Outreach Events
If you are attending an outreach event on behalf of Center For Family Services, please enter the event details in the fields below.
Online manual with operating procedures and standards to help you in your daily work activities.
Learn more about the wide range of services available to those in our care.
Monthly Wellness Newsletter and Activities
July is Social Wellness Awareness Month. This month the wellness newsletter features information on how the relationships we form improve social wellness. Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you. Your relationships help you learn to navigate the world, expose you to new ideas, and increase your self esteem.
Positive social habits can even help you stay healthier mentally and physically!
To view all of this month’s activities click here or visit the Wellness Committee webpage.
Recorded Wellness Workshops and Lunch & Learns are available to you.
Catch up on the recent live workshops and activities by viewing the recordings. These sessions support your wellness and your professional development and you are encouraged to watch at your convenience.
Lunch & Learns are professional development opportunities designed to support your cultural competency. You are encouraged to attend the sessions as a listening and learning opportunity to enhance your professional growth. The Lunch & Learn sessions are recorded to allow you to watch at any time convenient for you.
June Lunch & Learn Topic: LGBTQ+ History & Creating Affirming Environments
Recording Link
Access Passcode:
K%1#=YBJ
Our free, virtual wellness events and resources offer you an easy way to stay focused on your health and wellness.
One easy way to improve your overall health is to take part in daily meditation. Take part in this 30 minute meditation exercise as a way to relieve stress and improve health. If you don't have 30 minutes, then take part in just part of this great meditation exercise:
Another way to improve your health is to take part in mindful eating. Mindful eating can help you to change or improve your relationship with food. This video highlights some easy ways you can incorporate mindful eating into your life:
Whole-person health is experiencing optimal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. At it's core, whole-person health is self-care. View the presentation link below to learn about the 5-pillars of health and how they are interconnected, how to recognize your body's needs, and how to make choices that help you function at your best:
The foods you eat have great effects on your health and quality of life. While eating can be simple, it can also be confusing and overwhelming. View the presentation below to gain an understanding of calories and nutrients, tailoring your diet to your goals, portion control, making healthy eating sustainable, and more.
Feeling stressed? Incorporating healthy strategies into your life can help you manage stress. Presentations are available to help you learn ways to stay more centered by introducing relaxation and stress management skills including deep breathing, quieting the mind, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation.
Stress Management Stress Management Resources
Stress Management - Work/Life Balance Stress Management - Work/Life Balance Resources
How to Avoid Burnout How to Avoid Burnout Resources
Your mind and body are connected in many ways. Psychological health directly affects many elements of physical health. View this presentation to learn about the "the mind-heart-body connection" as well as ways to improve your mental health while also caring for your physical health.
Improving Your Mental and Physical Health
Self awareness and mindfulness are associated with higher degrees of confidence, happiness, and overall wellness. When you are more emotionally regulated, you have more mental space for creative and positive thinking. This recording will provide you with the tools needed to reconnect with your purpose and joy, cultivate self awareness, and have fun while self-reflecting.
Increasing Self-Awareness to Boost Confidence, Success, and Mental Well-Being
Increasing Sel-Awareness to Boost Confidence, Success, and Mental Well-Being Slides
Shop AmazonSmile and select Center For Familly Services.
You can help raise funds when you shop on Amazon.
100% of the funds raised through staff and donor purchases will be used to support educational and enrichment outings for the children and teens living in our homes.
It's easy to help raise funds by shopping on Amazon. Next time you shop at Amazon, start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and select Center For Family Services as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate $0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Center For Family Services - every time you shope on Amazon.
AmazonSmile purchases, under Center For Family Services as the charity of choice, can add up to thousands of dollars. 100% of these funds are directed to meet the needs of the children living in our care.
Important updates to keep you informed
April 27, 2022
Hello Staff at Center For Family Services,
There is a lot to look forward to and much to celebrate at Center For Family Services.
This is a busy time of year for many of our programs, and I thank you for all you are doing to support our important work. I also encourage you to make time to care for your well-being as you care for others.
I encourage you to take time to make your wellness a priority. If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to attend one of our Wellness Committee’s fantastic events. These are free events and workshops to support your well-being, including Wellness Wednesday workshops focused on your health and wellness. You can also participate in chair yoga and meditation sessions held each week. You can view a complete list of monthly wellness offerings by visiting the Wellness Committee page of the Employee Portal. Keep a look out for next month’s activities, which will focus on Mental Health Awareness Month.
