Category Archives: Uncategorized

We’re Hiring!

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Therapists (2) – Outpatient Mental Health

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provides direct clinical services to clients in a nonprofit mental health agency.
  • Performs comprehensive assessments to obtain sufficient information to complete Family & Community Services of Somerset County’s (FCSSC) intake and establish treatment goals.

Qualifications

· LCSW, LMFT, or LPC preferred

· Experience working with families and children

· Must be able to work 3 or 4 nights a week Monday-Friday from 4p-9p

· English speaking as well as Bilingual – Spanish therapists needed

Masters required

Please send resumes to rschumann@fcssomerset.org

Family and Community Services of Somerset County celebra 60 años de excelencia

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FCSSC aspira a recaudar $60.000 para el año 2020

Bound Brook, NJ – 2 de enero, 2020 –  Family & Community Services of Somerset County (FCSSC) es calificada 501 c (3), una agencia comunitaria sin fines de lucro. Dicha agencia se destaca por su función en contribuir servicios económicos y profesionales de salud mental y adicciones para la familia, niños, adolescentes y adultos necesitados durante los últimos 60 años.  Fundada en el año 1960, FCSSC (según sus siglas en ingles), ofrece servicios de apoyo para abordar cada una de las transiciones y dificultades  de la vida. 

FCSSC tiene como misión propia ofrecer servicios eficaces y económicos de salud mental y contra el abuso de drogas. Dichos servicios se ofrecen a un costo económico basados en una escala de pago graduada, e incluyen terapia individual, para familias y para parejas, como también terapia en grupo en inglés y español, un programa para abordar la violencia doméstica y recientemente  se agregó uno específicamente para veteranos de las fuerzas armadas.

“Family & Community Services of Somerset County ofrece servicios esenciales para los residentes de la comunidad que de otra manera no tendrían donde recurrir para recibir la atención que necesitan”, según Richard Schumann, director ejecutivo de la agencia. “Aunque somos una organización pequeña, hemos tenido un impacto favorable y continuamos teniéndolo, en la salud mental  y en el abuso de drogas de la comunidad.  El año pasado ofrecimos 8.700 horas de servicios en salud mental y abuso de drogas para más de 780 clientes. 

Para poder continuar sirviendo a la comunidad de Somerset y sus alrededores por 60 años más FCSSC busca recaudar $60.000 en el transcurso del año en homenaje al aniversario de la agencia.  Entre los eventos planificados están, una noche de comedia en el teatro Villagers, bingo con premio de carteras, un día de golf en el club Royce Brook, una carrera de 5K en el parque Duke Island y también nuestra campaña navideña para recaudar fondos.  

Según, Lori Manduley, presidenta de la junta de la agencia, “La salud mental y el abuso de drogas que siguen sin atención son unos de los problemas más grandes que enfrenta el país. Son la raíz de muchas otras  dificultades y problemas. Ser voluntaria y poder contribuir hacia esta agencia magnifica me hace sentir que formo parte de la solución”. Manduley fue instalada recientemente come presidenta de la junta de FCSSC. 

Para informarse sobre la agencia y los eventos planeados visite a la página http://fcssomerset.org

Domestic Violence Groups Offered in Both English and Spanish

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• More than one in three women and more than one in four men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• 74 percent of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner (spouse, common-law spouse, ex-spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend). Of these, 96 percent were women killed by their intimate partners.
• One in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
• Interpersonal violence is the leading cause of female homicides and injury-related deaths during pregnancy.
• The percentage of women who consider their mental health to be poor is almost three times higher among women with a history of violence than among those without.
• Women with disabilities have a 40 percent greater risk of intimate partner violence, especially severe violence, than women without disabilities.
Source: American Psychological Association

Though many people believe the term “batterer” implies physical abuse, domestic abuse/violence is more than just physical abuse. Many couples are either unable to identify or are in denial when the abuse is about “control”. Control is one of the most destructive forms of abuse and is the reason that so many abusive situations end in murder/suicide.

By gathering and using appropriate accountability measures and self-awareness tools, abusive partners can eventually have healthy, respectful relationships if they accept responsibility for their actions, identify and challenge the belief systems which contributed to their unhealthy behaviors and learn healthy, non-violent ways to interact with their partners.

Our trained staff are certified instructors in the RESPECT program and are here to help support those individuals currently identified as a “batterer” in his or her journey to shed the label of a “batterer” and engage in healthy and respectful relationships. Please call 732-356-1082 or email rschumann@fcssomerset.org for more details.

