week and only make lunch which is canned foods the girls should not be treated like dogs and neglected and for dinner she makes the same every nights leaving the girls to feel sick and not hungry and not eating. there are mice here as well and bugs that are in the cabinets that crawl in the boxes and leave the girls nothing to eat this place needs to be taken care of and child protective services needs to look more into this place as well as the state. Staff would make the girls try to make things look better and switch the way things look and tell them the state is coming and for them to make something if they don’t like it to throw it away that is called abuse and a form of neglect. If I were able to shut this place down I would it isn’t in any good condition and low staff. In addition the place is very low on food every day and every week leaving the girls to starve IVE witnessed a lot of things and have bought a lot of females food and meals. My heart was to good to sit and watch this and when the girls eat they rush like they’ve never eaten before .

ryan sayles

The work CGE does is inspiring and making a significant impact on the lives of mothers and children in need.

Ellen Schweitzer

This organization is so unique and important. This foundation helps Moms take care of their children while tackling the challenges they have. In most cases mothers with substance abuse problems have to put their children into foster care, this is not the case with CGE. Mothers are given the tools and the assistance to help themselves while caring for their children. The importance of this changes the mother’s ability to deal with her issues and nurture her children at the same time. What is more important than that? ❤️

Sara Silva

7 years ago I graduated from this amazing home for women and children♥️ I loved every inch of this home and I loved every heart that touched my own. I was at my final edge of desperation when I got a phone call of acceptance from a woman that worked here and she changed my life forever (Ms. Yvette) I was 6 months pregnant and looking for help and they gave it to me. Today I am still clean with my 3rd child and I donate from every paycheck I earn because without them I wouldn’t be the mother and woman I am today♥️♥️♥️ Thank you for giving me a second chance and thank you to all the wonderful people that donate!

Katie McCann

2 years ago

The fact that CGE provides support & education for those who are overcoming substance abuse disorder while simultaneously giving women a safe & non judgemental environment to raise their children, is invaluable.

Thanks for your amazing words, Katie! We pride ourselves on our multi-faceted approach to treatment and the expertise that each team member brings to the community. At the core of our work, however, is the recognition that every person who comes through our doors deserves to be treated with compassion and respect.

Eric Dawson

I am always in awe of the great work they do at The Center for Great Expectations. The stories of success that they get to be a part of and share never cease to inspire.

Thanks for the kind words, Eric. The team at CGE is eternally grateful to play a role in each client's journey towards a more healthy and balanced life. Of course, we could never do it without the incredible support that we receive from people like you!

Dominique Vidal

CGE has provided some much to their community and continuously amazes me. Thank you so much for all of your work. You truly are empowering the lives of so many people!

Thank you, Dominique! Your words mean so much. The collective support of our community members is powerful and making a huge difference. We look forward to welcoming you during our 25th anniversary celebrations, as our formidable teams continue providing a safe place, safe presence and a safe path to all those in our care along our exceptional continuum of care.

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