Jenna Stoner was recently named the Regional Coalition Coordinator for Prevention Connections, and Niki Sumka was named the Project Assistant for the Warren Hills Community Coalition. Both are programs a part of the Family Guidance Center, which serves Warren County.

“Two outstanding individuals who have a lot to offer,” said Jeanne Cassano, Supervisor of the Prevention Connections program. “They each bring their own expertise into the fold and most importantly relate to young people, which is much of our target audience. We are very excited to have them on board.”

Stoner, an honors graduate of St. Elizabeth’s with a degree in criminal justice, had been the Statewide Respite Grant Coordinator for the Visiting Nurse Association of North Jersey before switching to a corporate job.

But, she said, “It was not fulfilling to me. It just didn’t make me tick. I just felt that I needed to be in some sort of community outreach program, helping people.”

Sumka, who studied psychology at the University of Hartford, was the co-director of a non-profit for the past two years, Love More For Julius, named after her best friend who died of a drug overdose. She was also a volunteer recovery coach.

“It’s because of my best friend that I am in this field,” Sumka said. “It’s important for me to make a difference particularly with the 10 to 17 year old agree group.” It’s not easy for them these days, she notes, citing vaping as the latest teenage fad that is not healthy.  “There seems to be something different every day.”

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.