Job Opportunity – Bilingual Therapist – Fee For Service

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Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provides direct clinical services to clients under scheduled supervision.
  • Work with clients with mental health and/or addiction related issues.
  • Performs comprehensive assessments to obtain sufficient information to complete Family & Community Services of Somerset County’s (FCSSC) intake and establish treatment goals.
  • Maintains accurate and current client records and completes agency documentation as required.
  • Supports agency policies and procedures.
  • Prepares written reports for and makes referrals to other community agencies and resources as appropriate.
  • Attends necessary continuing education courses to obtain or maintain certifications and licenses.
  • Carries out other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Must be bilingual – Spanish
  • LCSW, LMFT, or LPC required
  • Experience working with families and children
  • Must be able to work evening hours

Job Type: Part-time

Click here and apply at Indeed

Find your purpose and make it count in the community

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Mary Cole featured left at FCSSC 5k.

I have been on the Board of Family and Community Services of Somerset County for several years now. During my time with the organization, I have learned that I have a lot to learn. FCSSC is fortunate to have Board members, staff, and volunteers who all possess a wealth of knowledge and talent. Each person involved on the team came to FCSSC with different motivations and with a different perspective on life.

My motivation was to give back to the community that I live and work in. I live in the neighboring town to FCSSC, and have for almost my entire life. I moved away briefly for college, but came back, and saw the world with new eyes. My job as a Program Assistant in the Therapeutic Recreation Department, at the Somerset County Parks Commission puts me into daily contact with people who are struggling to cope with the demands of daily life, and who need the type of emotional and practical support that FSSC provides. I have always been involved in community service in some way, from Girl Scouts all throughout school to literacy tutoring in college, but volunteering my time at FSSC has given me a new perspective. Helping others is less of an abstract idea when you consider that so many of our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members may be in need.

Part of my newfound perspective has been finding what I am passionate about. The staff and volunteers at FCSSC truly lead by example, and have a passion for what they do. My work and involvement at FCSSC has inspired me to go back to college for a second Bachelor’s degree, so that I can become even more involved in the community, and contribute in a tangible way. I am studying to be a high school English teacher, and hope to work towards a Master’s degree in Special Education.

I have found my purpose, and the opportunity to engage with FCSSC and working towards those goals are invaluable. Follow your passion, find your purpose, and find a way to make it count. If someone has even a spark of interest in volunteering their time and talents to FCSSC, they would be welcomed by the Board and staff—we all share a desire to serve the people in our community and we hope you’ll join us!

-Mary Cole, FCSSC Board Member

Donate Time Not Just Money

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Message from Rachael Wolensky, Board Secretary and Social Media Manageraaeaaqaaaaaaaaldaaaajdu2zte1zjq3ltq3nzutndu1my1iy2rlltk4n2findnmztkzna

As I start to implement my New Years resolutions, I think how over the past year I have donated not just the little bit of money I have to an amazing organization like FCSSC but my time, knowledge and resources I have available at my fingertips.

Not everyone realizes the value you can provide towards your community with just a simple act as time. Yes, everyone has busy schedules running around with work, exercise and trying to have a social life, just to name a few, but it’s the idea that you can give back to your community, OUR community with just an hour or two a week.

Although I am young, before I even entered college I was taught to help those around you as much as you can. Donating my clothes, food, shoes, books, supplies, but most of all my mom taught me your time can ultimately help a community flourish. I continue to do those simple things for the Red Cross, Cancer Society and more over the years. To this day I still collect pop tabs from soda cans so that once I have enough I can share it with the Ronald McDonald House and help those kids in need – a charity that also helps kids. It’s an organization I have been helping since I became of sister of Alpha Delta Pi that also values time spent helping others.

I began working with FCSSC about two years ago as a part of my Masters Project from Quinnipiac. It became apparent to me that I wasn’t saying yes to staying on to just complete a project, but I wanted to make sure I was providing as much of  my time and knowledge as possible. In the end I knew I would help wonderful people explain their message, goals and vision to help those in need of the agency’s services.

I may not be as knowledgeable about mental health and addictions as I would like, but over the past two years I have come to see the value in what I have created with FCSSC and the amazing people within the agency. I have met some remarkable people that have not only been a part of the agency, but the board that I am actively a part of.

