Introducing “Thrifty Threads!” Making Fashion More Sustainable for Students

Our Transitions Program in Cherry Hill, NJ has a new and fashionable addition! “Thrifty threads” is the program’s new thrift store and it’s officially open for business. The store was started […]
First Children School Gets a Special Visitor

On November 1, 2022, Mary O’Dowd a teacher from Galway, Ireland visited First Children School. She was visiting her son here in NJ and came across our school through an […]
Providing Exceptional Care through Teamwork and Career Growth: Meet Devon Garfio

Q. What’s your title and how long have you been at First Children Services? A. My role is Assistant Director. I’ve been working with First Children Services (FCS) for 2.5 […]
Keeping Employees Together While Working Apart: An Employee Wellness Initiative to Address Social Distancing Challenges

By Caitlin Summers Motta, LPC, Director of Mental Health Services, and Susan Goldman, MEd, Director of Community Educational Services Everything changed in March 2020. Our routines changed. Our families changed. […]
Helping Anxious Children Return to School During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jay S. Cohen, M.Ed, Transitions Program Supervisor Returning to school this fall will be exciting for many students, but some will be experiencing feelings of anxiety and fear. Certainly, […]
Connecting with Distance Learning

By Ellen D’Amato, PhD, School Psychologist First Children School “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” I wrote this quote from Dr. Dennis […]
A Case for Optimism

By Matthew Hess, CEO, First Children Services It is April 5, 2020 and we have been in our government-ordered quarantine for going on three weeks. Schools have closed, businesses shuttered […]
School Anxiety and First Children Services

By Jay S. Cohen, M.Ed Supervisor of Transitions/Balance Programs Some students feign illness to skip going to school. Here, at First Children Service’s Transitions and Balance programs, it’s often anxiety […]
What is an “inclusive” child care program?

By Pam Radel, Director of Administration I am proud to say that for the last 20 years, I have been the director of an inclusive child care program. Some of […]
Childhood Trauma and Its Possible Link to Anxiety and Excessive Absenteeism

By Susan Goldman, MEd, Director, Community Educational Services I totally missed it! If I knew then what I know now, what a different impact I would’ve had on my inner city, […]