View our videos on YouTube Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter                    January 2016
 
In This Issue
Congratulations
School Health
Family Success Center
Empowering Our Veterans
Essay Contest
Join Our Mailing List
Congratulations Pastor Tim! 
   
 
Rev. Tim Wolf, director of the EmPoWER Family Success Center, was recently honored by the Somerset County Youth Services Commission as the recipient of the 2015 Doris Dealaman Youth Advocate of the Year Award. This award, named after former Somerset County Freeholder and former Somerset County Youth Services Commission member Doris Dealaman, is presented annually to an individual or individuals in recognition of volunteer service to Somerset County's youth. Pastor Tim was nominated for his work as Chair of the Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Youth Services Commission. Congratulations on a job well done!



 
School Health
 visit us at schoolhealthnj.org

We are pleased to announce this unique training opportunity for parents. Click the flyer below to register!
     
 
Family Success Center
 
A community gathering place that brings families together through free events & local activities and connects families to helpful resources in Somerset County...     
   
  
Over 50 Somerset County residents enjoyed the EmPoWER Family Success Center's most recent Free Family Fun Movie Night at Grace Community Church in Bridgewater who generously donated their sanctuary for this event.  Families enjoyed snacks while watching a free showing of the recent Golden Globe Winner Disney Pixar's Inside Out.  

Click HERE to see the complete Photo Gallery on Facebook 
 
Volunteer Brian Pascoe, Jayden Wilson and Community Partnership Coordinator Nicole Repekta pose with some of the donations collected.
   
Youth Volunteer Jayden  Wilson made an impact by turning his 8th birthday party at YESTERcades of Somerville into a donation opportunity.  He requested his guests bring holiday gifts for local families in lieu of presents for himself.  Wilson
 and his mother Giovanna Wilson partnered with the EmPoWER FSC to ensure the gifts went to families living locally, which is important to Jayden.  He hoped to make a difference close to home.  The over 35 gifts collected by Jayden went to the annual toy drive conducted by Somerville Baptist Church and were gifted to children of Somerset County Jail inmates.    
    
Contact the EmPoWER FSC for other ways you can help at 908-722-4400 or [email protected]
 
        Check out the links below for more 
Family Success Center happenings:
 
Empowering our Veterans  
 

Over the past five years, EmPoWER Somerset has developed a special focus on providing programs for veterans, made possible through a partnership with Community Hope, reaching nearly 300 veterans through Achieving Personal Balance, Take Control of Your Health, Diabetes Self-Management and Financial Peace programs and other special events.   EmPoWER Somerset and EmPoWER Family Success Center staff and volunteers recently coordinated the  fourth annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner at Community Hope. This special event was made possible by the generous support of our local legislators, Junior GS Troop 60038 and the Foodbank Network of Somerset County. 
 
 
Essay Contest Announced
 
Everyday 5,400 young people under 16 have their first drink of alcohol. In an effort to raise awareness about the risks and prevent underage drinking related problems the Safe Communities Coalition of Somerset County is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual Underage Drinking Prevention Essay Contest, being offered in collaboration with Somerset County Department of Human Services, local Municipal Alliance Commissions and EmPoWER Somerset. All public and private Somerset County high schools are invited to participate in this year's essay contest which is open to juniors and seniors. Participating schools may submit their top three student essays into the county-wide essay contest by March 14th. One county-wide winner will receive a $500 scholarship and public recognition from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.   The winner will be announced on April 8th in conjunction with "April is Alcohol Awareness Month." 

 


Our Mission:   EmPoWER Somerset assists individuals and families in making positive lifestyle choices and fosters healthy, drug free communities through education, collaboration, and linkages to resources.