Michele Eichorn, who has an extensive background in behavioral health and has worked in both hospital and community based behavioral health organizations in New Jersey and elsewhere, has been named the new Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center (FGC).

The Family Guidance Center is a private, non-profit community behavioral health care agency that provides a broad range of mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services to individuals and families living in Warren County. Founded in 1955, the center is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by problems related to mental illness, substance abuse, family conflict or emotional adjustment.

Eichorn’s expansive background also includes her work in the Army where she received an honorable discharge at the rank of Sergeant.  Prior to her appointment at FGC, she spent years working at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ. She is a past recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman “Humanism in Healthcare” Award from the Healthcare Foundation of NJ and has been featured in an Edge Magazine article entitled “Now in My Backyard: Tales from the front lines of New Jersey’s heroin epidemic.”  Eichorn earned her Master of Social Work degree (MSW) at Columbia University and is currently in the MBA program at Rutgers.

Wherever she has worked, her intention has been the same.

“I am deeply committed for and on behalf of our residents,” said Eichorn, LCSW, LCADC. “There is a need here in Warren County and I look forward to helping to meet that need. As an organization we will soon be working on an extensive strategic planning process that will enable us to chart our course for years to come.”

The multi-faceted Family Guidance Center provides services to adolescents, families, and adults – women and men of all ages – from myriad backgrounds. In her field, Eichorn has been recognized as someone who is highly motivated and a caring professional and who possesses the skills, knowledge and passion to lead an organization.

“I do think I bring a passion in bringing people together to work collaboratively,” said Eichorn, who also has a passion to travel – she often takes getaway trips in her Winnebago. “I want to get to know each and every staff member at the Family Guidance Center and also to become an integral part of the community at-large meeting our local leaders and reaching out to residents.”

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.