May 17, 2019 Children's Specialized Hospital Announces Partnership with Opportunity Project, Inc. to Support Individuals with Brain Injury

CSH is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children and young adults from birth to 21 years of age facing special health care challenges. These include chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues like autism and mental health.

Opportunity Project was founded in 1993 by two families whose sons had sustained brain injuries. Their goal was to fill a significant gap in community services due to the absence of effective transitional and reintegration services within the community for persons with brain injury. Since its inception, Opportunity Project has served over 600 members affected by brain injury and their families, providing members with the opportunity to build cognitive skills, vocational skills, self-esteem, and confidence in their ability to accomplish productive activities.

“Opportunity Project has a long, rich history of serving the critical needs of adults with brain injury,” said Warren E. Moore, FACHE, President and CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital. “We are thrilled to partner and learn from one another, ensuring a bright future for the communities we serve.”

This partnership will provide significant benefits for both organizations, creating an aligned structure, leveraging missions, visions and strengths, and supporting strategic directions. It will also ensure Opportunity Project’s continued expansion and streamline the transition of services offered at CSH for young adults with brain injury into adulthood.

“Our partnership with Opportunity Project extends and strengthens our mission to provide access to the highest level of care and vital social support services. It enables us to address a gap in services for child-to-adult transitions for our young adult patients. By providing a full continuum of care, individuals who have experienced a brain injury can reach their full potential and have an enhanced quality of life,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health.

Opportunity Project has already solidified a magnitude of growth in the past several years. In 2005, the organization moved into a new, universally accessible, 14,000-square-foot facility designed to ensure delivery of vocational, educational, social and recreational, life skills, and long term support services to members. As a Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited organization, Opportunity Project offers adjustment counseling, case management, cognitive skills, communication skills, health and wellness, nutrition counseling, occupational therapy, resource identification, social and recreational community integration, speakers’ bureau, and veterans and vocational counseling.

“This partnership will allow us to maximize the strength of our services for not only our current members but future members as well,” said Marc E. Berson, Chairman of the Executive Board, Opportunity Project. “Children’s Specialized Hospital and RWJBarnabas Health are strong leaders and steadfast advocates for those with special health care needs in the community. Working together will ensure that our members are not only able to access services for developmental growth and community integration, but that they’ll also have access to quality health care, where and when they need it.”

For Children’s Specialized Hospital, this partnership provides a point of entry into the adult service market for people with special health care needs. There is now an opportunity to address challenges associated with child-to-adult transitions when it comes to programs, services, care, and community integration for these young adults.

About Opportunity Project, Inc.

Opportunity Project Clubhouse is a unique program created by and for adults with brain injuries who are seeking the next step in their journey of recovery. They provide an environment of support, challenge and choices that create independence and productivity in their members. Through the work environment in the Clubhouse, members explore their strengths, abilities and interests so that they can establish and attain their individual goals. The ultimate goal is full integration back into family, work and community. To learn more, visit www.opportunityproject.org.

About Children’s Specialized Hospital

Children’s Specialized Hospital is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children and young adults from birth to 21 years of age facing special health care challenges – from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues like autism and mental health. At 13 different New Jersey locations, our pediatric specialists partner with families to make our many innovative therapies and medical treatments more personalized and effective so each child can reach their full potential. To learn more, visit www.childrens-specialized.org.