Another great way to support your overall wellness is to add physical activity into your daily routine. I encourage you to participate in this year’s 10,000 Step Challenge. This quarterly wellness challenge is an easy and fun way to increase your daily physical activity. Plus, as a participant you have many chances to win prizes, because this year’s challenge includes more prizes than ever before! The challenge begins Tuesday, May 3. You can register as part of a team or individually. Register today. Get out of your comfort zone, create new healthy habits, and have fun. Visit the 10,000 Step Challenge webpage on the Employee Portal to register today.
In addition to ongoing wellness activities, Center For Family Services continues to celebrate our inclusive work environments, ongoing training and professional development opportunities, and continued conversations about what it takes to achieve a just and equitable society. Let’s continue to stand together for change on both small and large scales. Improving our intercultural competence is an ongoing journey that we are proud to take with you. I am happy to share that our office and safe housing locations across Center For Family Services will soon receive signage with our "Everyone Belongs" messaging, which showcases our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.Thank you to everyone involved with this project.
I’d like to recognize everyone’s tremendous contributions over the past few months, and thank you for your dedication. You constantly raise the bar. I’m grateful to work alongside all of you. It is inspiring to be part of our collaborative team, working together to build on our shared success. Each department plays a role in the success of the people in our care and our workplace.
I also want to recognize Administrative Professionals Day, which is celebrated today, April 27th. Thank you to our executive secretaries, administrative assistants, and all other admin staff. We appreciate your work in maintaining smooth operations. Thank you for all you do.
Another important message of thanks goes out to our youth worker and residential staff. Thank you for taking care of the children living in our homes. Thank you for being there 24/7 to provide outstanding care to children who need safety and stability. Your work is important, life-changing, and oftentimes, life-saving. Thank you for all you do all day, every day.
Keep up the great work and take good care.
Richard
Join us every Monday and Thursday for a wellness activity.
Now through June, the Wellness Committee is pleased to present Wellness at Work Workshops! These free, weekly workshops are designed to help you feel energized, less stresssed, and more focused through activities such as:
Join a live session!
Mondays: 8:30-9:00am & Thursdays: 3:30-4:00pm
Meeting ID: 6099981656
Keeping you informed
April 7, 2022
Hello Staff at Center For Family Services,
I hope that you and your family are well!
I am writing to share information to keep you updated and informed. Today’s communication includes informant updates about:
1) changes to our benefits
2) plans for in-person, hybrid, and remote workplace settings
Benefits Changes
You are an important part of our team and your work is valued. Center For Family Services recognizes you, and each of our team members, as our most important resource.
As a top workplace, it is our priority to do more to invest in our team of valuable staff.
I am pleased to share with you a number of changes in our benefits. These changes strengthen our benefits package and reinforce our commitment to do more to invest in our staff. Most of these changes will take effect May 1, 2022.
1. Addendums 1 & 2: Eliminate Addendum 2
All staff, hourly and salaried, will have the same vacation accrual schedule. This change provides additional time off benefits to our current non-exempt/hourly staff. Effective May 1, 2022, non-exempt/hourly staff will accrue additional vacation leave time. The rate of accrual for 0-5 years tenure will be 15 days (up from 10) and will follow the below schedule for accrual moving forward.
2. Vacation Accrual Schedule Change
Effective May 1, 2022, an additional tier will be added to the vacation accrual schedule at the 10-year mark. This will strengthen our commitment to honor our long standing staff. The new schedule is:
Tenure: Vacation Benefit
0 – 5 years 15 days
5 – 10 years 20 days
10 – 15 years 22 days (New Accrual Schedule)
15+ years 25 days
3. Part time accrual hours for P/T hours more than 18
To assist in recruitment and retention of part time staff we will begin providing paid time off for part time employees. Effective May 1, 2022, a new benefit, general leave time accrual, will be provided for part-time employees working more than 18 hours/week. This is a new benefit for our part-time staff. Part time employees working 18+ hours per week will accrue one (1) hour for every eight (8) worked up to one week of leave time. This will be considered "general leave". General leave time is not eligible for carry over from year to year.
