CFAR June 2023 Newsletter

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CFAR JUNE 2023 NEWSLETTER

The mission of Center for Families and Relationships is to strengthen and build resiliency in families by providing individual, family and couples counseling utilizing a holistic approach to treatment. We are partners in parenting, empowering members of the family to make a permanent, positive change towards becoming productive members of their own families, and of our community as a whole.

Organizational News

With over 1,200* active clients, CFAR is always working to assure that we have systems in place to accommodate our client needs. To that end, we are working on updating our website, improving our telehealth platform, and developing a better client portal. Stay tuned for more news about these wonderful updates!

We’ve welcomed an incredible cohort of 10 interns from La Salle University, Chestnut Hill College, Walden University, and Antioch University. Interns at CFAR are well trained and receive regular supervision to enhance their clinical skills, and many of them are so happy with their experience that they stay on as staff. We can’t wait to see what this new cohort will accomplish!

Georgeann Moore has joined the CFAR Board of Directors! Georgeann currently works at Mount Sinai, serving as the Senior Director of Education and Alumni Relations. In this role, she oversees the fundraising for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Graduate School, and the Nursing School. Georgeann brings her passion for relationship building and her skill for fundraising to her board role, and we are incredibly luck to have her join CFAR during this period of incredible growth!

*Correction: Please note that the May 2023 newsletter indicated 2,800 clients every month, but it should have indicated 2,800 client hours every month.

Together Through Trauma

We are excited to announce that our new Together Through Trauma (TTT) Team is on board and already working on rolling out the TTT programming into six Philadelphia Rec Centers!

The team will be led by ongoing TTT Program Director Syeeda Martin. The Trauma Therapists and Outreach Specialists will team up in pairs and work with specific rec centers to make the programming as impactful as possible. Christina Fogle and Khaliq Moore will work with Tustin, Feltonville, and Mallery-Rumph Rec Centers. Gwyneth Shumar and Dorise Blye will work with Mander, CB Moore, and 8th & Diamond Rec Centers. Administrative Assistant Becky Vasquez will support the team and the work. CFAR is incredibly lucky to have this dynamic and passionate team to bring trauma services and knowledge to the communities that are most impacted by the ongoing violence epidemic in Philadelphia.

As the team works on identifying individuals for therapy services and scheduling community workshops, we will share more information and news with the community. In the meantime, please call 215-537-5367 ext. 4005 or email gvp@cfarcounseling.org with any questions.

Children Deserving Services

The importance of expanding our Children Deserving Services program is becoming increasingly urgent. We have a growing waitlist of uninsurable children who need mental health support that CFAR can offer. If you are able to donate to CFAR to support this critical program expansion, please click on the donate button at the bottom of this newsletter. For more information about CDS, call 215-537-5367 ext. 4004 or email cds@cfarcounseling.org.

Partnership Highlight

CFAR was honored to be awarded with a Compass Pro Bono project that started this past February. The project team focused on funding strategies to help CFAR assure financial stability as we grow rapidly. The need for high quality mental health services has been rising across the city, and CFAR is looking forward to utilizing guidance from the experts on our Compass team as we grow strategically to help meet those needs. Thank you Compass Pro Bono!

Save the Date for CFAR’s Movie Night!

Please save the date for CFAR’s Third Annual Movie night at Pelbano Recreation Center (8101 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19152) on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 7pm. The movie is anticipated to be ‘Sing!’ and we will provide some drinks and snacks! CFAR staff will be there doing mental health screenings, and providing information about CFAR services and programs.

We are seeking a sponsor for this highly visible community event, and we are seeking partner organizations to join us with information tables prior to the start of the movie. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact Toral Patel at development@cfarcounseling.org.