These are interesting times that we are living in currently. Things are changing rapidly and our routines are entirely thrown off. We are focusing on community wellness…at least for physical health. Let’s take a moment to talk about our mental health. [...]
On March 17, 2020 Elgin Township voters will see a referendum question on their ballot: “Shall Elgin Township establish and maintain community mental health facilities and services including facilities and services for the person with a developmental disability or a substance use disorder and levy therefore an annual tax of not to exceed 0.15%?” [...]
Here in northern Illinois, winter decided to come a little early this year. We have already seen some significant snow and record-breaking cold days have set in. We also moved back to standard time so the sun feels like an elusive lover whose time you pine for but never seem to get. [...]
On Saturday, October 26th, witches, warlocks, gangsters and prisoners gathered to support a worthy cause: to raise funds for Family Service Association’s Juvenile Justice Jeopardy 2020 roll out. Family Service Association’s (FSA) provides mental health and support services to young people and their families. [...]
Somewhere around 1975, September started to become widely recognized as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Yet, despite increasing efforts around this awareness, suicide rates have shown a steady increase over the last 20 years. Since 1999, suicide rates have increased by 33%! 1999 is a significant year in my [...]
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there were 46.6 million adults (18+) with a mental illness in 2017. 1 in 5 adolescents have a mental health disorder according to NIMH and 1 in 6 children (aged 2-8) have a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder according to the CDC. That’s a lot of people struggling with thoughts, feelings, and [...]
Family Service Association is again participating in Giving Tuesday on November 27, 2018. The Grand Victoria Foundation has agreed to graciously match dollar for dollar any donations up to $4,000 that are given via the #ILGIVE portal or through our website. These dollars will go to support mental health services for youth and their [...]
The State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly known as Public Aid) is undergoing a Behavioral Health Transformation. There are many changes that have taken place and will be taking place in the months and years to come. One of the first changes impacted our SASS program as of August 1, 2018. SASS has long been known for its mobile crisis response to youth in [...]
FSA Welcomes Dr. Dov Rapoport to our treatment team. On May 25, 2018, Dr. Dov Rapoport saw his first FSA family, but it is far from his first psychiatric evaluation. He has been a practicing physician and psychiatrist for over 30 years! He has served in quite the vast array of environments. He has worked as a psychiatric consultant in youth group homes, in drug rehabilitation programs, completed forensic [...]
May 10, 2018 is considered world Children’s Mental Health Day. We, at Family Service Association, provide mental health services for youth every day so to say that we bring awareness to it just one day a year would be a disserve to the work we do. However, this a great day to bring the community together to talk about mental health, bring a light to some of the issues that young people face today, and rededicate ourselves to providing quality, accessible, client-centered and holistic behavioral health services to youth and their families. [...]
I am a SASS (Screen Assessment and Support Services) therapist. My position requires me to provide case management services to clients and their families who have received a SASS evaluation. Case management can [...]
Unfortunately stress is a part of life. Whether it’s stress from work or school, stress from finances, or stress from fitting in with your peers, we all experience stress in our daily lives. We all manage stress in different ways, and some of us are better at managing it than others. When we don’t manage stress well, and things [...]
FSA recently created a play therapy room for outpatient clients. The room is similar to a typical counseling office with an inviting feel to younger kids. Some items in the play therapy room are: decals on the wall with trees, squirrels, and birds; [...]
We would like to highlight this month the coalition Compañeros en Salud for their contributions in assisting member of the community access appropriate healthcare and social services since 1999. This group was organized and founded by Dr. Lulu Blacksmith the current Director of Government and Multicultural Affairs at [...]
Get to know one of our wonderful family support workers, Renee! [...]
On Thursday, February 22nd FSA will be hosting its 5th annual fundraiser, Chase Away the Winter Blues from 6-9 pm at the Grand Victoria Casino Ballroom in Elgin. We warmly invite you to join us for a casual night of fun including hors d'oeuvres, DJ, raffle baskets, wine pull, 50/50 Heads or Tails raffle, and live auction. All funds raised [...]
Get to know our billing specialist, Amanda Ervin.
Have you ever jumped up and down and screamed at the top of your lungs at a football or basketball game? Or have you danced in your kitchen after receiving some good news that’s just bursting out of you? These are the expressions of our thoughts and feelings when words are absent or insufficient. [...]
Many things come to mind when we talk about the holidays. For some of us, that includes trees with lights and sparkly ornaments, cookies baking in the oven, or a man in a red suit with a jolly laugh. For others, the satisfying taste of a potato latke, a lighted menorah, or a spinning dreidel. For others yet, the telling of today’s principle [...]