4. Additional Staff Appreciation Day
Effective May 1, 2022, full-time staff will accrue an additional personal day, Staff Appreciation Day. This increases our personal days from 3 days to 4 per year to recognize your efforts and help invest in your personal wellness.
5. Change in Orientation Period Time Frame
Effective May 1, 2022, the new hire orientation period will change to 90 days (change from 120 days to 90 days). This change will enable our new team members to utilize accrued leave time sooner.
6. Change in time for eligibility for Health Benefits
Effective July 1, 2022, staff will be eligible for benefits the first of the month following 30 days of employment (instead of the first of the month after 60 days of employment).
Again, I am pleased to announce these benefits enhancements as one of the many ways Center For Family Services continues to invest in our staff.
In addition to the enhancements to our benefits package, Center For Family Services also has an ongoing commitment to offer:
- Pathways for growth and professional development.
- Free wellness activities and workshops.
- A workplace where everyone feels welcome.
Plans for in-person, hybrid, and remote workplace settings
All of us here at Center For Family Services can be proud of the level of care we provided over the past two years.
Moving forward, it continues to be our priority to provide the best possible services for those in our care. As we look to the future, there is an opportunity to evaluate what worked well in the past two years. From there, we can make plans and set guidelines for the best ways to operate with efficiency and deliver services effectively.
As we evaluate service delivery, several things are under consideration, including:
- Funder mandates
- Processes that worked well during the past two years
- Effective service delivery
- Workplace settings that lead to high efficiency and support our teams
- Space costs
- Space needs
- Workplace culture
- Professional development opportunities
- Employee wellness
- Future projected growth
Our executive team is actively listening as we gather feedback from our VP Council and Leadership Council team members.
Keeping you informed is a priority. As soon as we have information that pertains to your program or department, you will be notified.
Your voice continues to be important. Please continue to share feedback with your supervisor. Take advantage of training opportunities. Take part in future town hall meetings. Participate in our ongoing lunch and learn sessions.
We will continue to share information with all of you. You can view all of our important updates, including the changes in benefits, by visiting our staff portal - https://www.centerffs.org/
Again, your work as a member of our team is valued and appreciated.
Stay safe and be well!
Richard
Keeping you informed of upcoming benefits enhancements
Center For Family Services is committed to investing in our staff. You are an important part of the team and your work is valued. As a top workplace, it is our priority to do more to invest in you.
Center For Family Services is pleased to share with you a number of enhancements to our benefits. These changes strengthen our benefits package and reinforce our commitment to do more to invest in our staff. Most of these changes will take effect on May 1, 2022.
1. Addendums 1 & 2: Eliminate Addendum 2
All staff, hourly and salaried, will have the same vacation accrual schedule. This change provides additional time-off benefits to our current non-exempt/hourly staff. Effective May 1, 2022, non-exempt/hourly staff will accrue additional vacation leave time. The rate of accrual for 0-5 years tenure will be 15 days (up from 10) and will follow the below schedule for accrual moving forward.
2. Vacation Accrual Schedule Change
Effective May 1, 2022, an additional tier will be added to the vacation accrual schedule at the 10-year mark. This will strengthen our commitment to honor our long-standing staff. The new schedule is:
Tenure: Vacation Benefit
0 – 5 years 15 days
5 – 10 years 20 days
10 – 15 years 22 days (New Accrual Schedule)
15+ years 25 days
3. Part-time accrual hours for P/T hours more than 18
To assist in recruitment and retention of part-time staff we will begin providing paid time off for part-time employees. Effective May 1, 2022, a new benefit, general leave time accrual, will be provided for part-time employees working more than 18 hours/week. This is a new benefit for our part-time staff. Part-time employees working 18+ hours per week will accrue one (1) hour for every eight (8) worked up to one week of leave time. This will be considered "general leave". General leave time is not eligible for carryover from year to year.
4. Additional Staff Appreciation Day
Effective May 1, 2022, full-time staff will accrue an additional personal day, Staff Appreciation Day. This increases our personal days from 3 days to 4 per year to recognize your efforts and help invest in your personal wellness.
