The Importance of Foster Parents
We asked Shari Sullivan, foster parent to over 30 children, what being a foster parent means to her! #NationalFosterCareMonth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5plJ64Q8lU
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Lexington Coop Raises $10,166 for Haven House
“One customer confided that she stayed at Haven House many years ago. She was thrilled to pay it forward at the register,” said a Lexington Coop cashier. Haven House has been a safe place for domestic violence survivors and their children for more than 40 years. Employees at Lexington Coop chose it for their “Change…
Giving Children in Residential an Egg-cellent Easter
The Easter Bunny is getting a little help in preparing for Sunday! Walsh Duffield has been putting baskets together for the children in Residential Care for 22 years. MaryEllen Downey of Walsh Duffield explained, “We wanted to do something directly for the kids. It has been very important for us to do something that will bring…
City of Good {COVID} Neighbors Gives to Child & Family Services
We have never stopped serving families during the pandemic, and the community has never stopped helping us. Most recently, the City of Good (COVID) Neighbors surprised children in Residential Services and domestic violence survivors at Haven House. Megan Haven buys meals from local restaurants and gives the food to someone who could use a boost.…
New Sensory Room Now Open with Help of HSBC Volunteers
It was far from the typical ribbon cutting. Still, you could see the smiles and feel the excitement as Child & Family Services staff and volunteers from HSBC zoomed in by computer for the unveiling of a new sensory room for children in Residential Services. “The need for a sensory room has been great for…
Health Homes Opens Doors
Jane* suffered from severe anxiety and depression for years. At 18 years old, she rarely left her house even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, she was not going to necessary wellness appointments. Jane’s parents did not know what they could do to help their daughter. Then one of her doctors, recognizing Jane’s…
Buffalo Bills Donate Meals to Haven House
The Buffalo Bills are helping to make powerful connections in our community over dinner. This Black History Month, they supported black owned restaurants and domestic violence survivors at Haven House at the same time. The Buffalo Bills donated 45 dinners to Haven House. These meals were purchased from Brothers Takeout Café & Catering as a…
Forever Family Built on Strength
While February 4th was the day that Penny and Steve Kerr officially welcomed Sophie to their family, their bond goes back to the moment they met. There was an instant connection when Sophie came to their front door at only three months old. “For a couple of days, we just sat in awe of this…
“Love is Respect” – February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Join the “Love is Respect” (www.loveisrespect.org, @loveisrespect) campaign by sharing one of the below images to promote self-empowerment & healthy relationships. Everyone is deserving of a healthy, loving relationship! #KnowYourWorth #TDVAM According to the CDC (Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC): Of students who…
Stanley G. Falk Student Follows Passion, Accepted to Alfred State
Computer icon Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Joshua, a senior at the Stanley G. Falk School, echoed this sentiment when he said, “My ultimate objective is for whatever job I have, I have fun with it.” This is not the only similarity that…
CRJ Hosts Virtual Mediator Recognition and Holiday Party
Staff from Child & Family Services’ Center for Resolution and Justice (CRJ) recently got together to deliver cheese trays and cookies to each of its volunteer mediators that RSVP’d for the annual mediator recognition and holiday party event. Our team had to make the event virtual this year due to COVID-19, so the challenge was…
Meet Kimberly Backey, Director of Family Preservation Services
Child & Family Services is delighted to announce the hiring of Kimberly Backey as our Director of Family Preservation Services. Starting earlier this year, Kim has already made her mark on C&FS leading Foster Care and Adoption, Preventive Services, Wraparound Services, and Health Home Services. We asked Kim a few questions to help our supporters…