Senator Johnson Secures $60,000 Grant For Family Service League

State Senator Owen H. Johnson (4th Senate District, Babylon), Chairman of the Finance Committee, announced that he has secured a New York State Legislative Grant in the amount of $60,000 for Family Service League. The grant will go to further the work of the Iovino South Shore Family Center in Bay Shore and Children and Parents Together (CAPT).

"I am proud to support Family Service League," said Senator Johnson. " FSL’s work is critical in helping Long Island’s children and families achieve independence and self-esteem."

"The landscape of our communities is changing," stated Family Service League President and CEO Rick Van Dyke, "Family Service League is able to identify the problems, develop the resources and respond with innovative programs because of generous support from Senator Johnson."

Senator Johnson explained that the State Legislative Grant for Family Service League was approved as part of the 2007-08 state budget.

Children and Parents Together (CAPT) is a support program for parents who have experienced mental health issues providing an early intervention program for their young children. The CAPT program is designed to help parents become better parents and function well in their personal, family and community lives. The children benefit from the structured, educational programs and from the relationships with teachers and other children. The program serves families who live in Suffolk County, and are in treatment with a mental health professional or are assisted by a case manager, and have a child five years of age or younger.

The Iovino South Shore Family Center provides family support services for parents and children who predominantly reside in the communities of Brentwood, Bay Shore, Central Islip and other hamlets within Islip and Babylon townships. An array of services are offered including emergency and crisis intervention, substance abuse counseling, individual and family counseling, early childhood intervention, parent education, family case management, housing, vocational services and youth services. It is also home to the South Shore Family Center Clinic which is a fully licensed, outpatient, mental health program for adults who may have co-existing substance abuse disorders.

"I have always believed that strong families help create and sustain strong communities," said Senator Johnson. "By helping support families in need, the Family Service League has not only helped improve the lives of the community members they serve, they’ve strengthened the community at large."

Family Service League has taken an active role in strengthening families and empowering the residents in Suffolk Country for more than 80 years. Their programs help families and individuals at every age and level of society. They begin with preschool programs for the children of low-income families and extend through programs that focus on the problems of teenagers, families in crisis, the homeless, the unemployed, the mentally ill, and the elderly.