Committee hears plan for center
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD - A family support center may be on the horizon for residents in the near future.

Lisa Nathari and Yvelisse Gonzalez, members of the Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Lakewood, gave a presentation about such a center at the Feb. 6 meeting of the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee. The women said they were available to help identify the challenges in the borough to see if their agency could be of assistance.

"We are here to assess the needs of your community and to see if you are in need of a federally funded family support center in Freehold Borough. If anyone knows what the challenges and needs are in your community, it is you," Nathari said.

Nathari distributed a survey she prepared that had already been distributed to about 30 people in Freehold. She said by surveying community leaders and residents, the challenges facing the borough will become more apparent.

Respondents were asked to designate what they believe are the three greatest challenges facing families in the borough.

The choices were education, affordable housing, bridging the gap between the Latino and non-Latino populations, cost of living, substance abuse, access to health care, transportation, lack of free services, availability of English as a Second Language classes and fear of deportation.

Respondents were also asked to list the assets or local resources the borough has or could make available to help strengthen its families in a family support system. This included neighborhood associations and community or faith-based organizations that have specific programs and services for families.

Survey participants were able to indicate where they believe a family support center should be located, the type of services it should provide, who it should serve and the hours it should be open. The respondents were asked if they would be willing to serve on a committee to develop resources for the borough.

Nathari said local leaders have been polled. The survey will go out to the community at large if the local leaders indicate this is an idea worth pursuing. She said the guidelines for the grant that would fund the family support center require that at least 30 families must be served each month.

Nathari is gathering information for a needs assessment of a family support center in the borough. The idea would be to bring families together in a non-threatening atmosphere.

Councilman Jaye Sims, who is the governing body's liaison to the Human Relations Committee, said he believes the idea of a family support center is a good one. He said he thinks the intention to provide a family support center that will address the challenges some residents face is very good.

"You don't really know if something will work until you actually try it," Sims said. "Do I personally believe this is a good idea? Absolutely. They can provide programs to enhance what we already have in the borough, and not just for one group of people, but for people of all ages and backgrounds."