MAY IS FOSTER CARE MONTH

Moving from a group home or a vulnerable family setting to a foster home can be challenging for young people, especially if they have never been exposed to living in a traditional family environment. “When they come to us for foster care, many of these children don’t know what it’s like to be part of a family and the rules that may apply there,” says Marcia Fisher, Administrator of Adoption and Permanency Services at Children’s Aid and Family Services. “Things we take for granted like set meal times, keeping a room clean, doing laundry, all need to be taught; at our treatment foster homes, for kids aged 5 to 18, they are learning important life lessons from specially trained caregivers.” Even life skills like food shopping, eating in a restaurant, and setting goals for their future are learned, she says, so their time spent with caring families who help them learn these skills is invaluable.

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Prevention and recovery support were the focus of The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources’ poster presentation at the 29^th Annual Public Health Symposium held at Rutgers University in early April. The Symposium theme this year, “From National Crisis to Community Solutions — Public Health’s Role in the Opioid Epidemic,” highlighted both local trends and national strategies to address the crisis in the New York and New Jersey area with both speakers and presenters.

The Center’s poster, presented by Cassandra Colaizzi, Bergen County Prevention Coalition Coordinator, and Kathleen Scrivanich, Law Enforcement Coordinator, was titled, “Supporting Bergen County: Integrating Prevention and Recovery Support Services.” The poster highlighted how members of The Center’s Prevention and Recovery Support Teams have supported the community.

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The heart and soul of STRIVE’s Day Program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is its staff, the over two dozen support coaches who spend all day with the members and are vital to their positive experiences. “We really rely on the staff who know our members so well, to be in tune with their feelings and set the tone for a successful and productive experience,” says Ben Fedigan, STRIVE Program Manager.

The STRIVE program at Children’s Aid and Family Services is a member-centered day program for adults 21 and over that works to foster independence, develop life and social skills, and strengthen community involvement.

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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.

• Allendale Women’s Club
• Columbia Bank Foundation
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
• Frank X & Mary E Weny Charitable Trust
• Gift of Life America
• Greater Bergen Realtor CARES Foundation
• Johnson & Johnson
• KearnyBank Foundation
• Nordstrom
• Novartis
• Orange Orphan Society
• PSEG Foundation

• Sisters of St. Francis of Peace
• St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
• TD Charitable Foundation
• The Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri Love & Luck Fund
• The Greater Newark Holiday Fund
• The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
• The John and Margaret Post Foundation
• The Kaplen Fund

• The Lillian P. Schenck Foundation
• The M&T Charitable Foundation
• The Provident Bank Foundation
• The Valley Hospital Foundation
• The WaWa Foundation
• Turrell Fund
• Visions Federal Credit Union
• Whole Foods Market
• The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood