An enthusiastic crowd attended BUSTERSTOCK, a concert to benefit The Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri Love & Luck Fund, created in loving memory of Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri, who passed on November 2, 2021, from a Fentanyl overdose. All donations from the event will help support substance misuse prevention, education, and recovery support through The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources. Special thanks to all who attended this memorable and moving event.

Long known as a leader in providing pre- and post-adoption counseling services to families in the region, Children’s Aid and Family Services will soon be expanding its expertise statewide. The state’s Department of Children and Families has awarded the agency a new grant to provide Adoption and Kinship Legal Guardianship Clinical Services throughout the state. “This is a much-needed service for families formed by adoption and Kinship Care,” says Shavonda E. Sumter, President and CEO. “Children’s Aid and Family Services is honored to have been selected and help families throughout New Jersey.”

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Taleesa Cline-Moultrie, Family Support Specialist

Family members and loved ones of those going through addiction recovery are on journeys of their own, dealing with feelings of helplessness and guilt, in need of both practical and emotional tools for healing. To aid them Children’s Aid and Family Services has recently added a Family Support Specialist to their staff who will offer help in recovery navigation.

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The STRIVE Day Program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has become more important than ever for its participants, especially following the pandemic when essential socialization skills training was lacking, and isolation fostered an increase in anxiety. To address these concerns the program has recently been ramping up community engagement and continuing education activities to get back on track.

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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 2023.

• Allendale Women’s Club
• Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation
• Carolyn Jane Scott Charitable Trust
• Columbia Bank Foundation
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
• Frank X & Mary E Weny Charitable Trust
• Gift of Life America
• Greater Bergen Realtor CARES Foundation
• Nordstrom
• Novartis

• Orange Orphan Society
• PSEG Foundation
• St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
• TD Charitable Foundation
• The Greater Newark Holiday Fund
• The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
• The Hyde and Watson Foundation
• The Kaplen Fund
• The Lillian P. Schenck Foundation

• The M&T Charitable Foundation
• The Price Family Foundation
• The Provident Bank Foundation
• The WaWa Foundation
• The Valley Hospital Foundation
• Turrell Fund
• Visions Federal Credit Union
• The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood