Mercer House
".... Mercer House is a good place for kids. I hope to get my life together, starting now." These were the feelings expressed by James, a fifteen-year old, who is a resident of Mercer House along with 11 other adolescent boys and girls.
Mercer House is a short-term shelter located in Ewing Township operated by The Children's Home. The facility, which opened its doors in 1998, reached full operating capacity within two weeks and has maintained a high level of service throughout the summer months. More than 350 youngsters have been referred to Mercer House either through the Mercer County Family Court or by the State Division of Youth and Family Services.
Mercer House is a home-like place where the needs of youths and their families can be assessed; and, with the help of TCH staff in cooperation with other community agencies, a plan can be put into place to resolve outstanding family problems and issues. Many of the youths at Mercer House have been successfully reunited with their families while others have been transferred to foster care, group homes, and residential treatment centers.
While living in Mercer House, the youths are engaged in a broad range of educational, recreational and culturally enriching activities. Emphasis is placed on teaching daily living, coping, and interpersonal relationship skills.
Thanks to the generosity of individual, corporate and civic groups, as well as grants and donations from foundations, Mercer House is furnished with a game room, and honors recreation room, and a state-of-the-art computer lab, all of which offer youngsters countless opportunities to make constructive use of their time while in the program.
To learn more about the program at Mercer House or to find out how you might help, call Tyrone Bowden, the program director at (609) 434-4101.
