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A Family’s Journey Toward Reconnection

When Jessica Francis, Family Visitation Specialist, started working with a new family last May, she knew her role was to help a mother and daughter find their way back to one another.  Grace* had spent more than a year in foster care before returning to live with her father, but she hadn’t seen her mother,…
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Josie’s Journey: 35 Years of Leading with Heart

Congratulations to Haven House’s Josie, who recently celebrated 35 years with C+FS on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Josie began her career at C+FS in 1990 after moving to Buffalo from the Netherlands. Starting as a counselor at Haven House, she credits the Agency with helping her through her initial homesickness. “To be able to go…
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Car Wash Fundraiser Brings Students Together

At Falk School’s – Rossler campus, students rolled up their sleeves and worked together for a meaningful cause.  Over the course of three days, students hosted a car wash open to all Falk staff and faculty. Organized by one of Falk’s teachers, Mrs. Pepe, the event was more than just a way to make vehicles…
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Growing Together, One Meal at a Time

At our Community Residence in Cheektowaga, something special is happening one meal at a time. What started as a child’s love for cooking has turned into a weekly tradition that’s filled more than just plates. It all began when one child asked if they could cook a meal for their peers. The staff, who work…
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716 Day: The Power of Community

Every July, Western New York comes alive with hometown pride as the calendar turns to 7/16. For Child and Family Services, it's more than a number, it's a celebration of the community that we serve every day. This year, that spirit was felt in two powerful ways. At the Stanley G. Falk School, 716 Day…
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United Way’s Day of Caring: Community in Action

Last Wednesday, Child and Family Services welcomed over 100 Wegmans employees to our Delaware Campus in Buffalo and Community Residence in Cheektowaga for United Way’s annual Day of Caring. The team came eager to work and their impact was felt all around.  Split into groups, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and took on a range…
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Residential Program Kicks off Summer with a Carnival Celebration

On Wednesday, June 18, Child and Family Services Residential Program hosted its annual carnival, and the weather couldn’t have been better. After the earlier days of June had been filled with sweltering heat and frequent rain, this day brought a welcome break with blue skies and a perfect summer breeze. The Residential campus was transformed…
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Strength in Starting Over

Lisa* arrived in Buffalo alone, without children, close family or a place to call home. What she did have was resilience and a strong determination to rebuild her life. She made the courageous decision to flee her abusive relationship in Florida and move to Buffalo.  Her journey led her to Haven House, where Lisa entered…
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A Celebration of Freedom, History, Culture and Resilience

This past Saturday, a group of C+FS and Falk employees came together to celebrate Juneteenth by marching in the annual Buffalo Juneteenth Parade.  Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Texas, over two years following the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a turning point in American history - a…
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Celebrating Pride at the Buffalo Pride Parade

This past Sunday, a group of C+FS employees came together to celebrate Pride by marching in the annual Buffalo Pride Parade. Before the parade even began, the energy was easy to feel. Employees gathered around our Agency van, turning it into a rolling display of color and community. Everyone put their own spin on this…
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Tickets for the Lauren Show

When Lauren Wogick, Senior Case Planner for the C+FS Preventive team, made her final home visit this past April, she walked into something completely unexpected. The family’s living room had been transformed into a fully decorated theater and Lauren was at the top of the VIP list.  Lauren first met the Smith* family in September…
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The Gildemeister’s Foster Care Journey

When Theresa and Carlos Gildemeister became foster parents nearly three decades ago, they couldn't have imagined how many lives their family would impact. Motivated by a love for children and a desire to help families going through difficult times, they opened their home. Since becoming foster parents, they've fostered more than fifty children, some for…
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