The Rose House was founded in September of 1999 by Mark Kramer, the parent of a daughter with Down Syndrome.

Mark recruited other parents of children with developmental disabilities, as well as local business people and community leaders, to join him in pursuing the mission of The Rose House.

Each person serving on the Board of Trustees and Advisory Board have a fervent desire to create an organization which sets client and family concerns as its highest priority.

Our first program was The Rose House Cafe', a very successful vocational program which:

     ... Trains and employs developmentally disabled adults for competitive employment in the food services industry, where they make good
         wages and enjoy a positive work environment; 

     ... Provides job sampling programming - one-on-one coaching to high school students as they "check out" real-life job opportunities;

     ... Provides catering for private functions to corporations, non-profits, Scouts and other youth organizations to demonstrate the abilities
         of our Clients;

     ... Offers Field Trips and Private Parties to Special Needs Groups in order to expose the students to real-life opportunities available to
          them;

     ... Offers breakfast, lunch and catering to the general public to demonstrate to potential employers, voters, and neighbors the abilities of our
         clients.


Our first Group Home was opened in November of 2003.  Located in in Mount Olive Township, this lovely four-bedroom ranch is home to four adult women.  It was funded through a capital grant from the State of New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities and private contributions.

We hope to eventually have three residences at our current location.  When they are completed, we will be able to offer more social opportunities to our residents when they live together to their peers, and provide more opportunities than are possible when homes are scattered throughout the county.

The Rose House offers an extensive range of recreational choices for our Group Home residents, employees and students at The Rose House Café, and other adults with disabilities who live in the area. We make use of existing programs such as MCARP, D.A.W.N., and Special Olympics. Our Group Home has a membership in the local YMCA and the Budd Lake Swim Club, as well as having a fitness room in the Group Home.

We go to local events such as street fairs, local concerts, high school and professional sports events, and attend parties and dances for special needs groups. The Rose House Café also hosts social events such as outings for our and other agencies’ group homes, birthday parties, and cooking classes.