Meet Melissa Greiss, May Aide of the Month
Congratulations to our May Aide of the Month, Melissa Greiss! Melissa has been a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) with FCS Home Care Services for two years, receiving her training through FCS in 2016. Formerly a pre-school teacher, Melissa has taken her passion for helping people and employed it to different demographic still in need of care and compassion.
Melissa describes how working for a nonprofit holds importance to her. “I feel like giving back, not working for a company that is just in it for the money.” She explains, “At the end of the day you are making a difference in someone else’s life.”Read more
Meet Betty Gadson, April Aide of the Month
Congratulations to our April Aide of the Month, Betty Gadson! Betty has been a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) with FCS Home Care Services for seven years. Formerly a trained Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) with a local nursing facility, Betty says she prefers providing care for her clients in the comfort of their own homes.
“I really get attached to my clients,” Betty explains. “I help take care of them, but what they really want is companionship. They enjoy having someone who they can talk to and share their stories.”
A Dream to be a Nurse
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed of becoming a nurse. After graduating high school, I happily enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) program at the College of Mt. St. Vincent in New York, but a family situation interrupted my plans. I moved home, enrolled in Katharine Gibbs Business School and for the next 20 years, worked as a legal secretary and legal assistant.Read more
It Starts in the Heart
Grace Edmond is a Certified Home Health Aide with FCS Home Care Services. She is also an aspiring nurse, hoping one day to work in the field of pediatrics. It's a goal she set when she was was just 14-years old after facing down a serious health scare.
“The whole thing was hard on me and my parents," Grace recalls. "Seeing my parents have to go through all of that -- a new illness, finding treatment, helping me learn how to manage it and live a life of optimum health. It was challenging."Read more
Happy Administrative Professionals' Day
Happy Administrative Professionals' Day! The name and purpose of this day of recognition has changed slightly over the years. It originated during World War II, when there was a need for skilled administrative professionals in the workforce. It helped to recognize the contributions that administrative personnel brought to the economy, as well as support their personal development and hopefully attract people to the field.
Supportive Home Health Aide Recognized
Stephanie Holmes has been caring for frail and chronically ill seniors for most of her adult life. Shortly after graduating high school, Stephanie completed the necessary training to become a Certified Home Health Aide, or CHHA. She spent the next several decades working as a CHHA at a number of residential care facilities in New Jersey before an injury derailed her career. That’s when this mother of four boys decided to become a Supportive Home Health Aide with FCS Home Care Services. Read more
Elevate Social Work!
March is National Social Work Month… a welcome opportunity to celebrate the invaluable work of our professional social workers and to highlight the important role they play in fulfilling the Mission and Vision of our 110-year-old agency. Modern social work grew out of attempts, often by volunteers, to tackle the unmet needs of our society. This was certainly the case for Family and Children’s Service (FCS), which was founded in 1909 on the promise to “improve the conditions in the homes of the poor.” Read more
Celebrating Black History Month
The following was written by Kia Pratt, a social worker with FCS's Community Support Services.
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans, many of whom overcame tremendous adversity to positively impact the future of our world. As an African American woman, I am especially interested in raising awareness of the too-often neglected achievements of African American women -- women like pioneering social justice reformer Mary Church Terrell.
Meet Jean Delva, Aide of the Month
Congratulations to Jean Delva, January's Aide of the Month! An eight year veteran of FCS Home Care Services, Jean began his career as a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) after immigrating from his native Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. Prior to coming to the U.S., Jean was a government accountant, but without a license to practice in the U.S., he was unable to find work in the field. A friend encouraged Jean to attend an open house at FCS, and after meeting the staff, he decided to give Home Care a try.
Jolanta Waskiel named Aide of the Month
Congratulations to Jolanta Waskiel for being named FCS Home Care Aide of the Month for December, 2018! A Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) for seven years, Jolanta received her CHHA training from our registered nurses in 2012 and has been with the agency ever since. She is being recognized for her exemplary service; in particular, caring for a challenging couple with psychosocial issues.