5. Change in Orientation Period Time Frame
Effective May 1, 2022, the new hire orientation period will change to 90 days (change from 120 days to 90 days). This change will enable our new team members to utilize accrued leave time sooner.
6. Change in time for eligibility for Health Benefits
Effective July 1, 2022, staff will be eligible for benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of employment (instead of the first of the month after 60 days of employment).
These benefits enhancements as one of the many ways Center For Family Services continues to invest in our staff.
In addition to the enhancements to our benefits package, Center For Family Services also has an ongoing commitment to offer:
- Pathways for growth and professional development.
- Free wellness activities and workshops.
- A workplace where everyone feels welcome.
Your work as a member of our team is valued and appreciated.
Keeping you Informed
Our travel reimbursement rate increased to $0.58/mile, effective March 1, 2022.
To be reimbursed for the use of a personal vehicle while on Center For Family Services business, employees can submit the request on the approved Travel Mileage Report Form. Download this for via the Finance Forms page on the staff portal.
The Travel Milage Report form should be filled out every calendar month. The form needs to be approved by the immediate program supervisor before it is submitted to the finance office for reimbursement. Travel milage reimbursement checks are processed once a month.
1) Travel reports are due on or before the 15th of each month. If the 15th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the travel report is due on the Friday before the 15th.
2) Include full name on travel report form.
3) Include home/mailing address on the travel report form
4) Email travel report forms to the finance offide at: invoices@centerffs.org. Include your EZ Pass statement. If you do not have EZ pass, then mail your receipts along with your travel report form to the finance office at One Alpha Ave and include your full name on each receipt.
Download the Self-Care & Resilience Wheel & Tool Kit
Self-care is taking steps to tend to your physical and emotional health needs to the best of your ability. The Self-Care Wheel is a helpful tool that can help you manage stress, improve wellbeing, increase contentment, and life satisfaction.
Download the Self-Care Wheel & Tool Kit Download the Self-Care Wheel & Tool Kit - Rose Colored
Everyone faces adversity in their life. Being resilient does not mean you won't experience stress, emotional upheaval, and suffering. You can build resiliency by preparing yourself with the tools necessary to cope with and work through very challenging life experiences.
The Resilience Wheel is a helpful tool that will help you create a sustainable, personalized resilience and wellbeing plan.
Download the Resilience Wheel & Tool Kit
To view more wellness resources, visit the Wellness Committee webpage.
Letter from CEO, Featured in Take Five
Dear Staff at Center For Family Services
The spring season is almost upon us. May this season be full of peace, happiness, and new beginnings for everyone.
I want to share with you that I recognize and acknowledge the challenges all of us continue to experience as a result of the many changes that occurred during the last two years. The latest change is the relaxed mask mandate across the state and nation. The ongoing need for us to adapt and adjust can take its toll. I acknowledge that we are all feeling the effects.
I ask you to continue to make time for yourself each day. Find ways to make your wellness a priority. Center For Family Services offers you free activities and workshops to support your wellness. Make the time to try some of these activities. Find what works best for you and incorporate it as part of your daily wellness routine.
Regardless of what is to come, I know we will continue to show up for one another and our communities, we will continue to improve the lives of those we touch, and we will continue to grow.
This spring I encourage all of you to find new ways to make your voice heard within Center For Family Services. Your voice matters when it comes to how we can better serve our staff and those in our care. Your unique perspectives and experiences bring value.
One way you can have your voice heard and share your ideas is through participation on one of our agency’s committees. Center For Family Services has a number of hard working committees, including the Intercultural Competency, Wellness, Zero Suicide, and Quality Improvement committees, that are dedicated to making change within our agency. Engage with fellow staff by joining a committee. Involvement on a committee is a great way to connect with new and familiar colleagues, get out of your comfort zone, educate yourself, and influence Center For Family Services’ future.
I also encourage you to push yourself to listen to new perspectives and ideas and try new things. When you really listen to varied voices and opinions, you can become more creative, diligent, and strategic. This becomes a form of professional development. Center For Family Services offers ongoing Lunch & Learns events as a way to celebrate the diversity of our staff. The Lunch & Learn events provide an opportunity for you to listen to perspectives from various staff on our team. These great events help us to educate each other as we pursue justice, equity, and inclusion. Research has shown that diversity builds stronger, more innovative teams and on a personal level, it causes us to change our behavior and makes us more aware of the world around us.
