Families come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have the same responsibility – to build a loving environment within which every member is nurtured and can feel safe. From two working parents to an overabundance of children’s activities, today’s families face more demands than ever before and can put stress on a family. VHS has designed the Family Services Program to meet the unique needs of families with children to strengthen the family unit, provide emotional support, enable the family to remain intact in their own home, and provide a positive presence for the children.  

The Family Services Program is a collection of services utilizing qualified social workers, case managers, and specially trained Family Skills Mentors to assist the family during stressful times including the absence of a parent due to surgery, illness, injury, and work demands.

The program is designed to protect children by providing a stable and positive presence in the home, improve the capacity of the parent by tending to their physical and emotional needs as well as reduce the number of children placed outside the home due to a family crisis. Family Skills Mentors nurture the children and the family by averting destructive behavior through education, mentoring, role modeling, and encouragement. By redefining the role of a homemaker, VHS is utilizing their experienced Certified Home Health Aides as in-home Family Skills Mentors. Working with Licensed Social Workers and Case Managers, Family Skills Mentors are able to reach out to Hudson County families in need of counseling and other community based social service programs.