• About Us
• Advanced Philosophy of Care
• Mission, Values and Service
• Our Commitment to Safety
• Our History
• Senior Leadership Team
• Devereux Board of Trustees
• Annual Reports
• Devereux in the News
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Recognizing Our Employees
• Celebrating Our Devereux Families
• Sharing Messages of Hope

Devereux New Jersey’s virtual day program helps adults stay active, engaged during COVID-19

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health New Jersey recently launched a virtual day program to help adults living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences learn valuable life, job and social skills, while staying active and engaged during the pandemic.

Devereux New Jersey’s virtual day services, which are held via Zoom videoconferencing five days per week, mirror a typical in-person day program curriculum, and include academic and therapeutic activities, such as:

• Self-advocacy groups
• Job exploration
• Voter education
• Social skill-building
• Interactive games and science experiments
• Guided exercise and dance classes
• Cooking classes
• Music therapy

“Our team worked swiftly to develop this new service delivery model so we could continue to provide safe, structured and educationally enriching activities for the adults in our care to enjoy during COVID-19,” said Devereux New Jersey Executive Director Brian Hancock. “Once the New Jersey Division of Development Disabilities announced providers in the state could begin offering remote services to eligible individuals, our staff developed a curriculum and created lesson plans. The fact that we were able to get this program up and running in an extremely short period of time was a testament to our best-in-class workforce and their dedication to the individuals and families we serve.”

Embracing online learning

Nearly 80 adults participate in Devereux New Jersey’s virtual day services on any given weekday. Team members hold three classes per day with highly trained staff leading participants through each lesson plan.

These services are available to adults who reside with Devereux New Jersey, as well as those who live with others providers in the state or with their families.

"This program has reenergized our staff – they are excited to bring their own unique ideas and expertise to the curriculum,” noted Devereux New Jersey Vocational Director Yasmin Qazilbash. “The individuals we serve have the opportunity to interact with peers and staff members they have not seen in-person in months, which has done wonders for their social skill-building and overall mental and emotional health. Some adults who originally chose not to participate in virtual day services became interested once they heard their housemates having fun during class. The next thing you know, those individuals became fully engaged, learning remotely and loving the program, too!”

Learn more about Devereux New Jersey’s virtual day program, and learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

Latest News

		Devereux honors nurses, teachers and mental health providers during May observances At Devereux, we are celebrating our more than 200 nurses, 200 teachers and 300 mental health providers who go above and beyond to meet the needs of the children, adolescents and adults they serve.
		Mental Health Awareness Month: Fostering open dialogue, understanding and support During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is highlighting the importance of talking openly about mental health to combat stigma, foster a culture of empathy and understanding, and encourage those in need to seek support.
		Ragan Communications Awards: Devereux earns ‘Honorable Mention’ for ASCEND program Devereux was recently named an “Honorable Mention” in Ragan Communications’ Employee Communications Awards in the Employee Education/Training Program category for its ASCEND Career Accelerator Program. Devereux was recognized during an awards luncheon on April 18 in Chicago.
		Codie Kane named Devereux’s 2024 Savin Scholar Award recipient Devereux Center for Effective Schools doctoral intern Codie Kane, M.Ed., was selected as Devereux’s 2024 Savin Scholar Award recipient for her research proposal that will examine the relationship between preschool students’ protective factors and behavioral concerns.

More Stories