Professional Center FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) for the Professional Center at DCF:

What Is The Address And How Do I Get There?
Where Do I Park?
Can You Set Things Up For Us This Way?
Do You Have Internet Or Wi-fi Access?
Do You Have All Of The Supplies We Need?
Do You Have An IT And Audio/Visual Person Onsite?
Can You Suggest A Caterer?
Where Do They Set Up The Food?
How Many Rooms Do You Have? How Many People Do They Each Fit?
How Many People Fit In Auditorium #1? How Many People Fit In Auditorium #2?
Do You Have A Sound System And Microphones In The Auditoriums? If So, How Many?
Do You Have Computers In The Rooms? If So, Which Rooms Have Them?
Do You Have Projectors And Screens?
Can We Put Up Signs With The Event's Name On Them? Where Can We Place The Signs?
Will Our Event Be On The Schedule Screen On The Front TV In The Morning?
Will You Have Staff Available To Direct People To Our Event?
Can We Send Out Material Ahead Of Time And Can It Be Held There For The Event?
Do You Have Only One Entrance Or Can People Enter The Building Through The Back? How About The Side?
Where Can I Go To Eat Around There?

1. WHAT IS THE ADDRESS AND HOW DO I GET THERE?

Our physical address is:

NJ DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The Professional Center at DCF

Office of Training and Professional Development
30 Van Dyke Avenue, CC # 967
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Main Number (732) 448-6300
Fax Number (732) 418-3252

IS MY EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER? PLEASE CALL: 732-448-6330

If the Professional Center at DCF is closed, special events will not take place and must be rescheduled.

No U.S. mail is delivered to this address. As such, our mailing address remains:

50 E. State Street
PO BOX 717
Trenton, NJ 08625-0717

Directions from:

Southeast Jersey

Take Garden State Parkway North to Exit 127 for NJ-440 S/Industrial Avenue toward I-287 N. Left merge onto NJ-440 N/I-287 N. Continue on I-287 N take exit 2B for NJ-27 S toward New Brunswick. Merge onto NJ-27, after approximately 6 miles turn left onto Van Dyke Avenue. Look for the gray building with red lined windows/doors and a number 30 on it. The two entrances are off of Van Dyke Avenue.

Southwest Jersey

Take I-295 North to Trenton. Take exit 67A toward New Brunswick/US-1 North. Merge onto U.S. 1 North / Brunswick Pike. Exit onto NJ-91 N/Jersey Avenue. After you pass over railroad tracks, you will reach Van Dyke Avenue on your left. Make a left onto Van Dyke Avenue. Look for the gray building with red lined windows/doors and a number 30 on it on your left. The two entrances are off of Van Dyke Avenue.

Trenton

Take U.S. 1 North. Exit onto NJ-91 North/Jersey Avenue. Stay on Jersey Avenue approximately 1.5 miles. After you pass over railroad tracks you will reach Van Dyke Avenue on your left. Make a left onto Van Dyke Avenue. Look for the gray building with red lined windows/doors and a number 30 on it to your left. The two entrances are off of Van Dyke Avenue.

Northwest Jersey

Take I-287 South to Exit 10 to merge onto County Route 527 S/Easton Avenue toward S. Bound Brook/New Brunswick/NJ-527. Slight right merge onto County Route 527 South, continue straight on 527S for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto Franklin Boulevard. Turn left onto Somerset Street. Take the first right onto Van Dyke Avenue. Look for the gray building with red lined windows/doors and a number 30 on it to your right. The two entrances are off of Van Dyke Avenue.

Northeast Jersey

Take I-95 S/New Jersey Turnpike South to Exit 10 for NJ-440 E toward I-287 N/Perth Amboy/ Metuchen. Continue on I-287 North. Take Exit 2B for NJ-27 South toward New Brunswick. Merge onto NJ -27 for approximately 6 miles and then turn left onto Van Dyke Avenue. Look for the gray building with red lined windows/doors and a number 30 on it to your left. The two entrances are off of Van Dyke Avenue.

For Transit information, please call (973) 275-5555 or go to this link: http://www.njtransit.com/

2. WHERE DO I PARK?

First Option:

The Professional Center has parking for 250 onsite. There are a finite number of parking spaces available in the immediate area. Coming early and carpooling are always good ideas.

