Founded in 1998 in Somerville, New Jersey, The Center for Great Expectations (CGE) originally operated from a modest two-bedroom house donated by the Immaculate Conception parish, catering annually to 12 expectant mothers. Over a decade in this initial setting honed CGE’s expertise in delivering dignified, compassionate support to a vulnerable demographic of individuals.
By 2008, recognizing the need for expanded services, CGE successfully fundraised $4.2 million to establish two specialized residential facilities in Somerset for adults and their children requiring long-term mental health and substance use treatments, and for adolescents with mental health issues who are pregnant or parenting—the latter being the state’s sole residential program of its kind.
CGE’s growth from 2008 to 2018 was marked by significant expansions in service offerings and capacity, evolving to meet the diverse needs of over 1000 women, men, and children annually. This expansion included the inauguration of Katy’s Place (a Child Development Center), Roots to Recovery (an outpatient program in North Brunswick for treating substance use, co-occurring, and primary mental health disorders), a Permanent Supportive Housing program offering 28 units for at-risk families, and START, a program offering free telehealth and home visitation and doula support services for those in recovery.
Throughout its evolution, CGE has maintained its foundational commitment to breaking the cycle of abuse, homelessness, and substance use by providing comprehensive, dignified care to the economically marginalized, homeless, and those dealing with mental health or substance use disorders, pregnant or parenting.