I encourage you to visit our staff portal on a regular basis to stay up to date with the our free wellness events, committee workshops, Lunch & Learn events and staff appreciation and recognition events. You are encouraged to attend these events.
Finally, I'd like to recognize Social Work Month and express my gratitude for our Social Workers who never stop advocating for our families. Your tireless work to provide hope and healing is valued and appreciated.
Thank you to our entire Center For Family Services Team. Each of you can be proud of the way you continue to show kindness and compassion as we work together to best meet the needs of those in our care.
Thank you for all you do.
Take good care,
Richard Stagliano
Important information on the relaxed guidelines effective 3/8/22.
Cash incentives for COVID Vaccine & Booster
Send proof of your COVID vaccine or COVID booster to Get.Vaccinated@centerffs.org with Your Name and COVID Vaccine or Booster in the email subject line. You will receive your cash incentive payment via payroll.
New entries added monthly!
At Center For Family Services our staff are our greatest resource.
The Expert Angle is a collection of blog entries – written by you, our expert staff - with relevant information on various topics related to mental health, wellness, resources, and more . It’s a platform to help staff, community members, and other social service professionals to learn and grow.
All staff are encouraged to check out the blog series and share articles with friends and family.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to the blog series.
Have something to share? As an expert in your field, the Expert Angle offers an outlet for you to share your professional knowledge with the community, other nonprofit professionals, and staff. Contact PR to share your ideas for our next blog article. Your article contribution will make important information available to fellow staff and community members.
Take the "Building Our Brand Training" today!
"Building Our Brand" will be a mandatory training for all new employees and part of the New Hire Experience. Public Relations strongly encourages all current staff to participate in this training as well.
This training will introduce you to branding tools, tips, and how to's so that you can become a Center For Family Services' brand champion. During this 20 minute training you'll:
A training experience for new employees hired after January 1, 2020
The New Hire Experience is an onboarding training experience like never before at Center For Family Services.
All staff and supervisors hired since January 2020 should plan to complete all assigned New Hire Experience training components. See below for directions and next steps for staff hired since January 2020 and info for staff to be hired in 2022.
The New Hire Experience brings a blended model of online, on paper, and interactive learning through Relias. The training is learner-driven and supervisor-supported and provides new staff with important information, resources, and guidance. Tenured staff members are also able to access and review any courses within the New Hire Experience to brush up on changes, build skills, or learn new ideas.
All supervisors are asked to log into Relias today to check your “users” to make your staff are listed correctly. If you need to request changes, email the Relias Help Desk.
If you need a refresher on what to expect from the New Hire Experience, visit Relias to view the Supervisor Resources and a recorded Information Session.
For assistance with your Relias account, including password reset, account activation, user or demographic changes, please email the Relias Help Desk.
For Staff Hired Since January 2020
All staff and supervisors hired since January 1, 2020 should plan to complete all assigned New Hire Experience training components based on the timeline listed below.
Pilot participants who completed all courses do not need to repeat the New Hire Experience.
Pilot supervisors or staff who started but did not complete all courses, are required to log in to Relias to complete all assigned training components.
New Hire Experience Timeline:
For New Hires in 2022
All new hires that start on or after January 3, 2022 will have standard timelines corresponding to their hire date. Please review the Supervisor Resources for more information on the Training Plans and timelines.
You can help to fill open positions and increase your earnings
As a current employee, you can get hired for a secondary position to increase your earnings and to help meet staffing needs. Center For Family Services has a number of positions that need to be filled immediately.
If you are interested in a secondary position with Center For Family Services, please contact Anthony Wilson at anthony.wilson@centerffs.org,
Residential
Additional staff are needed at our residential homes to provide 24/7 care. You can cover a shift a week, or more, as a secondary employment role. Two years of experience working with children in a direct service capacity is required. These positions include an attractive secondary pay rate.
Requirements: two years of experience working with children in a direct service capacity.
Behavioral Health
There is a continued and growing need for counseling and therapeutic services. Licensed and credentialed staff are encouraged to consider secondary position to help meet the need for services. Clinician positions available including on-site, hybrid, and remote therapeutic services.