Second Option:

We are excited to announce additional parking for the Professional Center guests. The lot is located at 1735 Jersey Avenue, North Brunswick, NJ 08902. The lot will be open from 8:00am-5:00pm and is free. The lot is located away from the Professional Center and has a shuttle service transporting you to and from the building.

The Shuttle service will be available to take you to the lot during various times, if you are leaving the building for the day. The shuttle service is not available for lunch as there is not enough time for the transport. A member of our security team will be present at the lot during the day and will assist you with any questions you may have.

Third Option:

If parking is not available at The Professional Center on the day of your class, meeting or event, learners/guests can obtain parking at the Jersey Avenue Park n Ride Train Station Overflow Parking Lot at the New Brunswick Parking Authority which is located on the left hand side of the Jersey Avenue train station (if coming from Route 1 exit) before the 571 Jersey Avenue Wenner Bakery.

Google Maps Link for Train station and Parking Lot
Link to the Jersey Ave train schedule

When walking to the building from the train station parking lot, please make a left at the open gates into the Paul Robeson School building (#40) parking lot to get the Professional Center building (#30) from the back of the building. The train station parking lot is 6.5 minutes walking distance of The Professional Center.

If the gates are closed to the Paul Robeson School, please walk around the school and make a left into our front parking lot of the Professional Center building (#30) located off of Van Dyke Avenue. The train station parking lot is 7.5 minutes walking distance of The Professional Center.

For your convenience the following are Taxi services near the Professional Center:

All Brunswick Taxi: 732-545-0900 (1.4 Miles)
Yellow Cab of New Brunswick: 732-246-2222 (1.6 Miles)
Allo Taxi: 732-214-1111 (3.2 Miles)

Please make sure your receipt is saved, so it can be turned in for parking reimbursement. Please refer to CP&P Policy IX-F-1-700 for reimbursement directions.

3. CAN YOU SET THINGS UP FOR US THIS WAY?

Please use the attached Event/Meeting Request Form to explain how you would like the room to be set up for your event/meeting. Facilities will put the room back together after you are done with your event/meeting.

4. DO YOU HAVE INTERNET OR WI-FI ACCESS?

Yes, the Professional Center is equipped with internet and Wi-Fi access. DCF staff can access the DCF network and internet from any computer at the Professional Center by using their DCF network login account.

Internet and Wi-Fi access is currently available for non-DCF staff. Please use the attached Wi-Fi Request Form to request this for your meeting/event.

5. DO YOU HAVE ALL OF THE SUPPLIES WE NEED?

Although we always help people in a pinch, it is expected that you will bring all of the copies and supplies you will require during your stay here.

6. DO YOU HAVE AN IT AND AUDIO/VISUAL PERSON ONSITE?

Yes, we do, however his familiarity is with our system. If your personal system is not working, we are limited in the assistance we can offer you. If you have audio visual needs, please write out what they are on the meeting/event form.

7. CAN YOU SUGGEST A CATERER?

There are many fine caterers in the area. Please contact the Professional Center if you have any particular questions.

8. WHERE DO THEY SET UP THE FOOD?

If you are in one of the Auditoriums, the food can be set up in Auditorium 2. Please be sure to reserve both auditoriums if needed. If you are in a classroom, the food is usually set up in the classroom.

9. HOW MANY ROOMS DO YOU HAVE? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THEY EACH FIT?

Auditorium #1 (300)
Auditorium #2 (300)
Room 102 (60)
Room 103 (60)
Room 104 Meeting Room (20-25)
Room 105 Meeting Room (20-25)
Room 106 Courtroom (44)
Room 113 Courtroom (44)
Room 130 (25)
Room 131 (25)
Room 138 (30)
Room 139 (30)
Room 140 (30)
Room 141 (30)
Room 144 (30)
Room 145 (30)
Room 149 (30)
Room 150 (30)
Room 156 (60)
Room 158 (120)
Room 165 (40)
Room 166 (40)
Room 167 (40)
Room 168 (40)
Room 181 (40)
Room 182 (40)
Room 183 (40)
Room 187 (40)
Room 188 (40)
Room 191 (40)

10. HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN AUDITORIUM #1? HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN AUDITORIUM #2?

Auditorium #1 has stadium seating and fits up to 306 people. Maximum occupancy is 325 with chairs on the floor.

