Family Success Centers Awarded for Excellence

Newark’s three Family Success Centers and three focused Success Centers have been honored by The Network for Social Work Management with an “Organizational Excellence Award.”

Accepting the award recently on behalf of the Newark Family Success Center Network was Lavar Young, president and CEO of Newark Now, a non-profit charity benefitting Newark residents.

“The goal of our Family Success Centers is to help families in need,” said Young, noting the state now has 52 Family Success centers based in every county in New Jersey. “These centers are safety nets around our city, strategically helping families no matter where they live.”

Tom Blatner, president and CEO of Janus Solution of Hopewell, nominated Newark for the national award. Blatner said that Newark has been a pioneer in the development of Family Success, based off the vision of Mayor Cory Booker when he was sworn into office in 2006.

What evolved are 13 neighborhood-based safe, supportive and helpful “Family Success Centers” that assist family access to healthcare, childcare, counseling, benefits, and employment assistance. The three focused Success Centers offer financial empowerment services, services for fathers, and services for grandfamilies.

The centers also provide safe environments for families to participate in cultural and recreational activities. Each year, more than 4,000 families use these neighborhood resources. Preliminary feedback shows they access significantly more resources and support than if they were left on their own.

Centers are operated through: Babyland Family Success Center, Central and West Ward Family Success Center, Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc., FOCUS Family Success Center, FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc., Ironbound Community Corporation Family Success Center, La Casa de Don Pedro, The North Ward Center Family Success Center, New Community Family Resource Success Center, Grand Family Family Success Center, Financial Empowerment Center, Fathers Now and Beth Israel Hospital.