RELEASE: October 23, 2003

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Grand Opening set for Keansburg Resource Network

Triggered by the efforts of the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), led by Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris, to transform child protective services in the state, the Northern Monmouth District Office of DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) sponsored a Keansburg Town Meeting in March. The town meeting drew over 75 people from community groups and agencies who brainstormed ways to safeguard children and at-risk families in their area. That community partnership has evolved into a permanent Keansburg Resource Network (KRN) that will open its doors next Tuesday, October 28, from 2 – 5 p.m.

Health Fair - Grand Opening of the Keansburg Resource Network – a referral office for social service needs

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 14 Kennedy Way, Keansburg, NJ 07734 732-495-8222; Fax 732-495-8224 -- Mary Lou Caputo, Director

According to Resource Development Specialist Jo Pohl, of the Northern Monmouth DYFS District Office, the RN mission is “to enhance the quality of life for residents of Keansburg, by enabling residents to more easily identify and access social services. We are committed to the creation of a resource and information center in Keansburg that will provide on-site information about programs and services, and facilitate linkages to resources that meet the needs of Keansburg’s population. We are further committed to developing additional resources and services within Keansburg itself, to make access to relevant services more possible.”

The KRN was selected to be the Monmouth County Model (a collaboration of community agencies to assistchildren and families) to be presented at Commissioner Harris’ final Save the Children’s Day event this year, at Brookdale Community College on November 19th.

*SERVICES OFFERED at KRN:
• On-site applications for food stamps, Medicaid, welfare
assistance
• Health screenings, immunizations
• Parenting workshops
• Family support meetings
• Individual and group counseling
• Child protective services
• Children’s programs
• Information Referral services to other agencies and programs
*all services are free of charge

PARTICIPANTS in KRN:
• Visiting Nurses Association
• Monmouth county Division of Social Services
• NJ Division of Youth & Family Services (DYFS)
• Catholic Charities
• Riverview Medical Center
• Family Based Services
• Children’s Psychiatric Center
• Monmouth County Girl Scouts
• Monmouth Cares
• Monmouth County Department of Human Services
• Project Paul
• 180 Turning Lives Around
• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
• St. Ann’s Church
• Easter Seal Society
• Keansburg Alliance
• Keansburg School District
• First United Methodist Church
• Bayshore Senior Day Center
• Mental Health Association
• The Salvation Army
• Child Abuse Prevention – NJ
• Bayshore Hospital
• Keansburg Citizens

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