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| Attendees learned about local services |
Hundreds of
parents and children recently turned out for a Back-to-School Fair hosted by
the Sussex County Family Success Center and Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex
County Council for Young Children, at Project Self-Sufficiency. Designed
to prepare the entire family for a successful academic year, the event featured
workshops about substance use trends, healthy and inexpensive school lunch and
snack ideas, and developmental screening for children. A K-9 demonstration by the Sussex County
Sheriff’s Department as well as a mini pop-up farmer’s market sponsored by the
LocalShare Foodshed Alliance rounded out the event. Children were invited
to play games and receive free haircuts and backpacks filled with school
supplies. Representatives from local social service and health care
organizations were on hand to offer patrons additional resources. Agency
staff members and volunteers played games and provided
refreshments. Music was provided by the Bill Wright School of
Music. Exhibitors from local social service agencies provided interactive
activities for children. Sussex Macaroni
Kid coordinated craft projects for children with the help of a squad of
dedicated volunteers.
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| Music was provided by the Bill Wright School of Music |
“We are
pleased to be able to help both parents and children to prepare for a
successful school year at the annual Back-to-School Fair,” commented Deborah
Berry-Toon, Executive Director at Project Self-Sufficiency. “We commend
all of the social service agencies, businesses and volunteers who have taken
the time to lend a helping hand to local families in need.”
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| Early intervention was discussed by certified home visitors |
In addition
to dinner and activities for children, the Back-to-School Fair featured
informative, break-out sessions for parents. Morris County Prevention is
Key discussed the warning signs of adolescent substance abuse with the use of a
mock-up of a teenager’s bedroom. Registered
dieticians at ShopRite offered suggestions for healthy and inexpensive school
lunch and snack foods for families. Project
Self-Sufficiency’s Home Visitation staff explained childhood development
screening, including the use of assessment tools and online portals for
pinpointing developmental milestones for young children.
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| Local Share gave fresh produce to attendees |
Participating social service
and health care organizations included Atlantic Health System Psychiatry
Collaborative Hub; Care Plus NJ; Caring Partners; Center for Prevention &
Counseling; DASI; DAWN Center for Independent Living; New Jersey Department of
Child Protection & Permanency; Family Interventions; Family Partners of
Morris & Sussex; Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey; League of Women Voters
of Sussex Highlands; Legal Services of Northwest New Jersey; Literacy New
Jersey – Sussex County Programs; Macaroni Kid, Sussex; NAMI Sussex; Newton
Medical Center; Sussex County Health Department, NJ CEED, Office of Public
Health Nursing; Northern New Jersey, Safe Kids, Safe Communities; NORWESCAP
Child & Family Resource Services; Partnership for Maternal & Child
Health, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program; Project SEARCH; Project
Self-Sufficiency; Project Self-Sufficiency Master Gardeners; SCARC; Shop Rite
of Newton; Sussex County Division of Social Services; Sussex County Library;
Sussex County Special Child Health Services; YMCA; Youth Advocate Program;
Zufall Health Center; and others.
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| Free haircuts were given by professional stylists |
Professional stylists from
several area salons volunteered their time to offer free haircuts to
students. Participating salons included Blackbird
Barber Shop, John’s Barber Shop, Oasis Salon,Scissor Joint
and Village Mane. “We are grateful for the graciousness,
patience and enthusiasm of the stylists who volunteer to cut hair at the
Back-to-School fair,” noted Berry-Toon. “The children look beautiful, and
the parents are delighted because the service is free and available to their
families each year at the fair.”
Non-profit agency Project
Self-Sufficiency has served northwestern New Jersey families for more than 30
years. The agency offers a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and
comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents,
two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic
self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of
their children. The agency offers a supportive family-centered
environment where life issues are addressed through a combination of individual
counseling, peer support groups, case management services, parenting skills
training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early
childhood education, family activities and health education. For
information about any of the services provided at Project Self-Sufficiency,
call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.
Information about the Sussex County Family Success Center can be found at www.sussexcountyfamilysuccesscenter.org. For more information about Project Sussex
Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, visit at www.projectsussexkids.org.
