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Valerie Brown Influences Culture at Stanley G. Falk School

Valerie Brown always knew she wanted to make an impact in the lives of children. As she shares her story, her powerful presence points to a lifetime of experiences she has used to encourage her students to achieve and excel in her classroom. When Valerie was only three years old, she started learning sign language…
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Fifteen Twin-Sized Beds Delivered to Families

When Makenzie Victor, Wraparound Supervisor, discovered how many of the families she was working with did not have a mattress or pillow to sleep on at night, she was determined to help. Makenzie works with families in our community-based counseling programs whose children are at risk of out-of-home placement. Families learn how to solve problems…
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Play Ball! New Recreation Assistant Joins Residential Team

“The children here have been through a lot,” emphasized Akyng Frankin. “They deserve to have a safe space to get moving, get their blood flowing and develop certain skills that sports can nurture.” Child and Family Services (C+FS) recently welcomed Akyng, Recreation Assistant, to the team. Akyng is determined to incorporate sports into the recreation…
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The Best Present of All – Elliana is Officially Adopted!

“I’ve been waiting for this for five years,” Elliana said with a smile, as she hugged her mom and dad. On Tuesday, December 19, Elliana was officially adopted by Zabrina and Frank – just time for the holidays. Five years ago on Christmas Eve, eight-month-old Elliana was placed with her aunt, Zabrina Reich, and uncle,…
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Amazon Presents Child and Family Services with $20,000 for Adopt-a-Family

‘Twas the week of Adopt-a-Family, and all throughout the Agency, Volunteers gathered gifts, for families with urgency. The donations were handled with excellent care, For every family deserves something to call theirs. The holiday magic couldn’t happen without people like you, And with the generosity from Amazon, the giving can continue. As the holidays quickly…
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Megan Andrews on the Balancing Life’s Issues Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEfs5Fmp5f8&t=1s Megan Andrews, Director of Child and Family Services Employee Assistance Program (EAP), was excited to join the Balancing Life's Issues podcast to discuss what trauma informed work is and the importance of bringing this kind of work to employees through their Employee Assistance Program. How do we begin to unburden ourselves from trauma? On…
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Child and Family Services Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Gains National Spotlight

Child and Family Services Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was recently recognized at a national conference in Portland, Oregon. Megan Andrews, Director of Child and Family Services EAP along with EAP’s Clinical Services Supervisor Jennifer Schultz, presented at the 2023 Employee Assistance Professionals Association Institute & Expo Conference. Their presentation highlighted EAP’s critical incident response after…
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Plaque Unveiled for Rebuilding with Rachael Fund

"I hope [people] remember Rachael and the light she brought, and that nobody should be able to take that light from anybody else," said Mark Wierzbicki. November 27, 2023 marks the five-year anniversary of the day Rachael Wierzbicki’s life was cut short due to domestic violence. Her parents, Lauri and Mark, started the Rachael Warrior…
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Aspiring Eagle Scout Donates 40 Blankets to Residential Program

“I was passionate about keeping this project local,” stated Alison Whitton, Eagle Scout Applicant and Founding Member of Troop 261G. “It was important to me to create an impact that sparked joy and made someone feel better about their hard situation or themselves.” To achieve Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Scouts, Alison needed…
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Lucy Tschachtli Awarded 2023 Transforming Trauma Award

“When we use the creative side of our brain, we access many different skills we use in our lives, including self-reflection, analytical thinking and problem solving. These are all tools that a domestic violence survivor will need to utilize on their journey,” said Lucy Tschachtli, Domestic Violence Counselor at Haven House’s Counseling and Advocacy Program.…
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Fashion Show with a Twist 2023

For the first time in the event’s history, Fashion Show with a Twist was completely sold out, with over 300 people attending for a night of shopping, dinner and fashion! Child and Family Services’ (C+FS) employees, board members and volunteers rocked the runway with their own unique styles, all to raise money for Haven House,…
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Falk-Mullen Welcomes Students for the First Time

The Stanley G. Falk (Falk) students recently celebrated their first week back to school and, for many, it was their first week in a new building! On Wednesday, September 6, the Falk-Mullen campus officially opened its doors for the first time to welcome 85 elementary students. One-by-one, students filed in and were greeted by a…
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