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Back to School Fair Helps Families to Prepare for New School Year


 
Attendees learned about local services

Hundreds of parents and children recently turned out for a Back-to-School Fair hosted by the Sussex County Family Success Center and Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, at Project Self-Sufficiency.  Designed to prepare the entire family for a successful academic year, the event featured workshops about substance use trends, healthy and inexpensive school lunch and snack ideas, and developmental screening for children.  A K-9 demonstration by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department as well as a mini pop-up farmer’s market sponsored by the LocalShare Foodshed Alliance rounded out the event.  Children were invited to play games and receive free haircuts and backpacks filled with school supplies.  Representatives from local social service and health care organizations were on hand to offer patrons additional resources.  Agency staff members and volunteers played games and provided refreshments.  Music was provided by the Bill Wright School of Music.  Exhibitors from local social service agencies provided interactive activities for children.  Sussex Macaroni Kid coordinated craft projects for children with the help of a squad of dedicated volunteers.
 
Bill Wright School of Music Provided Music

“We are pleased to be able to help both parents and children to prepare for a successful school year at the annual Back-to-School Fair,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director at Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We commend all of the social service agencies, businesses and volunteers who have taken the time to lend a helping hand to local families in need.”
 
Early intervention was discussed by certified home visitors

In addition to dinner and activities for children, the Back-to-School Fair featured informative, break-out sessions for parents.  Morris County Prevention is Key discussed the warning signs of adolescent substance abuse with the use of a mock-up of a teenager’s bedroom.  Registered dieticians at ShopRite offered suggestions for healthy and inexpensive school lunch and snack foods for families.  Project Self-Sufficiency’s Home Visitation staff explained childhood development screening, including the use of assessment tools and online portals for pinpointing developmental milestones for young children.
 
Free produce was offered by Local Share

Participating social service and health care organizations included Atlantic Health System Psychiatry Collaborative Hub; Care Plus NJ; Caring Partners; Center for Prevention & Counseling; DASI; DAWN Center for Independent Living; New Jersey Department of Child Protection & Permanency; Family Interventions; Family Partners of Morris & Sussex; Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey; League of Women Voters of Sussex Highlands; Legal Services of Northwest New Jersey; Literacy New Jersey – Sussex County Programs; Macaroni Kid, Sussex; NAMI Sussex; Newton Medical Center; Sussex County Health Department, NJ CEED, Office of Public Health Nursing; Northern New Jersey, Safe Kids, Safe Communities; NORWESCAP Child & Family Resource Services; Partnership for Maternal & Child Health, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program; Project SEARCH; Project Self-Sufficiency; Project Self-Sufficiency Master Gardeners; SCARC; Shop Rite of Newton; Sussex County Division of Social Services; Sussex County Library; Sussex County Special Child Health Services; YMCA; Youth Advocate Program; Zufall Health Center; and others.
Free haircuts were provided by volunteer stylists

Professional stylists from several area salons volunteered their time to offer free haircuts to students.  Participating salons included Blackbird Barber Shop, John’s Barber Shop, Oasis Salon,
Scissor Joint and Village Mane.   “We are grateful for the graciousness, patience and enthusiasm of the stylists who volunteer to cut hair at the Back-to-School fair,” noted Berry-Toon.  “The children look beautiful, and the parents are delighted because the service is free and available to their families each year at the fair.”

Non-profit agency Project Self-Sufficiency has served northwestern New Jersey families for more than 30 years.  The agency offers a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children.  The agency offers a supportive family-centered environment where life issues are addressed through a combination of individual counseling, peer support groups, case management services, parenting skills training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early childhood education, family activities and health education.  For information about any of the services provided at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org. Information about the Sussex County Family Success Center can be found at www.sussexcountyfamilysuccesscenter.org.  For more information about Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, visit at www.projectsussexkids.org.

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