Family Service League (FSL), a nationally recognized nonprofit that aims to help strengthen and support families in need, is moving to a new office space at 440 Franklin Street, Suite 200 in Bloomfield. The organization is currently located at the historic United Way building at 60 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair, that will soon undergo a renovation. The new Bloomfield office will allow the foundation to grow its staff as it develops new programs and expands offerings.
“Since Family Service League was formed in 1881, we have served as a cornerstone of the Montclair community, as well as surrounding Essex County communities. We continue to serve our communities, and in 2019 alone, we provided a total of 3,939 counseling sessions to individuals, couples and families in need of help,” said Larry Slous, president of Family Service League’s Board of Trustees. “Although we are sad to leave Montclair, our new headquarters will better serve the current needs of all of our communities.”
The new modern space will comfortably house the organization’s employees with room to add additional counseling rooms. The space will also increase capacity to see clients and will provide improved facilities for meetings and training.
Family Service League’s executive director worked with the agency’s board of directors to find the new space.
“Our new location will be easily accessible, with direct access to public transportation. Our location directly across from Bloomfield College will allow us to better serve students,” said Christine Ferro-Saxon, executive director of Family Service League. “As a nonprofit organization, it was important to invest in a space that helps our staff thrive as they serve the public. We are looking forward to welcoming the Essex County community into our new home.”
Family Service League was founded in Montclair in 1881, and the mission of the organization has stayed consistent throughout the years: to support and strengthen those in need through counseling, education and social services.
The organization focuses on working with families, couples and individuals to encourage them to consider and implement solutions that improve their emotional lives and relationships with others. FSL offers counseling services in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Albanian, Tagalong, Bisaya, Russian, German, Karachy-Balkar, Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Korean.
Under the umbrella of Family Service League, a program called ‘SAVE of Essex County,’ aims to provides a variety of services to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, including a 24-hour confidential crisis hotline, counseling, accompaniments to forensic medical exams, police interviews, and court proceedings, and sexual violence prevention education programming. The organization is the State of New Jersey’s designated sexual violence program for Essex County and part of Essex County’s Sexual Assault Response team.
Family League Services also partners with interns from various colleges and universities, including Kean, Seton Hall, Montclair State and Columbia University as it is considered a premier training site for therapists.
“Once placed at FSL, the social work interns are exposed to sophisticated clinical work, expert field supervision, challenging opportunities and professionalism on a scale that most sites don’t offer,” said Leslie Chabon Weisner, LCSW, former field placement liaison at Columbia University School of Social Work. “It has deservedly become one of the most coveted field placements that we offer.”
In 2017, SAVE of Essex County was awarded the “Outstanding Non-Profit” of the year by the North Essex Chamber of Commerce and in 2018, the nonprofit’s clinical director was awarded the “Partners for Health Foundation Community Impact Award” for over 40 years of providing mental health services.
No one is denied treatment at Family Service League as a result of financial reasons.
To learn more about Family Service League visit: https://familyserviceleague.org/