Referral Bonus Reminder
You are encouraged to spread the word about our open employment positions among friends, family, contacts. Remember you are eligible for a $300.00 referral bonus for any person you refer who completes our 120 Day Orientation period.
You are eligible for a $300 cash incentive for referring a candidate for employment
Center For Family Services is a top workplace in our region. You can help expand our team with new, talented staff members.
You can benefit from cash bonuses to support recruitment, hiring, and retention. Our new Referral and Retention Bonus Incentives are effective from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Take advantage of the referral bonus incentive and help us grow our outstanding team of employees.
Staff Referral Bonus - a bonus opportunity for current staff
As a current staff member, you can be our best resource for recruitment. To honor and appreciate your support in recruitment, you will receive a $300 cash incentive referral bonus if you refer a qualified candidate who is hired and remains employed for 120 days or more. To refer a potential employee, download the Staff Referral Form and return it along with a copy of the prospective candidate's resume to the HR department. The form must be received prior to the candidate starting.
Sign On Bonus - a bonus opportunity for new hires
Center For Family Services is also offering hiring sign-on bonuses to applicants who are hired and maintain employment.
1. Full Time Staff - Employees hired starting July 1, 2021 are eligible for a $500 sign-on, non-committal, onboarding bonus. Bonuses are paid at $250.00 upon hire and $250.00 at the successful completion of the 120-day orientation period. Human Resources will submit authorization to pay.
2. Sign-On Bonus - Licensed - Licensed staff are eligible for a $1500.00 one-time retention incentive. This is a 12-month commitment incentive and requires agreement of such during on-boarding. If the staff leaves before the conclusion of the 12-month agreement, the incentive will be reimbursed. Human Resources will secure agreement.
3. Sign-On Bonus - Clinical - Clinical staff are eligible for a $3000.00 one-time retention incentive. This is a 12-month commitment incentive and requires agreement of such during on-boarding. If the staff leaves before the conclusion of the 12-month agreement, the incentive will be reimbursed. Human Resources will secure agreement.
Part-Time (Fee For Service not included)
1. Sign-On Bonus - P/T Employees hired starting July 1, 2021 are eligible for a $250 sign on, non-committal, onboarding bonus. Bonuses are paid at $125.00 upon hire and $125.00 at the successful completion of the 120-day orientation period. Human Resources will submit authorization to pay.
2. P/T Sign-On Bonus - Licensed - Licensed staff are eligible for a $750.00 one-time retention incentive. This is a 12-month commitment incentive and requires agreement of such during on-boarding. If the staff leaves before the conclusion of the 12-month agreement, the incentive will be reimbursed. Human Resources will secure agreement.
3. P/T Sign-On Bonus - Clinical - Clinical staff are eligible for a $1500.00 one-time retention incentive. This is a 12-month commitment incentive and requires agreement of such during on-boarding. If the staff leaves before the conclusion of the 12-month agreement, the incentive will be reimbursed. Human Resources will secure agreement.
Opportunities to support your professional development
Center For Family Services was recognized as a Top Workplace
Center For Family Services is excited to announce that we’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace for the 12th year in a row! Thank for your role as part of our hard working team. It is your work that makes this special recognition possible. We’re grateful to have such passionate staff that are committed to helping families and individuals across New Jersey reach their full potential. Each and every one of you brings something unique to Center For Family Services that strengthens our team.
Email standards that promote branding and a professional appearance.
Email Standards and Etiquette Guidelines
Staff are asked to follow these email standards and etiquette guidelines when sending emails on behalf of Center For Family Services. These guidelines pertain both to internal and external emails. The standards promote branding and professional appearance.
1. Include a signature block that follows our branding guidelines
All staff are asked to use a classic, professional font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman for your signature block. Be sure the font and font size in your signature block is consistent in all lines of your signature. Please avoid signature add-ons, including quotes or background colors.
Please follow this format for your email signature block. Use a classic font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri (no italics):
First/Last Name
Pronouns (optional)
Job Title
Center For Family Services
Email Address
Work Phone
Cell Phone (if you have an agency cell number)
Fax (optional)
centerffs.org
Follow Center For Family Services on social media (optional)
Agency Branded Image (optional). Directions for the branded image can be found on the PR section of the website.