I hope as you reflect over the past year and determine what you wish to accomplish in 2017, that you will realize that you can help others with not just money to help FCSSC flourish in the areas we need to survive as a business to help those in need, but to donate your time, knowledge and energy to help our community succeed.

FCSSC Board President Holiday Message

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Dear friends, neighbors and family members:

It is that time of year, where we all begin to make resolutions for the new year, and in my case, look back at what I am thankful for.  This year, I am blessed, both personally and professionally.

I am blessed personally, as my family is healthy, and happy.  Is there anything more important in life?  In my opinion, I don’t think so.

Professionally, as the President of the Board of Directors of Family & Community Services of Somerset County (FCSSC), I am blessed as well.  I have the pleasure of working with a wonderful board of directors, and an outstanding, professional, talented staff at the agency.  And, by the way, thankfully, they report, they are healthy and happy as well!

When I look back to 2016, it was a year of change at FCSSC.  Our long term Executive Director, Eric Harris, announced and began a well-deserved retirement.  While he still sees clients at the agency, he is now able to spend more time with his family.  We were able to recruit a wonderful successor, Richard Schumann who will lead our transformation going forward.  In a short period of time, Richard has already made an impact, and implemented a number of changes that will lead to better services that our friends, neighbors and family members in Somerset County have come to expect.

As I look forward to 2017, I hope that our year will be one of “coming together”.  We have opportunities ahead of us, as a community, to help those in need.  We have the opportunity to join together to prevent shootings, bullying, and other awful actions that are related to mental health.  How do we come together and do this?  Instead of assuming that someone else will help, consider asking yourself “what can I do to help?”.  For me, I help by giving my time leading the Board of Directors at FCSSC.  My colleagues on the board are so generous with their time and insights that help to shape the agency, which in turn helps our community.  Let me re-phrase that… it helps OUR community.

The work we do at FCSSC goes directly to helping those in need here in OUR community.  The monies raised do not go to some large corporate building out of state, they are 100% utilized in Somerset County, our home.  Many of you are very busy with careers, family and other commitments and that is wonderful.  You can also help by attending our fund raising events, or consider a donation.  For those of you that work for generous organizations that match your funds, please remember to request the matching funds.

Please consider contacting me and asking “Howard, I like the work that is being done at FCSSC, what can I do to help?”.  2017 is the time for us to come together and work towards helping OUR community!

I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year and hope your dreams all come true!

Best,

Howard Hessel, FCSSC Board President

Thank you to our sponsors and donors for our 5th Annual “Don’t Fall, Let’s Run” 5K Run/Walk and Kid Sprint

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Thank you to Banner Sponsors: 

  • Summit Oaks Hospital
  • Pinto Brothers
  • Thank you to our Mile Mark Sponsors:
  • Dr. Jim Bremner, Chiropractor
  • Dr. & Mrs. Robert Manduley

Thank you to our T-shirt Sponsors:

  • Dr. Jim Bremner, Chiropractor.  Bound Brook. www.DrJimChiro.com (908)251-3588
  • Summit Oaks Hospital, (800)753-5223, www.SummitOaksHospital.com
  • Applebee’s Grill & Bar of Bridgewater. 640 Promenade Blvd, Bridgewater, NJ (732)627-0888
  • Merry Maids of Middlesex, Somerset and Union County – (908)336-0278
  •  Ernest Renda, Esq.  Bridgewater. (908)722-1255
  •  Pleasant Run Family Physicians/PCP, (908)788-9468, www.PleasantRunDoctors.com
  • GenPsyche, www.genpsych.com, (855)436-7792
  • Hillsborough Dental Center. www.HillsboroughDental.com (908)359-1112
  •  Leading Edge Lacrosse. LeadingEdgeLacrosse.com (973)348-5291
  • PALS Play And Learn School.  (908)359-PALS (7257)
  • The Krupat Family
  • The Harris Family
  • The Hessel Family
  • The Patullo Family
  • The Man in the Hat

Thank you to Wegmans of Bridgewater for being our food sponsor

Thank you to all of the following for their generous monetary donations:

Our Gold Sponsors:

  • Mr. John McCormack
  • Dr. and Mrs. Robert Manduley
  • Ms. Anita Attridge
  • Mrs. Christine Massey

Our Silver Sponsors:

