A Special Announcement from CEO, Matthew Hess
Happy 2023! We have an exciting announcement to bring to you all as we begin a brand new year. Over the last 13 years, as an organization, we’ve experienced a […]
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 internet […]
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 […]
Ways to Advocate for Disability Justice and Disability Resources
Advocacy for disability rights is so important. It provides assistance to those in the disability community and offers support to ensure that all rights are upheld, their choice and control […]
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 […]
Top 10 Tips to Reduce Back to School Anxiety
What if I get lost? Will I make new friends? What if I don’t like my new teacher? Will I have someone to sit with at lunch? What if someone […]