Call the Warmline:

908 755-0090

Welcome to a Brighter Future for Your Family

Family Programs & Support Groups

The Family Support Organization (FSO) of Union County provides direct support to family members and caregivers of children with special emotional and behavioral needs. Our Family Support Partners lead groups that have first-hand knowledge of the system and can help families navigate the system because they have done it for their own children. Our Youth Partnership program helps teens dealing with these challenges to discover that their contributions can help to make a difference in the world.

Education

In order to best assist and support families, we host educational presentations on a variety of topics with guest speakers, video presentations, and more. For more on our upcoming events, please visit our calendar.

Support

We offer support groups at our Plainfield office as well as other locations throughout Union County. Families will meet others who understand exactly what they are going through. Every effort is made to keep the setting of these meetings warm and open, so discussions are meaningful to everyone.

Advocacy

We provide advocacy in many forums. On an individual basis, we advocate for our families' needs. We also offer coaching in techniques of self-advocacy. In addition, we advocate for families as a whole with the various systems including: Juvenile Justice, DYFS, Child Behavioral Health Services, Education and Medicaid.

a diverse group of teenagers joining hands together in cooperation

Youth Partnership

This program is for Union County youth, ages 13 to 21, with behavioral and emotional challenges. We meet on Thursday evenings at Grassman Hall, Trinitas Hospital, 633 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ, 6:00 - 8:00pm. As the schedule is subject to change, please call the FSO for meeting updates.

We recognize the difficulty of being a teenager in today's world. While that alone is challenging, being a teen with unique emotional and behavioral challenges is just that more difficult.

Participation in the Union County Youth Partnership gives teens the opportunity to be with others who know and understand these unique challenges, through personal first-hand experience. It provides them with a place to go where they feel comfortable, safe and accepted.

The Youth Partnership has three main aims: to support and encourage one another, to learn more about their unique challenges, and to increase community awareness about teen mental health issues... and to have fun along the way!

a support group having a meeting

Family Support Partners

Parents and caregivers are matched with specially trained Family Support Partners who understand what these families are experiencing and encourage their progress. Families receiving care management services through FACT are eligible for peer support.

Our Family Support Partners have first-hand knowledge of the system. They can help families navigate the system because they have done it for their own children. Family Support Partners are there to make sure that the family voice is heard and the family vision is achieved.

Family Support Partners walk side-by-side with parents and caregivers to help them through difficult times with their children. Family Support Partners attend Child/Family Team meetings to ease families through the process and help develop an Individualized Service Plan that meets the needs and goals of the family. This ensures that families are full partners in the process.

Family Resources

The Children’s System of Care (CSOC)

The Children’s System of Care (CSOC) is New Jersey’s public behavioral health system. CSOC serves youth under age 21 with emotional and mental health care needs, substance use challenges, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. CSOC provides community-based, culturally competent services and supports based on the needs of the youth and family.


PerformCare

PerformCare serves as the Contract Systems Administrator for New Jersey's System of Care, Performcare coordinates care for 33,000 enrollees statewide. The CSA serves as the administrative hub of the System of Care and performs a range of system management, technical support and quality improvement functions essential to organizing, operating and monitoring the system.

For more information, contact PerformCare at (877) 652-7624.


Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization System

The Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization System provides on-site mobile crisis assessment to Union County children and youth between the ages of 5 through 18 who are in an active state of crisis or escalating crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is designed for children whose behavior is putting them at risk.

The Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization System also provides short-term, flexible services to assist with stabilizing children in their current living arrangement. Creating a comprehensive, coordinated Individual Crisis Plan with the family, crisis stabilization is provided and monitored for up to 8 weeks.


Care Management Organization

Care management organizations (CMO’s) are relatively, newly-established non-profits that provide a full range of treatment and support services to children with the most complex needs. They work with child-family teams to develop individualized service plans. The CMO’s goals are to keep children in their homes, their schools and their communities. Families and Community Together (FACT) is the CMO for Union County.

News & Events

Upcoming Meetings & Events

FSO Programs
Youth Partnership
Events

What's New

3rd Annual Oldies But Goodies Sneaker Gala - August 27, 2023 - Tickets Available Now!

3rd Annual Oldies But Goodies Sneaker Gala - August 27, 2023 - Tickets Available Now!

June 12, 2023

3rd Annual Oldies But Goodies Sneaker Gala - Tickets Available Now GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!...

Read more

More News

About Us

Office Staff

Dr. De Lacy D. Davis
Executive Director

Lizzeth Loaiza
Office Manager / Executive Assistant

Carol Russell
Community Development Specialist

Oshunusi Semper
Family Support Partner Coordinator

Nikki Brissett
Family Support Partner

Eneida Feliciano
Family Support Partner

Licette Figueroa
Family Support Partner

Esther Porterfield
Family Support Partner

Karen Russ
Team Leader / Family Support Partner

Carla Vicari
Family Support Partner

Youth Partnership Coaches
Jada, MSW, Intern
Jeremy, YP Youth

Our Organization

The Family Support Organization of Union County is a system partner within New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care (CSOC) which is designed to help children with complex emotional, mental health or behavioral issues. The CSOC is a system of care that focuses on family strengths and utilization of community resources.

FSO of Union County is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization funded by New Jersey's Department of Children and Families.

Our Goals

  1. Ensure that families can access the care they need for their children right in their own communities.
  2. Offer family-friendly assistance and responses to family's needs.
  3. Keep families together by providing parents and caregivers with the necessary resources.

Background

In the late 1990's, New Jersey recognized that the mental health system in place at that time was not meeting the needs of children with complex behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges

Under the direction of former Governor Christie Whitman, and with input from a dedicated group of parents, New Jersey launched the Children's System of Care Initiative, which is now known as the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS).

The vision was designed to create a system of care that focused on family strengths and community resources. A system of care is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with complex behavioral, emotional and mental health needs. Families and youth work in partnership with public and private organizations to design an individualized plan that is effective and that builds on the strengths of individuals to address each person's cultural and linguistic needs. The system of care assists youth and families work better to remain in their home, school, and own community.

The Family Support Organization of Union County is your family's local system of care and is comprised of real family members who have navigated some of New Jersey's more complex systems (e.g., DYFS, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and Special Education) on behalf of their own children. We have faced immense challenges that have impacted our own families. Through real testimony and life experience, we have found that when families receive help and support from another parent or family member who experienced some of the same or similar challenges they currently face, they find their own voice and encouragement. Through honest peer to peer support, we help to ensure that every family is afforded the opportunity to address their child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and social needs

Financial Statements

Board of Directors

Dr. Nigel Sangster
President

Dr. Tiffany Mayers
Vice-President

Dashua Hinton
Secretary

Charles Hatchett
Treasurer

Deborah Butler
Member-at-Large

James DeVone
Member-at-Large

Heliana Gerena
Member-at-Large

Joyce Sanchez Hatchett
Member-at-Large

Tina Holmes-Aponte
Member-at-Large

Charles Roland
Member-at-Large

Charles Smith
Member-at-Large

Contact Us

Call the Warmline:

908 755-0090

Get In Touch

Let us know how we can help you and your family.

All fields are required.


Processing Form Submission...

Address & Map

Family Support Organization of Union County
1010 Park Avenue
Plainfield, New Jersey 07060
(908) 755-0090
Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Get Directions