October 2022

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens

“It provided information that I can apply to the rest of my life,” said one teen of the agency’s exciting new initiative, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. That statement summarizes the goal of substance misuse prevention: giving people skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Teens are confronted with many challenges, including substance misuse, and 7 Habits helps them understand their choices, and their motivations for making them. The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a program of Children’s Aid and Family Services, has been providing prevention services for more than 40 years, and 7 Habits continues The Center’s tradition of helping teens to avoid future substance misuse.

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A Summer of Fun

Although summer is usually a time for slowing down, the people served by our Disability Support Services were busy having fun! In June, Children’s Aid hosted a carnival for 250 people who attend the STRIVE day program and live in our community residences, with live music, games, food and entertainment — including a stilt walker and plate spinner. July 4th was celebrated with a Red, White and Blue barbeque, as STRIVE members danced, ate delicious food and watched a show by Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery.

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Empathy and Love: Treatment Foster Care Homes Provide Both

Treatment Foster Care is a crucial component of our services to vulnerable children and families. A short-term, intensive trauma and evidence-based program for children ages 5-18, Treatment Foster Care helps children learn how to live in a family environment, so they may return to their family as soon as possible.

Exposed to intense trauma, children in Treatment Foster Care have learned coping behaviors that may not appear to be helpful but may have protected them from further harm. Provided with structure, patience, and nurturing by specially trained caregivers, as well as one-to-one counseling and family therapy, the children learn to thrive in a family environment.

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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 during the period January 1, 2022 through September 15, 2022.

  • Alfiero & Lucia Palestroni Foundation, Inc.
  • Allendale Woman’s Club
  • Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation
  • Columbia Bank Foundation
  • Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
  • Gift of Life of America Fund

  • Greater Newark Holiday Fund

  • Kessler Foundation
  • Lillian P. Schenck Foundation
  • National Mah Jongg League Foundation
  • Nordstrom, Inc.
  • Novartis
  • Orange Orphan Society
  • Sisters of St. Francis of Peace
  • TD Charitable Foundation
  • The Kaplen Foundation
  • The Price Family Foundation, Inc.
  • Turrell Fund
  • The TJX Foundation, Inc.
  • Visions Federal Credit Union
  • Woman’s Club of Ridgewood