MARCH 2026
Buster Boxes: Expanding Access to Lifesaving Narcan Across Bergen County
Photo Left: Mobina Elsebai, Lindsay Lugo, Riya Raju, Monica Galas, Nicole Vargas, and Johnpaul Infante. Photo Right: Jessica Fernandez, Joe Curry, Samantha Marri, Jeanie Marri, Shavonda E. Sumter, Ellen Elias, and Daragh O’Connor. 2nd row: Cosmo Marri.
Last fall, Children’s Aid and Family Services introduced a new initiative to make lifesaving medication more accessible in our community. With support from the Marri family of River Edge, we launched “Buster Boxes.” These newspaper-style dispensers provide free Naloxone (Narcan) in towns across Bergen County.
The boxes are named in memory of Buster Marri, who passed away in 2021 at age 24 as a result of an accidental fentanyl overdose. To honor him, the Marri family created Busterstock, a free concert that raises funds for the Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri Love & Luck Fund at Children’s Aid and Family Services. The Fund made the initial launch of 12 boxes possible.
STRIVE Members Love Their New Space
With generous support from The Palestroni Foundation, the Elaine Adler Toy Library has been transformed into a vibrant Media Center where STRIVE members build digital literacy skills and connect with each other.
From Nintendo Switch and Just Dance to Mario Kart, books, and fitness games, members are thrilled with the options. “It feels like a game room, active and social,” says Mika.
Bren adds, “I get more steps in doing fitness games, and I play Dance Mat to help me type better.” Chris enjoys the books and video games, while Jeremy finds it “a good place to relax and play a game.”
Supporting Families Who Step Up: New Kinship Navigator Program in Essex County
Children’s Aid and Family Services has recently begun providing support to families formed through kinship in Essex County. The Kinship Navigator Program provides enhanced case management services to relatives and close family friends who step in to care for children when parents are unable to do so.
These caregivers — often grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, or trusted family friends — take on enormous responsibility, frequently with little preparation and limited resources. Many grandparents live on fixed incomes and suddenly find themselves raising a young child again. The Kinship Navigator Program connects families to practical supports such as bedroom furniture, diapers, and rental assistance.
Strengthening Families Together
(l.-r.): Adriana von Simpson, Sandra McBeth, Karina Villamil, Liana Luna, Ronde Barnes, Bex Bagnato, Mary Concepcion.
When a child or teen is struggling, whether through running away, substance misuse, or skipping school, it often affects the entire family. Rooted in its mission to strengthen families, Children’s Aid and Family Services launched Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) in September 2025 to address these challenges with funding from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families.
BSFT is a short-term, evidence-based family therapy model that typically lasts 12 to 15 weeks. What makes it unique is its focus on the entire family rather than treating the youth alone. “You can’t just take a child and teach them how to change behaviors and then place them back into a family system where nothing else has changed,” says Sandra McBeth, BSFT Director. “Lasting change happens when families learn to respond to each other differently.”
Organization and Foundation Support
Children’s Aid and Family Services gratefully acknowledges the many generous organizations and foundations that provided grants to support its programs for vulnerable children, adults and families.
Alfiero and Lucia Palestroni Foundation | Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation | Allendale Woman’s Club
Columbia Bank Foundation | Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption | Farm Team, Inc.
FJ Brotherton Charitable Trust | Frank X & Mary E Weny Charitable Trust | Gift of Life America
Gertrude L. Hirsch Charitable Trust | Greater Bergen REALTORS® CARES Foundation
Horizon Foundation for New Jersey | Johnson & Johnson | Novartis| Orange Orphan Society
PSEG Foundation | Sisters of St. Francis Peace | St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
TD Charitable Foundation | The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
The Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri Love & Luck Fund | The Greater Newark Holiday Fund
The John and Margaret Post Foundation | The Kaplen Fund | Lillian P. Schenck Foundation
The M&T Charitable Foundation| The Valley Hospital Foundation | The WaWa Foundation
TJX Foundation | Turrell Fund | Valley Bank | Visions Federal Credit Union
Whole Foods Market Foundation | The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood