Child Abuse Research Education and Service Institute

several hands, representing a diverse group of people, come together in a circle

The THRIVE Center

The THRIVE (Transcend, Heal, Respond, InnoVate & Empower) Center, an initiative of the CARES Institute, is one of the first health care programs of its kind in the region. THRIVE specializes in compassionate, comprehensive medical care to meet the needs of youth who have experienced emotional or physical trauma.

Strengths-Based, Healing-Centered Health Care

Empowerment Through Information

At the THRIVE Center, young visitors find a braver and safer space free from judgment. Our medical team prioritizes the individual needs of each patient, offering informative support to empower them in making informed decisions about their care.

We welcome referrals from patients and families, health care providers, local Prosecutor's Offices, Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P), as well as various partner agencies.

For more information, please reach out to the program coordinator, Megan Price, at caresthrive@rowan.edu or 856-325-3800.

Do you have specific worries about how your past experiences might be affecting your health? Do you have medical questions that you have been nervous to ask? Do you have concerns about your body and your health?

THRIVE stands for Transcend, Heal, Respond, InnoVate, & Empower. The THRIVE Center is a unique health care center that specializes in compassionate, comprehensive medical care to meet the needs of youth who have experienced emotional or physical trauma.

The THRIVE Center is a part of the CARES Institute, a regional center of excellence in the field of child and youth adversity. The THRIVE team at CARES prioritizes your medical needs, working alongside your primary care physicians and other specialists to provide patient-led medical care centered around you.

Personalized Medical Care

We listen, you lead!
Shared decision-making
Empowering your choices
Your health, your decisions
Centered around you

THRIVE is dedicated to fostering resilience and supporting every young person in uncovering their unique strengths while arming them with strategies to combat the risk of exploitation. You are more than the challenges you have faced. We want to help you embrace your full potential and THRIVE!

Judgement-free zone

Strengths-based: At THRIVE, we emphasize your strengths, talents, and endless potential!
Healing-centered: The doctors, nurses, and staff at THRIVE are here to listen and to help, because our focus is on YOU. Every step of your healing and wellness journey will be handled with care and respect.

For more information and additional resources, please reach out to the program coordinator, Megan Price, at caresthrive@rowan.edu or 856-325-3800.

When you visit the THRIVE Center, you are in a judgment-free zone.

The Transcend, Heal, Respond, InnoVate, & Empower (THRIVE) Center is a unique health care center that specializes in compassionate, comprehensive medical care to meet the needs of youth who have experienced emotional or physical trauma. Our focus is on serving youth who are at risk of, or who have experienced, commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Through patient-led, trauma-informed and healing-centered techniques, we aim to address the unique health care needs of this population.

The THRIVE Center is a part of the CARES Institute, a regional center of excellence in the field of child and youth adversity. The THRIVE team at CARES prioritizes well-being, working alongside primary care physicians and other specialists to provide patient-led medical care.

By collaborating closely with their care teams and partner agencies, we seek to complement existing primary care services, ensuring both comprehensive medical support as well as access to the specialized resources that meet the specific needs of our patients.

Available services:

Medical & mental health screening
Physical exams
Labwork
STD testing & treatment
Vaccines (age 18yrs and younger)
Contraception/Birth control
Patient Education

For more information, please reach out to the program coordinator, Megan Price, at caresthrive@rowan.edu or 856-325-3800.

THRIVE Referral Form - Email the completed referral form to caresintake@rowan.edu

The THRIVE Center is a part of the CARES Institute, a regional center of excellence in the field of child and youth adversity. The THRIVE team at CARES works alongside primary care physicians and other specialists to provide patient-led medical care. By collaborating closely with their care teams and partner agencies, we seek to provide medical care, education, and support to meet the specific needs of our patients.

THRIVE Referral Form - Email the completed referral form to caresintake@rowan.edu

For more information, please reach out to the program coordinator, Megan Price, at caresthrive@rowan.edu or 856-325-3800.

Nicole Leopardi, MD, FAAP (she/her/hers)
Director of the THRIVE Center

Dr. Leopardi is a board-certified general pediatrician at the Rowan-Virtua Child Abuse Research Education & Service (Rowan-Virtua CARES) Institute and also holds an academic appointment of Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM). Dr. Leopardi is the Medical Director of the Transcend Heal Respond InnoVate & Empower (THRIVE) Center at the CARES Institute, focusing on youth who have experienced or are at higher risk of experiencing trafficking and exploitation. Prior to transitioning to her current position at the CARES Institute in 2023, Dr. Leopardi was a primary care provider at the Cooper Children’s Regional Center in Camden and Sewell, NJ for 15 years, where she also completed her residency in Pediatrics and served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Leopardi began her anti-trafficking work in 2015, when she was enlisted to provide primary care to youth in New Jersey who had experienced trafficking. She has been on the Board of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT) since 2020. Dr. Leopardi serves on the NJ Office of the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Task Force and is the co-chair of their healthcare committee. Additionally, she is a founding member of the New Jersey chapter American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP) Anti-Trafficking Task Force, where she promotes resilience in children and families to help prevent trafficking, as well as other forms of child abuse and neglect. It is her passion to provide trauma-informed, healing-centered care to youth, lifting up their voices – the most important voices – with dignity and compassion.

Resources

These organizations provide additional helpful information and resources about child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

In an effort to raise awareness, we recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention Month every January.

If you or someone else are in immediate danger, CALL 911 immediately.

Our Offices:

The CARES Institute has two locations to service our community:

STRATFORD: 42 E. Laurel Road, Suite 1100
VINELAND: 3360 College Drive, Suite B

PHONE: 856-566-7036

For directions and campus map, check out our About Us page.

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