The work of the Family Service Agency is never-ending; even as they complete the observance of one month devoted to a particular cause, they flow into another month dedicated to two more. And they are making changes to accommodate their ever-expanding objectives.
Erin Tamms from FSA says they just finished Child Abuse Awareness Month in April; this was marked by 125 pinwheels outside their offices along Sycamore Road in DeKalb -- representing 125 children helped by them, or through the Child Advocacy Center, during the past year.
Now they continue to help children through other programs, which now means a change in title for one key project. FSA has ended its affiliation with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, citing the increased cost for using the name and adding the personnel they require; they will now operate the service in-house under the title Youth Mentoring -- with few changes in how they operate.
Coming up during May are Older Americans Month and Mental Health Month; the latter is especially crucial, since they are now working more closely with the Ben Gordon Center in assisting those with mental health issues.
And they have joined a number of agencies which are offering their services to the residents of University Village; this area of DeKalb has proven to be in particular need of special services, and they are taking steps to bring what they have available to a population which would otherwise have trouble accessing them.