Auditorium #2 is a lunchroom style seating and fits up to 300 people. This room has 21 round tables, 5 small rectangular tables and 16 large rectangular tables. There are 290 chairs total available for the room, if needed. Guests can rent more tables and/or chairs from an outside vendor if needed. Maximum occupancy is 300.

11. DO YOU HAVE A SOUND SYSTEM AND MICROPHONES IN THE AUDITORIUMS? IF SO, HOW MANY?

Yes, we have a sound system and microphones.

Both Auditoriums #1 and 2 have 4 hand-held microphones and 2 lavaliere microphones.

12. DO YOU HAVE COMPUTERS IN THE ROOMS? IF SO, WHICH ROOMS HAVE THEM?

All rooms have computers.

13. DO YOU HAVE PROJECTORS AND SCREENS?

All rooms have projectors and screens.

14. CAN WE PUT UP SIGNS WITH THE EVENT'S NAME ON THEM? WHERE CAN WE PLACE THE SIGNS?

Yes, signs are allowed to be put up in the front and sides of the building. Signs should not block the scheduling display. All signs can ONLY be attached to the walls with blue painter's tape. NO Scotch or clear tape is allowed as it would remove the paint from the wall.

15. WILL OUR EVENT BE ON THE SCHEDULE SCREEN ON THE FRONT TV IN THE MORNING?

If you give us the name of the event ahead of time, it will show up on the scheduling display in the morning. Furthermore, if you give us names for breakout rooms ahead of time, these will show up also.

16. WILL YOU HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO OUR EVENT?

As a normal part of our morning activities, we assist guests/students in finding their classroom, meetings or conference events. We cannot staff registration tables or assist in any event processes or functions.

17. CAN WE SEND OUT MATERIAL AHEAD OF TIME AND CAN IT BE HELD THERE FOR THE EVENT?

U.S. postal mail is not delivered to the site at 30 Van Dyke Avenue. If you use U.S. mail, you must send it to: 50 E. State Street, PO BOX 717,Trenton, NJ 08625-0717. We do receive packages from FedEx, UPS or any other private carrier. Regardless of which mail service you use, please notify us ahead of time so that we can track and store it for you.

18. DO YOU HAVE ONLY ONE ENTRANCE OR CAN PEOPLE ENTER THE BUILDING THROUGH THE BACK? HOW ABOUT THE SIDE?

We only have one front and one back entrance to the building.

19. WHERE CAN I GO TO EAT AROUND THERE?

Here are some places in the area. Feel free to ask for menus in the front office.

Local Food Eateries

Restaurant	Phone #	Deliver (Y/N)	Other Info
Brookside Deli	(732) 545-1250	No	5:30am to 3:00pm
Café Bollywood Vegetarian Food	(732) 658-1004	No	11:30am to 10:00pm
China Moon Chinese Restaurant	Tel: (732) 249-5883 Fax: (732) 249-5887	Yes (Min. 10$)	11:00am to 10:30pm
Cielito Pollo A La Grasa	(732 ) 247-9977	Yes	10:00am to 11:00pm
King's Pizza & Italian Restaurant	(732) 828-3388	Yes	10:00am to 10:00pm
LaCasa De Tortilla Tex Mexican	(732) 398 -0660 (732) 398 - 0206	Yes (Min. 15$)	11:00am to 10:00pm
LaPoncena Restaurant	(732) 249-3754	Yes	10:30am to 9:00pm
Mr Subs	(732) 828-7827	Yes (Min. 20$)	Opens at 6:00am
Ninja Sushi	(732) 658-6668 (732) 658-6667	Yes (Min. 20$)	11:00am to 3:00pm
Santini's Pizza Palace	(732) 545-1776	Yes (Min. 10$)	10:30am to 11:00pm
Sultan Wok & Sushi	Tel: (732) 393-9656 Fax: (732) 393-1697	Yes	10:30am to 10:30pm
Sunny Deli	(732) 846-2312	No	6:00am to 4:00pm
US Fried Chicken & Spanish Food	(732) 296-8444	No	7:00am to 11:00pm
West End Grill	(732) 640-0215	Yes (Min. 10$)	6:00am to 10:00pm

Please note: The Department of Children and Families reserves the right to cancel any reservation within a reasonable timeframe due to emerging operational needs.