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United Way of Morris County Teams Up with Family Service of Morris County to Support Local Military Families in Need
April 2, 2008

United Way of Morris County is proud to support a new program designed to help military families cope with the stresses that arise when a family member is called upon to serve. 

FSMC has hired a case manager, exclusively to support this program.  This case manager is available to meet with families free of charge to discuss their specific issues and to identify services available to help them before, during and after their loved one’s deployment.  “The goal is to reach out in a proactive, non-intrusive and sensitive manner to address problems before a crisis occurs,” commented Tammy Rosenthal, Director of child and Adolescent Counseling at FSMC.  Counseling, support and social services are strictly confidential so as to encourage their utilization by affected families.

United Way of Morris County has provided FSMC with the funding necessary to start-up this new program.  “Our community is greatly affected by this war.  The needs of the families of those deployed are the entire community’s burden to share.   We are proud to support the work of Family Service in this effort to ensure that local families have the resources and support they need as their loved ones are serving for our country.  They deserve this support and the acknowledgement from the entire community of their daily sacrifices,” said John Franklin, CEO of United Way of Morris County.

What makes this program unique?  According to Patrice Picard, Executive Director of FSMC, “This is a true community partnership to support our military families. Our case manager can reach out to the family, in their own home if they prefer, and can direct them to a network of social and economic resources provided by Family Service of Morris County and the broader community.  We are pleased to have United Way join us in this important partnership”

A Military Families Advisory Group, consisting of representatives from the Morris Chamber of Commerce, NJ National Guard State Family Programs, Picatinny Arsenal, and CLA Veterans Services, has been established to ensure the services provided meet the needs of these families.   

For more information about the Military Families Outreach Program, please contact Patrice Picard, Executive Director FSMC, at 973.538.5260 or on the web at www.fsmc.org.