This communication, including attachments, is confidential, may be subject to legal privileges, and is intended for the sole use of the addressee. Any use, duplication, disclosure or dissemination of this communication, other than by the addressed, is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete or destroy this communication and all copies.
2. Keep your fonts classic
You want your emails to be easy for other people to read, so be sure to keep fonts, colors and sizes to a 10- or 12- point type and an easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
3. Be sure to include a clear, direct subject line
People may decide whether to open your message based on your subject line, so be sure to include a clear subject. Here are a few examples of good subject lines: "Meeting date changed", "Quick question about your program", or "Suggestions for the agenda”. Please be sure to avoid sending an email without a subject line.
4. Think twice before sending an email to the all staff listserv or to the supervisors listserv
Does your message pertain to all or most of our 1500 employees across the state of New Jersey? Or to most of our 120 supervisors across the state? If not, then please do not send to the all staff listserv or to the all supervisors listserv. For example, if your message pertains only to Gloucester County programs then you are asked to avoid sending to the all employees listserv or to the supervisors listserv.
5. Think twice before hitting 'reply all'
Always refrain from hitting "reply all", unless you really think everyone on the list needs to receive the email. Take a few extra seconds to make sure you don’t accidently hit “reply all” as this fills other people’s inboxes unnecessarily.
Always avoid “reply all” if you your message is intended for a single staff person. For instance if you are congratulating a staff person, you should avoid sending the message to everyone on the email.
6. Use professional salutations
Start your message with “Hi” or “Hello” or “Good Morning/Afternoon”. Always avoid laid-back expressions like, "Hey you guys".
7. Be mindful of wording
Always say please and thank you. Avoid negative words such as failure, disappointed, neglected, or wrong.
8. Use exclamation points sparingly
If you choose to use an exclamation point, use only one to convey excitement.
9. Keep tabs on your tone
The goal is for a friendly tone to your emails. Always read your message out- loud before hitting send. If it sounds harsh or abrupt to you then it will sound harsh or abrupt to the reader. Tone in an email can be easily confused without the context from vocal cues and facial expressions.
10. Be cautious with humor
Humor and jokes can often get lost in translation, especially without the context of tone or facial expressions. In a professional exchange, it is best to leave humor out of emails unless you know the recipient well. When in doubt, leave it out.
11. Be sure to proofread every message
Read and re-read your email a few times, preferably aloud, before sending it off. Consider downloading the free app Grammarly Keyboard to help improve grammar and spelling. Take a few extra seconds to double check to ensure you selected the correct recipient.
12. Nothing is confidential--so write accordingly
Assume that others will see what you write. Avoid writing anything you wouldn't want others to see.
Thank you for following these guidelines which help promote branding and professional appearance.
The Staff Portal helps you find important info quickly and easily.
Center For Family Services - Staff Portal
The redesigned staff portal can help you find the info you need faster. Quick links to all the content within the staff section of the website are just a click away on the staff portal, including everything from the personnel policies and procedures handbook, to announcements, staff highlights, guidelines for daily operations, important committee resources, professional development training opportunities, and more.
Coming soon - a change to unique user name & password
In the coming weeks, access to the staff section of the website will change to a unique user name and login and password (more info to follow). Once the change takes effect, you will no longer be able to access the staff section of the website with the user name: staff and the password: centerffs.org. More info coming soon.
Please check all phone lines associated with your programs.
The VOIP phone system makes it easy for you to forward calls, receive messages from various phone lines, and view your voicemail messages via email.
But, if your mailbox is full, you may be missing important messages, and calls are unable to leave messages. To ensure we are providing the best customer service experience, please take a few minutes to check all land lines and cell phone lines associated with your programs to make sure:
1) Your voice mail greeting is active, both for your program landlines and cell phone lines
2) Your mailboxes are not full. Be sure to delete old messages, especially if you are viewing your messages via email. Note: deleting the email does not empty your voice mail box.
3) Your call forwarding is set up and working correctly, if applicable.
As a reminder, information on how to set up your voicemail greeting can be found here:
Thank you for checking to make sure your voicemail is setup!
ComPscyh is our EAP provider
ComPscyh is our new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider.
