About Us
Our Vision
Our Mission
Empower People
Empower people in the greater Asbury Park area to reach their full potential by providing immediate and comprehensive services and programs to help stabilize their lives.
Enrich
Lives
Enrich the lives of those we serve by offering opportunities to develop skills to maintain emotional, economic and physical well-being.
Educate Children
Educate children so that we can break the generational poverty one child, one family at a time.
Our Values
We are a community committed to living the core values of respect, justice, integrity, service, and compassion.
Leadership
Board of Trustees
Laurence M. Downes, Chair
New Jersey
Resources & New Jersey
Natural Gas
Elaine Rocha, Vice Chair
Miriam Tort, Treasurer
Nonprofit Founder
Rosemary Jeffries, RSM, Secretary
Georgian Court University
Cecil Bright
at Intrafi
Br. Frank Byrne
Former President, Christian Brothers Academy
Dr. Jennifer J. Edmonds
and Professor at School of Business,
Georgian Court University
Susan Heidelberger
Real Edge Advisors
Rochelle Hendricks
Kevin Higgins
K. Shaw Construction
Dana Lawrence,
‘04 Graduate
Linda Leasor
Evelyn Quinn
School of Arts & Sciences, Georgian Court University
Lu-Ann Russell
Monmouth University
Carol Stillwell
Stillwell-Hansen, Inc.
Kim Guadagno
Former Lt. Governor of NJ
Financials
Employment Opportunities
The following website advertisement will be posted from
01/31/2025 – 02/21/2025
Sr. Victim Advocate needed w/Master’s degree or Foreign Equivalent in Social Work or Sociology or Psychology and one (1) year experience as Sr. Victim Advocate or Victim Advocate performing following job duties:
Provide services to Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence victims, secondary victims, witnesses, and their families to cope with the financial and emotional problems encountered as a result of becoming a victim or witness. Interview crime victims and witnesses to provide information, advice and assistance. Review cases with clients and notify them of their rights and their case status. Work on the issues associated with court appearances (i.e child care & transportation). Accompany clients to the prosecutor’s office and courts to provide support and statements. Respond to questions and concerns regarding criminal justice system procedures, rules and regulations. Provide referrals for counseling, social services and support groups. Prepare and deliver victim impact statements at sentencing. Work with victims with Victims Crimes Compensation Office (VCCO) Applications. Prepare narrative reports and maintain statistics. Work directly with the Investigative Division and local law enforcement at the onset of a criminal matter to provide early intervention whenever possible. Utilize VS tracking to record confidential client data and services used by the office, agency and related units. Participate in public speaking engagements/presentations to educate law enforcement, non-profit agencies and the public about the existence of the program.
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, PTO and 50% 401K match.
Job Location:
Asbury Park, NJ
Mail Resumes to:
Mercy Center Corp.
1106 Main Street, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
No Job openings at this moment
Bi-lingual Victim Advocate is needed to perform the following duties:
- Victim Advocacy (Safety Planning, Law Enforcement Collaboration, Court Accompaniment, Trauma-Focused Services, Emergency Relocation, TRO/FRO/TPO, Translations, VCCO Applications, Victim Statements) o Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention and safety planning for victims. Collaborate with law enforcement and prosecutors to advocate for victims’ rights, prepare victim statements, assist with restraining orders (TRO/FRO/TPO), and accompany victims in court. Ensure access to VCCO compensation, emergency housing, and relocation services. Provide translation services to support immigrant and LEP communities.
- Culturally Specific Outreach (ESL, Muslim Community Engagement, Mosques Visits, Girls Group, Prevention Work, Agency Collaboration, Translations)
- Develop and implement culturally tailored outreach initiatives for immigrant and Muslim communities. Collaborate with community organizations, mosques, and local agencies to increase awareness of victim services. Facilitate ESL-focused support, prevention workshops, and girls’ empowerment groups. Provide culturally appropriate translations and engagement to overcome service barriers.
- Case Management (Link Clients to Needed Services, Life Skill Sustainability)
- Assist survivors in securing long-term stability through case management. Link clients to essential resources including housing, food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and technology. Provide skills training and support in navigating social services to promote independence and resilience.
- Survivor Support Services (Food, Technology, Transportation, Child Care, Hospital Support, Legal Referrals)
- Provide direct assistance with immediate needs such as food access, transportation to services, technology support, childcare, and hospital accompaniment. Refer survivors to appropriate legal services and community-based supports to ensure holistic recovery.
- Agency Partnerships Plan and participate in outreach events and public speaking engagements to educate law enforcement, nonprofits, and communities about victim services. Develop prevention workshops and strengthen partnerships with local organizations to expand victim access to resources.
- Crisis Intervention and Emergency Services
- Provide immediate crisis intervention for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. Conduct risk assessments, ensure immediate safety, and coordinate emergency services with law enforcement, hospitals, and shelters.
- Documentation, Reporting, and Data Management (VS-Tracking, Case Documentation, Statistics)
Maintain accurate records of victim services provided, prepare narrative reports, collect statistics for grant compliance, and utilize electronic/manual case management systems to track client progress and outcomes.Bachelor’s Degree is required in Social Work or Human Services.
Our History
1831
The Foundation
Mercy Center is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1831, Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland. Now, as then, the primary mission of the order remains “to relieve misery and address its causes” as per the Constitution of the Sisters of Mercy of America.
For more than 170 years, the Sisters of Mercy have served the poor and disadvantaged. The problems of 18th century Dublin – homelessness, hunger, healthcare, education – are not much different from the problems facing 21st century Asbury Park.
1986
Then
In 1986, the Sisters of Mercy purchased and renovated 1106 Main Street and incorporated under the title of Mercy Center. In 1991, Mercy Center purchased the adjacent property and after complete renovation, the building opened and was a welcoming space providing multi-lingual services to serve the entire family. In 2003, Mercy Center opened a third building that contained a pantry on the first floor and additional conference/meeting space on the second floor.
Finally, Sisters Academy of NJ, a middle school, was opened on the west side to provide young women an education of excellence that would put an end to the generational cycle of poverty.
2024
Now
Each day we witness lives being changed with kindness, compassion, and understanding from our staff and volunteers. We are committed to helping children, families, and individuals overcome their burdens and obstacles within an environment marked by dignity and justice.
With your help, we can do more to impact the community.
