HOPE Program (Harvesting Occupational and Personal Excellence)

Janice received her BA and MA in Speech-Language Pathology at Montclair State University. While pursuing her degrees, Janice worked in the Therapeutic Recreation Department at the Monmouth County Park System. As a Head Counselor, she was responsible for the direct supervision of camp counselors and campers with special needs. She developed and implemented behavior management plans and daily camp activities. Janice served as Camp Director, the summer before receiving her master's degree.

Janice began her career in Speech-Language Pathology working for Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ, where she diagnosed and treated a variety of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders in children and adults and earned her Certification of Clinical Competence. Janice worked in a variety of settings including acute care and outpatient therapy at Ocean Medical Center and acute rehab at Shore Rehabilitation Center and provided school-based therapy as a contracted service.

Janice's passion for working with children and teens on life, social, and vocational skills led her to the School for Children in Eatontown, NJ. As a Speech-Language Specialist, she worked with students ranging in age from 3-12, evaluating and providing therapy for students in the areas of receptive and expressive language, oral motor skills, pragmatics, and augmentative communication. This was a formative experience where Janice was privileged to work and collaborate with students, families, teachers, and therapists to help her students meet their potential.

Janice took time off from her career to stay at home with her daughter and son though maintained her Speech-Language Pathology license and Certification of Clinical Competence throughout this time. With time to reflect on her career, Janice decided it was time to leave the therapy room and use her knowledge and skills to help others achieve friendship and purpose in their life. She was hired by Family Resource Associates in Red Bank to work as a Job Coach in their Employability Department. Janice takes pride in being an employee of an agency that shares her values and goals with the people she supports. She has completed a twelve-week ACRE Supported Employment Online Course.

Job coaching brought Janice to Allaire Community Farm. Immediately, she observed the opportunity the farm provides for the exploration of employment fields while making connections and building friendships. After months of planning and collaborating, the HOPE Program was developed. Janice is committed to providing an inclusive and individualized pre-vocational experience to each of the program participants.

Janice resides in Lincroft, NJ with her husband, two children, and two golden retrievers. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, reading, and the beach.

Marie Weidman is our Learning Specialist for the HOPE Program. Marie holds a BA in Communication Arts from Marist College and a Master's in Social Work from Fordham University. She began her career working for the New York City Administration for Children's Services. Throughout Marie's years at the Administration for Children's Services, she worked as a Protective Service Caseworker, Preventive Service Caseworker, Staten Island Family Court Liason, and a Protective Service Unit Supervisor. Her focus was the protection of at-risk children in Staten Island, as well as, promoting the safety and well-being of the children and their families.

Marie took some time off to raise her three sons with her husband, Todd, in Little Silver, New Jersey. While home with her children, Marie was heavily involved in community volunteering - the Little Silver PTO, Chaired Community Programs of the Junior League of Monmouth County, Director and Coach of Little Silver Travel Basketball, and coached teams in the borough recreational programs.

Marie returned to the workforce in 2014, taking her career in a new direction through work with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work was performed at the Arc of Monmouth through the summer of 2020 - supporting both the KACH and TAZ Programs. Marie was an instructor who developed and taught a curriculum for assisting students to develop marketable employment skills, life skills, and better social awareness.

Marie is also trained in CPR, Seizures, PANE (Prevention of Abuse Neglect and Exploitation), Danielle's Law, and Komninos' Law. She enjoys working in this field and loves coming to work each day at the HOPE Program seeing the difference she makes in the participants' lives and also the difference they make in her life! In Marie's time away from work, she enjoys going to live music events, the beach, and spending time with her family, friends, and her boxer dog, Emma.

Stephanie, Usually known as Popper, is currently pursuing her Master's of Social Work Clinical Practice with Children and Families, at Monmouth University. She graduated from Monmouth University with her BA in Political Science and two minors in Social Work and Anthropology. While pursuing her undergrad degree, she was involved in many different advocative entities on and off campus.

After aging out of the Foster Care system, Stephanie soon found her voice and passion for advocating for all marginalized and vulnerable populations. She had interned and worked with mentoring programs such as BigBrotherBigSister. While also gained experience in educational settings, where she taught aging-out fostered youth life skills for independent living. She has also interned in aiding classes for senior populations at senior recreation centers. She is currently a member of the National Foster Youth Institution, a part of the New Jersey chapter. She currently still sits on the Division of Children and Family's Youth Council, which innovates policy change for all those affected by child welfare systems. Stephanie has a strong passion for helping individuals be the best self they can be. She integrates individuals' progress by equipping them with the tools, resources, and skills necessary for them to apply themselves in the future. Her compassion for helping others has led her to Allaire Community Farm, where she could not be more grateful to work with a team of inspiring individuals.