In July 2005 Haven Of Hope For Kids began a ten-week pilot program providing quiet relaxation and caring support for 10 such families. Nine are families with children who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. One family suffered the death of a child within the past year. These children confronted leukemia, and other kinds of cancer, sickle cell anemia and cerebral palsy. The pilot program was so well received by our guest families and volunteers that we are committed to making this a year round program and additionally to making the program available to healthcare professionals and their families in late fall and spring. There is a growing waiting list of families who wish to participate.

Our primary mission is to reduce the fear, anxiety and depression that frequently accompany serious illness and are barriers to healing. Haven Of Hope For Kids is a place of caring hospitality for people of all faiths. Our service area encompasses Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union Counties.

The Haven of Hope for Kids program is a joint initiative of regional hospitals, the Valery Fund,  Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, local churches and a whole bunch of dedicated volunteers.  The children and families are selected by social workers from these hospitals and from Camp Sunshine. A representative from Camp Sunshine and from the social service departments of each hospital serves on our Advisory Board. The hospitals are: Atlantic Health Systems (Overlook and Morristown hospitals), Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, University Hospital: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Fr. William A. Potter served as our Executive Director from 2005 to 2008 and was succeeded by Pam Faris.