Back to School Fair Helps Families Prepare for New School Year

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.

 

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.”

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

Domestic Violence Impact Seminar Next Week

Prosline Saint-Armand will discuss the impact of domestic violence on children and families.

Parents and community members are invited to discuss the impact of domestic violence on children and families at a meeting of the Project Sussex Kids General Council, Wednesday, July 10^th, 9:00 a.m. at Project Self-Sufficiency.  Participants will also receive an update on Project Sussex Kids activities.  The presentation will be facilitated by DASI Director of Counseling Services Prosline Saint-Armand.  Refreshments will be provided; childcare is available upon request.  Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.

Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, has been designed by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families to address the needs of local families who are expecting or who are parenting young children.  County Councils for Young Children have been established in all of the state’s 21 counties to bring together parents, caregivers, as well as health, education and social service professionals to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration of services.  The Project Sussex Kids General Council Meeting is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  To attend the General Council Meeting, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500.  Additional information is available at www.projectsussexkids.org.

Parents, Kids Can Enjoy Family Expo

Northern New Jersey parents and children are invited to Project Self-Sufficiency’s annual Family Expo, Thursday, May 23^rd, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Workshops for parents will be supplemented by children’s activities, dinner, gift card raffles and other events.  The Family Expo is sponsored by the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency and Project Sussex Kids, the County Council for Young Children.  Attendance is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

 

Kris Imbrie will discuss appropriate responses to temper tantrums at the Family Expo.

Break-out sessions for parents will include a presentation by Kris Imbrie, LCSW, DVS, regarding methods for dealing with children’s emotional outbursts or temper tantrums.  Additional workshops will include a presentation about nutritious meal and snack preparation by Shop Rite of Newton, as well as information on overall health with a special focus on oral health by Zufall Health Center.  Hearing screenings and exhibits from local health care and social service organizations will round out the event.  Spanish-speaking interpreters will be on hand to assist families with language barriers.  Participants will be treated to dinner; attendees can enter raffles to win a Shop Rite gift card, a three-month membership to the Sussex County YMCA, and two tickets to a Sussex County Miners baseball game.

In addition to Project Self-Sufficiency, organizations which will host information tables at the event include Atlantic Health System, Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative; Caring Partners of Morris & Sussex, CMO; Care Plus New Jersey; Center for Prevention & Counseling; CLEAResult, New Jersey Comfort Partners Program; DASI; DAWN Center for Independent Living; Family Intervention Services; Family Partners of Morris and Sussex; Hearing Life; Morristown Medical Center Safe Kids Northern, NJ; NAMI, Sussex; New Jersey Department of Children & Families, Division of Child Protection & Permanency; Newton Medical Center; NORWESCAP Child and Family Resource Services; Regional Family Support Planning Council; Sussex County Division of Social Services; Sussex County Library; Sussex County YMCA; Sussex Education Services Commission: Project SEARCH; Sussex Macaroni Kid; United Way of Northern New Jersey; Zufall Health Center; and others.

“The Family Expo encourages parents and children to explore new and interesting activities, and get up-to-date information about local resources,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We are grateful to the community groups, parent volunteers, educators, health organizations, and social service agencies in our community who are coming together to offer this event for local families.”

The Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency is part of a network of Family Success Centers across the state whose purpose is to strengthen families and neighborhoods; develop networks of family services that foster healthy families; and to build connections within families, between families and to the community.   The Family Success Center provides a wide range of services to participating families, including assistance with healthcare, substance abuse prevention services, career planning, job training, parenting workshops, and life skills training. 

Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, is an effort funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, which is designed to address the needs of families who are expecting or who are already parenting children up to the age of eight.  County Councils for Young Children have been established in each of the state’s 21 counties to bring together parents, caregivers, and professionals to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration of services.

Attendance at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Family Expo is free and open to the public; advance registration is available online at www.projectselfsufficiency.org or by calling 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500.