Family Support Organizations aim to:
- ensure that the highest quality child-centered & family friendly approaches to service delivery are created and maintained throughout New Jersey
- provide a forum in which families, caregivers, providers, and other concerned individuals work collaboratively to identify needs, service barriers, resources, and appropriate, effective, and timely ways to intervene and to provide the resources necessary to support strong community-based support programs.
In 2004, the New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health Services began a bold initiative of funding a statewide organization with the purpose of establishing and supporting Family Support Organizations throughout the State of New Jersey.
Family Support Organizations provide:
- One-on-one, peer-to-peer support for families receiving Care Management services through the New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health Services
- Support Groups, Educational Forums, and Events for families in the community who have children with emotional, behavioral or mental health needs
- Warm-lines for reassurance and information
- Youth Partnerships
- Opportunities for family leadership and parent/professional partnerships
New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations was empowered to recruit and train new Boards of Trustees for the individual Family Support Organizations in upcoming counties/regions, and provide training and technical assistance to all of the FSOs in New Jersey.
The first Family Support Organizations were founded in early 2001 (Monmouth, Union, and Burlington.) When the last two organizations (Morris/Sussex and Hunterdon/Somerset/Warren) were founded in early 2006 we became truly statewide.
New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations has focused primarily on startup work and training of the Family Support Partners. With a new Project Director, NJAFSO intends to spend the next year expanding capabilities for training and technical assistance for the FSOs of New Jersey.
New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations was incorporated as a separate
501(c)3 in December, 2003, in order to provide leadership and support to the
statewide network of Family Support Organizations that represent
families raising children with emotional, behavioral or mental health
challenges. Aspects of our work include supporting the Family Movement through
- Empowerment
- Outreach
- Providing Forums
- Providing Referral/Resources
- Organizing Conferences
- Providing technical assistance and training
- Effecting systemic change
- Making local, state and national connections
New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations receives funding from the New Jersey Department of Human Services.