For Jeanne Cassano, being named the new Supervisor of Prevention Connections, a program of the Family Guidance Center,  is an exciting opportunity to work to build a healthy and safe community in Warren County.

For several years Cassano worked with the Hunterdon Helpline, as Community Resource Specialist, Program Coordinator and eventually as the Executive Director. She moved on to the banking industry for some time, but when the opportunity came up to work with Prevention Connections, she was happy to return to the non-profit sector.

“I had spent many years working in the community and helping people in need,” said Cassano. “I felt strongly that I wanted to get back into that field. It’s important to me to work with a mission.”

She’ll have that chance with one of the most influential programs of its kind in Warren County. The prevention program provides resources, training and support to youth, parents, schools, businesses, healthcare, the faith-based community and health care professionals in addressing substance abuse issues across the life-span of Warren County residents.

Among the sub-programs she will now lead are the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities and the Warren Hills Community Coalition.

“These two programs are essential to our mission within the community,” said Michele Eichorn, Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center. “Jeanne’s extensive experience and knowledge of important trends make her a great choice as Supervisor.”

The Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities and the Warren Hills Community Coalition has encompassed many new initiatives in the past few years, such as the disposal of unused or expired medications program in one of the nine prescription drop-box locations in Warren County, a partnership between FGC’s coalitions and local police departments; during the months of April and November when individuals purchase alcohol from a local retailer there is a sticker on their purchase that read “Keep it Legal – Don’t be a party to underage drinking” – a Sticker Shock campaign to raise awareness to the dangers of underage drinking.

Cassano is also welcoming a new staff member, Niki Sumka, who is the Project Facilitator for the Warren Hills Community Coalition, which recently received a Drug Free Communities Continuation Grant for services to the community for the next five years.

“I believe we have a great team in place,” said Cassano. “The two Coalition programs have done terrific work over the past few years and we have a number of community programs planned to continue that success. Our youth in particular, is counting on us to get them through the important times of their lives.”

In the upcoming fall months, Cassano and her staff are working on several community programs including distributing informational packets for parents at back to school nights, a Talk They Hear You Campaign, working with the Make It Better and Above the Influence Youth Coalitions, Plant the Promise activity, Red Ribbon Week, Hidden in Plain Sight presentations, TIPS training for Peer Leaders, ongoing development of the Outreach and Community Education Regarding the Use of Opioid Pain Relievers for Sports Related Injuries in Young Athletes Program, “Chasing the Dragon” presentations and a new program targeting smoking/vaping cessation.

The Family Guidance Center has been providing behavioral health services to the Warren County community for over 60 years and provides services to over 4,000 individuals each year who are diagnosed with a mental illness or substance use disorder. The individual, their family members and their communities are all impacted by this diagnosis.  Some realize their illness as a result of a crisis, others learn of their illness through their everyday struggles that keep them from living a life free of anxiety, depression or desperation.  Families can be just as fragile as their loved one as they learn how to cope and support their husband, wife, daughter, son, mother or father through a time in their lives when hope is just a word and not a reality.

For more information about the Family Guidance Center, including its locations throughout the county, full suite of services, how one can volunteer, and other details about the organization, visit www.fgcwc.org.