Advocating for the Vulnerable in our Community
"The grants that support our home care services are often the last option for people, and we are haunted by the thought that many people in real need are hidden in our community and do not even know about these services that could make a profound difference in their lives."
FCS CEO Delly Beekman recently testified before the Monmouth County Office on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services on the need for sustained funding of critical services for vulnerable adults in our community. FCS receives county funding to provide home care, supportive care services and Adult Protective Services to adults in the county. In recent years, that funding has been reduced.
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Wrapping Up another Healthy School Year
The battle against childhood obesity is making headway in five Monmouth County public elementary schools thanks to a special program led by volunteers from FCS, (Family & Children’s Service), Monmouth County’s oldest private, nonprofit social service agency. Now in its fourth year, Healthy Buddies partners adult volunteers with students in the classroom, guiding them in making healthy choices by leading nutrition lessons, promoting physical activity and providing healthy snacks.Read more
Older Americans: Blazing A Trail
May is Older Americans Month, an opportunity for us to recognize the perennial contributions of older Americans to our communities. Today older Americans are living longer and more healthfully than ever before. Many are blazing trails, pursuing fulfilling second careers or finding inspiration through meaningful volunteer work. At FCS, (Family & Children's Service,) we are enormously grateful for the contributions of our more than 300 Retired and Senior Volunteers who are the mainstay of our Reading Buddies, Healthy Buddies and SHIP programs. We are also appreciative of the hard work provided by many of the older volunteers who help guide our agency and raise funds for our programs and services. But as a nonprofit social service agency, we recognize that many older Americans face significant challenges as they age, challenges that they may not be able to meet on their own.
Do Your Parents Need Help? Look for These Warning Signs
Perhaps you’ve started to notice that mom’s getting more and more forgetful. Her once organized house seems a bit less tidy and she is even missing important appointments. And dad’s not getting around like he used to. Getting up from a chair is harder for him and he seems unsure and unbalanced walking. You notice these changes, but aren’t sure if it’s anything to worry about, or what to do. Read more
Thrift Boutique Volunteers Needed
Do you have an eye for fashion? Are you always on the lookout for a good bargain? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Then do we have an opportunity for you! We're currently seeking responsible, enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to join our volunteer team at the FCS Thrift Boutique in Long Branch. The popular resale store, located at 307 Branchport Avenue, offers new and gently used men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories for sale in a charming, boutique environment staffed by a knowledgeable, professional sales staff. But it's the volunteers that really make the store special!Read more
Forging Solutions Out of Challenges
March is National Social Work Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the important contributions of social workers in our community. As CEO of Monmouth County’s oldest, private nonprofit social service agency, I am proud of our agency’s long and storied history in the field of social work. I am equally proud of our current team of social workers who help our clients "forge solutions out of challenges" everyday.
Celebrating our Professional Social Workers
Happy Social Worker month! My name is Justin and I am a social worker with Adult Protective Services of Middlesex County, NJ. March is a time to give appreciation to the social workers who assist us on a professional and/or personal level every day. Recently I learned through the National Association of Social Workers that our nation has over 600,000 social workers! It is amazing to think that there are so many caring individuals in this nation that spend their life devoting time to supporting and fostering a healthy life style for others.Read more
Welcome to the FCS Family!
We are delighted to welcome five new employees to the FCS Family! Michelle Aldarelli, Constance Hyland, Kimberly Horan, Patrycja Radzik and Ty-Kiera Brown join our diverse staff of professional social workers, nurses, certified home health aides and administrators who help provide essential programs and services to individuals and families in need.
Celebrating our Extraordinary "Aides of the Month"
The choice to hire a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) to care for your loved one may actually save his or her life! Recently our CHHA Maria Anchietta used her in-service training to identify symptoms of a stroke in her patient. Maria immediately called 911 and the patient was transferred to the hospital before further stroke damage could occur. Outstanding service and caring professionalism are two of the many reasons Maria and several of her colleagues were recently named “Aide of the Month” by Family & Children’s Service (FCS) Home Care Services.
Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork, our 2015 Community Service Award Honoree
FCS is honored to recognize Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork and its principals Alan and David Robinson for their exceptional contributions to the agency with our 2015 Community Service Award to be presented at the agency's annual fundraising gala, “E Komo Mai o Hawaii”, Saturday, October 24th at the beautiful Navesink Country Club.