  • Pet Sitting by Ruthe
  • Ms. Claire Roberts
  • Ms. Irene Counihan
  • Ms. Helen Connor
  • Ms. Kristen Chmielewski
  • Mr. Seebu John
  • Ms. Lori Goldberg
  • Ms. Margo Cordivari

Our Bronze Sponsors:

  • Ms. Akshaya Channira
  • Samanthat Nici
  • Ms. Jackie Gruber
  • Ms. Kim Graham
  • Ms. Michelle Castellani
  • Ms. Catherine Mitch
  • Ms. Emily Woo
  • Ms. Janelle Escalona
  • Ms. Veronica Lenox
  • Ms. Lisa Verga
  • Mr. Jackson Franklin
  • Ms. Ramya Sundaresan

Batterer’s Intervention Group starting at FCS

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• More than one in three women and more than one in four men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• 74 percent of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner (spouse, common-law spouse, ex-spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend). Of these, 96 percent were women killed by their intimate partners.
• One in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
• Interpersonal violence is the leading cause of female homicides and injury-related deaths during pregnancy.
• The percentage of women who consider their mental health to be poor is almost three times higher among women with a history of violence than among those without.
• Women with disabilities have a 40 percent greater risk of intimate partner violence, especially severe violence, than women without disabilities.
Source: American Psychological Association

Domestic violence is a subject that some people find difficult to discuss. We have empathy for the victim(s) and others who suffer through residual effects of the abuse but how should we feel about the perpetrator? Should we want to help them too?

Though many people believe the term “batterer” implies physical abuse, domestic abuse/violence is more than just physical abuse. Many couples are either unable to identify or are in denial when the abuse is about “control”. Control is one of the most destructive forms of abuse and is the reason that so many abusive situations end in murder/suicide.

By gathering and using appropriate accountability measures and self-awareness tools, abusive partners can eventually have healthy, respectful relationships if they accept responsibility for their actions, identify and challenge the belief systems which contributed to their unhealthy behaviors and learn healthy, non-violent ways to interact with their partners.

Our trained staff are certified instructors in the RESPECT program and are here to help support those individuals currently identified as a “batterer” in his or her journey to shed the label of a “batterer” and engage in healthy and respectful relationships. Please call 732-356-1082 or email respect@fcssomerset.org for more details.

FCSSC Board President Message: Eric Harris Announcement

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It is with mixed emotions that I share the news that Eric Harris, our Executive Director, has decided to retire from his role at Family & Community Services of Somerset County.  Eric has spent the past 35 years of his career at FCSSC, starting as an intern while he studied Social Work at Rutgers, eventually working his way up to Executive Director.  While he will remain at FCSSC in a part time clinical role, it is still a time to reflect on his legacy to our agency, and to the community.

When Eric was asked in 1995 to become Executive Director, he did it the way he always does everything.   He hesitantly said “yes”, but then put his entirety into the role.  At that time, the agency was close to closing its doors due to major financial struggles.  While the agency was able to keep the lights on, it was never a smooth sail even up to today.  Non-profit work is a constant struggle to keep the lights on.  With funding ups and downs, with changes in government policies and reimbursement, with the continued challenge to find the right staff and board members, Eric continually stayed focused on what truly matters, making sure those in Somerset County, who rely on FCSSC, were able to get the help that they needed.

As I reflect back on my years on the Board, and most recently, my years as Board President, I value the friendship that I have developed with Eric.  He has taught me the importance of family, not only immediate family, but that of an extended family.  Eric and his wonderful wife Carol, are the proud parents of three grown men, and have recently welcomed a new grandson into their lives.  Eric has taught me that nothing is more important than family and that while occasionally life will throw you a curveball, “it is what it is”,  you deal with it , and address it head on.  He has also taught me that the people you work with are family as well.  I have gotten to know many of the staff members at FCSSC, who have been hired, trained and mentored by Eric.  They all have the passion for community, the drive to help and the dedication to others that has kept the lights on.  That comes from the example that Eric has set every day.

As we have located a successor to Eric, we looked for someone who had the qualities that can continue to create a family culture at FCSSC.  During the interview process, Eric had continually reminded us the importance of keeping the culture that he and his staff have created over the years. It is one where we strive to help our friends, neighbors and family members who need our help.

Eric’s last day as Executive Director will be September 9, 2016.  He will remain at the agency part time as a clinician, continuing to give back to the community.  Please help me congratulate Eric on this wonderful milestone in his family’s life.