Human Services

Office of the Director
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242 ext. 2280
Nilda I. Torres, Director

Under the division of the Mayor of the City of Paterson, the Department of Human Services is responsible for developing and administering programs and activities designed to maintain and improve the quality of human life for those who live, work and visit within the City of Paterson.

The Department operates with 168 employees; and an annual budget in excess of 11 million dollars from City, County, State and Federal sources, program-generated revenues and other sources.

Office of Planning & Program Analysis
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242 exts. 2283 and 2284
Cesar Lopez, Program Monitor

To provide assistance to others in the development of program grant applications to County, State and Federal levels of government, and to provide support for programs operated by or through the Department of Human Resources.

Monitors and evaluates program performance by City agencies in the social service/child care area where the City is grantee under the County State, Federal contracts and where these agencies are made sub-grantees under the City of Paterson Department of Human Services contracts.
Provides fiscal management of child care and social service programs funded under the City of Paterson Department of Human Services.
Research various funding guides for possible grants pertaining to human services.
Provides assistance in the review of applications when funding is available for day care and social service programs.
Review various guides and other materials in collecting information pertaining to human services.

Division of Health
176 Broadway
(973) 321-1277 ext. 2771
Joseph J. Surowiec, Health Officer

Ryan White Title I Services
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242 ext. 2286
Catherine Correa, Director

In accordance with the Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, and as amended in 2000, the federal appropriation is issued as an emergency relief grant for the enhancement and availability of care for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS.

The primary objective of the Program is to rapidly disseminate funds to health care and social service providers throughout the City of Paterson and Counties of Passaic and Bergen for relief of the HIV Spectrum Disease.

The Ryan White Title I Program administers contractual terms and conditions with funding source and sub-grantees; monitors and evaluates program and fiscal management performance; provides technical assistance and support to the funded health and social health care providers; assists in the identification of needs and unmet needs of people living with HIV/AIDS; assists in the development of a comprehensive service delivery plan.

The health and social health care services funded are broadly defined as primary medical services, substance abuse counseling and treatment, mental health services, dental care, case management, emergency support (food, housing, legal, etc.), home health and hospice services.

Division on Senior Services
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242 ext. 2289
Mary E. Wheeler, Director

Seeks to enhance the quality of life for Older Americans and Individuals with Disabilities who are residents of the City of Paterson. Sensitive professional staff persons as well as two (2) commissioned Advisory Councils (Aging and Disabled) advocate and assist in the full inclusion and fair representation of residents who are sixty years of age or older and residents of any age who have disabilities.

Case Management, Information and Referral, Advocacy and Outreach, Telephone Reassurance Program, Special Events and Transportation.

To provide a noon day meal that meets at least one-third of the National Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) to Persons sixty years of age and older at six congregate Nutrition Sites throughout the City of Paterson; to operate a non-kosher and a kosher kitchen adhering to all appropriate dietary laws; and to provide programs for the health and well being of senior citizens.

Congretate Meals - A place where the elderly enjoy a balanced meal, develop new friendships and receive assistance and vital information about the community resources and benefits.

Outreach - A continuing effort to locate and identify older persons in need of nutrition and other supportive services.

Physical - Programs and resources that help the elderly to improve and maintain their good health.

Education - Information and referral provided to the elderly regarding available resources and benefits.

Language, Translation and Interpretation - Assistance offered to the elderly who are not fluent in English.

Socialization and Recreation - Programs and activities that help seniors maintain themselves in the mainstream of life.

Office of Rent Leveling
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242 ext. 2285

Serve in the interest of tenants by assuring their occupancy of housing at fair and reasonable levels of rent; landlords by assuring rentals that will yield fair returns to afford them opportunities to upgrade quality housing stock; and the City by assuring the maintenance of the fiscal well being of the City's real estate properties and welfare of tenants and landlords as well as the preservation of good housing and enhancement of neighborhoods. Please call the Office of Rent Leveling for a copy of the Paterson Rent Leveling Ordinance and for additional information.

Office of Weights & Measurements
176 Broadway
(973) 321-1277 ext. 2714
Italo Torchiani, Superintendent

Inspection for accuracy of all retail sales and pumps. Any legitimate consumer complaint regarding weights and measures should be directed to this Office.

Youth Services Bureau
60 Temple Street
(973) 321-1264
Alonzo Moody, Director

The Youth Services Bureau (YSB) focuses on counseling, community and family involvement to assist youth in their transition into adulthood. Additionally, the Youth Services Bureau has a court ordered alternative to incarceration program (Total Lifestyle and Support Program {TLSP}) for juveniles. The program subscribes to the goals and objectives of the Youth Services Bureau, while focusing specifically on the abating criminal behavior.

The Youth Services Bureau provides individual, group, and family counseling, after school tutorial, assisting youth in developing their leadership and decision making skills, and providing alternative recreational and positive socialization activities for Paterson youth, ages 8 to 17. Also provides parenting skill development.

A major objective is to make families whole by working with both youth and parents.

John F. Kennedy High School
61-127 Preakness Avenue
(973) 321-0541

Eastside High School
150 Park Avenue
(973) 321-0360

The School Based Youth Services Program provides Paterson youngsters, ages 13 to 19, with a comprehensive set of services on a one-stop shopping basis at two (2) sites - John F. Kennedy and Eastside High Schools.

The School Based Youth Services Program offers drop-in centers; one on one and family counseling; teen parenting support/child care; substance abuse counseling; employment and educational counseling and referrals; leadership development; client transportation; tutoring, and social activities.

Coalition For A Drug Free Paterson
Drug Free Community Support Program
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242
James Rodriguez, Com. Relations Specialist

The mission of the Drug Free Community Support Program is to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults; strengthen community collaboration against substance abuse; and strengthen community collaboration against crime. The Coalition for a Drug Free Paterson consists of leaders and concerned citizens presenting youth programs, educational system, local government, law enforcement agencies, clergy, community based social service organizations and the business community.

Paterson Municipal Alliance Prevention Program
125 Ellison Street, 1st Floor
(973) 321-1242

The Paterson Municipal Alliance Prevention Program is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to addressing the problem of alcohol and substance abuse in the City of Paterson. The Alliance Committee consist of leaders from the educational system, local government, law enforcement agencies, clergy and the business community and is dedicated to developing and increasing educational programs with the issues of alcohol and substance abuse in our City and increasing the awareness of the scope of the problem and its devastating effects.

Paterson Rent Leveling Board
Mayor's Health Planning Task Force
Coalition For A Drug Free Paterson
Paterson-Passaic County-Bergen County HIV Health Services Planning Council
Paterson Council on Aging
Paterson Council on Disabled
Paterson Nutrition Advisory Board
Paterson Municipal Alliance Prevention Committee
Youth Services Bureau Parent Council
School Based Youth Services Program Advisory Council
School Based Youth Services Program Student Advisory Council