At a recent OCBA lunch meeting, Jessica Pepe shared how Ocean Partnership for Children (OPC), the county’s Care Management Organization, wraps services around youth up to age 21 who are struggling with mental health, substance use, intellectual and development needs, at no cost to families.
OPC’s care managers meet kids where they live, coordinate treatment, and stay with families long enough for real change to take hold.
Services span all 33 Ocean County municipalities, from Little Egg Harbor and the Barrier Islands to Point Pleasant and Plumsted, and families never receive a bill for OPC’s work.
What “care management” looks like in practice
Jessica Pepe contrasted “care management” with traditional case management: OPC care managers visit the home, talk with the school and hospital, and build a plan the family can actually use. They work with the youth and family to create holistic plans which may include therapeutic interventions to stabilize youth. When one service or therapist isn’t a fit, the team revises the plan and tries another approach—unconditional care is a core value.
Care managers also loop in “natural supports”, extended family or other trusted adults, and keep them at the table (even by phone) so kids feel backed by people who matter to them.
Contact cadence and intensity. Every enrolled youth works with a care manager who reaches out weekly, confers with providers weekly or bi-weekly, and conducts home visits one to two times per month (more during crises). Youth in detention are seen at least twice monthly.
The outcomes behind the mission
In 20 years, Ocean Partnership for Children has served more than 10,000 Ocean County youth. The organization reports a 91% success rate maintaining youth safely at home with care in place, a 90% success rate reducing high-risk behaviors (self-injury, human trafficking risk, substance use, justice involvement), and a 79% rate of successful transition within about 15 months.
Who OPC serves—and for how long
OPC works with youth through age 21; most are 13–17, though services reach both younger children (with strong emphasis on parent skill-building) and emerging adults.
Transitions to adult systems are coordinated at 21, with limited extensions for youth awaiting Division of Developmental Disabilities eligibility. Timelines are based on stability: some families close in a few months; others receive support for years.
A story that shows the work
Jessica told the story of a teen referred after a suicide attempt. On paper, the youth looked “angry” and “oppositional.” In reality, she was depressed, anxious, and living with years of verbal and emotional abuse. The care manager kept showing up—standing in the bedroom doorway to talk when the teen couldn’t get out of bed; bringing favorite donuts to family meetings; walking the block so she could ride her skateboard.
OPC authorized in-home therapy and family counseling, then invested in interests that built confidence: art lessons and, later, a first camera for old-school film photography. That spark turned into a job at 18, then a photography business, and today she manages projects for a multibillion-dollar company. She credits the change to one caring adult who listened and believed in her.
Scale, staffing, and how to plug in
OPC’s team includes more than 80 care managers (Jessica cited 84) with caseloads of roughly 10–17 youth each. They are trained to stay present through resistance, ER visits, and weekly crises—and they reorganize services swiftly when plans aren’t working.
Last year, OPC’s free youth groups served over 130 young people, and a little over 2,000 youth received care management services. The largest current concentrations are in Toms River, Lakewood, and Brick—but OPC is active across the county.
How families access OPC and why there’s no bill
OPC is funded through Medicaid. To close service gaps identified in a county needs assessment and through day-to-day work, OPC also runs free youth groups supported by operating funds, sponsorships, fundraising, and grants.
How local employers and partners can help
Ocean Resource Net (oceanresourcenet.org) is a public directory powered by OPC where families (and referrers) can find vetted resources—from mental health providers to basic needs and community services. Businesses that support community needs can create profiles and be discovered by families and professionals searching the network.
Jessica also noted that many OPC families experience food insecurity and face challenges meeting basic needs. To help support them, the agency organizes food and toy drives, and care managers deliver essential supplies directly to homes during visits. Following OPC on social media and sharing our posts helps broaden our reach and connect more families with the support they need (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
Call to action
- Families & referrers: If you see a shift in a young person’s mood, grades, or behavior, connect them to OPC’s no-cost services.
- Community partners: Join Ocean Resource Net and list your service so families and care teams can find you.
- Supporters: Ask about sponsoring youth groups, food/toy drives, or other initiatives that fill gaps beyond the state contract.
OCBA thanks Jessica Pepe and the OPC team for the critical work they do—and for an honest, actionable presentation that helps our members understand how to get youth and families the right support at the right time.
Interested in OCBA? Come meet us.
If this story resonated with you, come see OCBA in action. Our lunch meetings combine practical learning, introductions across industries, and a steady flow of referrals that help local businesses grow. Guests are welcome—request a guest ticket, join us for lunch, and meet the members behind the work you see throughout Ocean County.
Bring your questions, your goals, and a stack of cards. You’ll leave with new connections, real ideas you can use, and a clear sense of how we help one another win—week after week. We look forward to meeting you.