For more information on the Employee Assistance Program and the services available for you please click the link below.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Available for download
TeleHealth consent forms can be downloaded and viewed by staff and individuals in our care. Visit our TeleHealth Services page to view and download forms:
Click the link below to download the TeleHealth Guidelines for Staff:
Offering staff a safe environment to explore ways to effectively cope and manage stress.
Center For Family Services’ Resiliency Care Team is made up of volunteer staff who are members of the Traumatic Loss Coalition’s Lead Trauma Response Team and/or NJ’s Disaster Response Crisis Counselors. The team has been trained in the best practices to support individuals and communities in the wake of a traumatic event or disaster. The function of the team is to provide comprehensive multi-component interventions following a critical incident within Center For Family Services as well as the community, agencies, or businesses. Types of incidents could include death of staff or clients, violence, or natural disasters. The team is guided under the direction of Center For Family Services’ Associate Vice President of Trauma and Violence Prevention.
The primary goal of the team is to act as a support system to Center For Family Services’ Programs as well as the community in the aftermath of a traumatic event. The interventions and services include:
Tools to help you
Greetings My Friends and Colleagues,
I hope you are doing well and practicing what we preach - self care! Over the past couple of years, all new staff during New Staff Orientation have been introduced to a trauma informed approach called Psychological First Aid. Some of you may have embraced the approach while others may have walked away saying I'm not sure when I would ever need that skill. Well, the time has come that you may need to fall back on Psychological First Aid.
As we adjust to working remotely from home and maintain business as usual, our services may not always be as usual. As we attempt to respond to the current needs of our families, we are also mindful that the impact of CoVID-19 may worsen someone's level of distress. We are also aware that CoVID-19 just doesn't impact those we serve but it may impact our families, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves. You may be asking yourself, "how can I attend to the needs of those struggling with this virus" or "what do I do if someone appears distressed when I am talking with them via the telephone or video?"
Well, my friends, two tools that can help you feel equipped to support those during these challenging times are Psychological First Aid and Skills for Psychological Recovery, two two evidenced-informed approaches that aim to support individuals faced with the challenges following a traumatic event or prolonged stress and gain skills to manage and cope with adversity.
You can download this toolkit which includes:
1) Info on Psychological First Aid
2) Info on Skills for Psychological Recovery
3) Fact sheets on the impact of CoVID-19 on families, individuals, and our community
You can also go to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network at www.nctsn.org for further information or to download the Field Operation Guides.
If you have any questions or I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to reach out.
Best Wishes to You,
Barbara Maronski
Step by step instructions to help you update your email signature to include our 100 Year logo.
Are your program phone numbers and vm greetings up-to-date?
Supervisors and Staff -
Please take a few minutes to check the phone numbers listed on the website and on your program brochures to make sure they are accurate. Please call the numbers to confirm whether the lines are in service, and check to make sure a voice mail greeting is set up that meets agency PR standards. If assistance is need, please contact PR or IT.
Transfer the call to ACCESS
Find step by step directions in e3 Community
Here is a link to the e3 community with step by step directions on the many functions of e3:
All staff are asked to wear ID badges.
Please be mindful to wear your Center For Family Services ID badge while on company properties and anytime you are conducting company business.
Stephen Holinaty
Jeweliza Degro-Flores
Kasukosan White
Kate Cardente
Breanne Lechmacher-Hunt
Melissa Stokes
Andrew Coley
Claytina Furbush
Rhonda Freeman
Dianadelis Ramirez
Tammy Walker
Elsie Baez
Kenyetta Elamin
Christine Ramos
Jack Davis
Elizabeth Carlino
Anna Payanzo
Nydia Bradshaw
Mariah Norton
Kendra Hill
Lesly Berrios
Briana Green
Salimah Galezniak
Andrea Angioletti
Catherine Solomon
Ana Delarosa
Joshua Negron
Yamiles Delgado
MyAngel Davis
Heather Denson
Tricia Colon-Santiago
Maria Victor
Amanda Gannon
Jeanette Quinn
Celeste Carter
Rebecca Lewis-Orr-Borelli
Christina Brown
Kelly Benzkofer
Mecaela Dunson
Raymond Orsini
Caroline Seymour
Nicole Dudek
Megan Turner
Valery Estremera Calo
Felicia Bacon-Garnes
Dyamante Williams
Cerridwen Cox
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