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Jefferson Township High School Students Tackle Social Issues in
“Game Of Life”
United Way of Morris County, Deirdre’s House, and Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration teamed up to offer ninth grade students real life problem solving sessions.
April 4, 2008

Excited students crowded the halls of Jefferson Township High School on Friday, April 4 as they prepared for their upcoming Spring Break, but inside the school’s library ninth graders were tackling serious issues in the “Game Of Life.”  

United Way of Morris County partnered with the Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration (CAPC) and Deirdre’s House to host the “Game Of Life,” a unique program designed to raise students’ awareness to the various social issues facing them and the many agencies and programs in place within their local community to address these concerns.  Approximately 300 ninth grade students from Jefferson Township High School participated in the program on April 4.

The “Game Of Life” gives students the opportunity to apply problem solving skills to help them address specific social issues, while providing invaluable information about the services and resources available to them through their school, town, and the larger community.  During the role-playing activity, students were given descriptions of real
life problems related to domestic violence, substance
abuse, pregnancy, eating disorders, and depression.  
They had one class period to solve or address these problems by visiting and learning from the various service providers represented at the school that day.  

“The program is great,” said Steve Hanaway, a guidance counselor at Jefferson Township High School. “It brings the agencies to the students and teaches them who is out there to help. A lot of these kids are going through issues like this everyday.”

And the students agreed!  “The program was so helpful and the agencies’ handouts are a great reference. Now I know where to turn when I face a real-life problem,” said ninth grader Ryan Persaud.

Participating service providers at Jefferson Township’s “Game of Life” event included: United Way of Morris County and 2-1-1 First Call for Help; Family Intervention Services; Family Service of Morris County; JBWS; DYFS; Morris County Sexual Assault Center; Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; Jefferson Police Department; Child and Family Resources; Morris County Prevention is Key; and personnel from Jefferson Township High School.

Originally designed for high school students, the program has expanded to address social issues faced by middle school students. Since its launch in 2003, “Game Of Life” has been a success at middle schools and high schools across Morris County.