United Way of Morris County News
Recent News

Family Service of Morris County Opens
New Program Center for Children, Families,
and Seniors
October 14, 2006

On Saturday, October 14, 2006, Family Service of Morris County, a United Way partner agency, celebrated the completion of the agency's new home at 62 Elm Street in Morristown with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community open house.  Peter Goldberg, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Children and Families; Assemblyman Rick Merkt; Bruce Stout, Director of the New Jersey Office of Child Behavioral Health Services; Morris County Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom, Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, and United Way leadership joined the Board, staff, community partners, clients, and neighbors of Family Service in commemorating the event.  Following the formal remarks, blessing of the cornerstone, and a ribbon cutting ceremony, the Presbyterian Church's Youth bell choir (The Ringers on the Green) led dignitaries and the public into the new building. 

Once inside, visitors toured the facility and participated in a variety of family activities including crafts in the healing arts room led by artists from JumpStart; a drumming circle with Glen Fittin (drummer from Disney's The Lion King); a performance by Morristown Neighborhood House's Hip Hop Diva Dancers; arts and crafts with Claudia (with help from the children of Family Service's 9/11 Healing Hands Program) and a sing-a-long circle with children's entertainer, Lovey.

United Way's Commercial Real Estate event provided much needed funding for the furnishings in the client waiting room of Family Service's new building.

Family Service of Morris County, founded in 1813, has been a long-standing United Way partner.  United Way supports numerous Family Service programs that serve children, families, and seniors throughout Morris County, including Time Out Adult Care Centers, Adult and Family Treatment Counseling, STEP-by-Step for preschoolers, Families and Schools Together, Senior Cents Money Management, and Friends of the Blind. 

Family Service's new building will enable the agency to better serve its clients in a safe, therapeutic, confidential and handicapped accessible environment. Family Service will provide a variety of services in the new facility including counseling, substance abuse education and prevention, and healing arts for children who have suffered loss.  The agency also provides services for seniors and their caregivers as well as teens and their families. 

In addition to designing the building to accommodate the provision of these services, there are also spaces available for use by the community.  These include a community meeting room for social and educational activities as well as a resource center for seniors, the blind and the disabled.  The new building is designed to be a one stop shopping facility, where families in need can come for multiple, integrated and connected services, providing a continuum of care for the entire family.

United Way of Morris County congratulates Family Service of Morris County and looks forward to continued success as partners in community building!  For more information, a tour of the new building or to use one of the community meeting spaces in Family Service's new home, please call the agency at 973.538.5260.