[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FAMILY SERVICES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, 
                              PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 2, 2000

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate 
Family Services of Montgomery County for its century of accomplishment 
to be celebrated on Tuesday, October 3, 2000. Family Services' mission 
is to strengthen the quality of life for individuals, families, and our 
community, by providing preventive intervention and essential support 
during times of need. Family Services of Montgomery County and all of 
the wonderful people associated with this fine organization are 
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people in our community 
through an innovative and comprehensive range of human services.
  Family Services reached its present form when three smaller 
Montgomery County nonprofit organizations merged--Family Service of 
Pottstown, the Lower Montgomery County Service Society, and the Main 
Line neighborhood (with the earliest beginning in 1900). Currently they 
have a central office in Norristown, three major branch offices, and 
several satellite facilities.
  Family Services' formalized programs include: Foster Grandparent 
Program, Meals on Wheels, Professional Counseling, Project HEARTH 
(helping elderly adults remain in their homes), Retired Senior 
Volunteer Program (RSVP), Project HOPE (HIV-AIDS prevention and support 
services, Families and Schools Together (FAST), Plays for Living, 
Parent-to-Parent Internet Support Group, Employee Assistance Programs, 
Student Training, Project Yes, and Safe Kids. The services have also 
included helping people to access housing, fuel and other material 
needs, linkage to medicare, identifying peer support systems, and 
locating resources to prevent future problems.
  Throughout the last one hundred years, Family Services and their 
predecessor organizations have been on the ``cutting edge'' of social 
services in our community. They have consistently led the way in 
helping people who are experiencing a crisis in their lives to help 
themselves.
  Family Services continues to provide innovative and timely programs 
in response to community requests. Examples of recent additions to 
their services are the ``Parent-to-Parent Internet Support Group,'' 
``Project Yes'' in Rolling Hills, ``Safe Kids'' in the Lower Merion 
area, and the ``New Beginnings'' prison ministry. They have also 
recently experienced expansion of the ``FAST'' program to the Abington 
and Methacton School Districts, staffed new locations in Pottstown, 
Phoenixville, and Royersford with the ``Foster Grandparent'' program, 
acquired a van for additional efficiency in their ``Meals on Wheels'' 
program, and more than quadrupled the size of their HIV/AIDS ``Peer 
Prevention and Education'' program.
  There is no doubt that many people will face difficulties during 
their lives. At those times, responsible assistance coupled with 
sensitive caring go a long way to help ease problems. Mark Lieberman, 
Executive Director of Family Services, and all of the wonderful people 
associated with this fine organization can take pride in all that they 
have done, and all that they continue to do each and every day.
  The continued need for Family Services is determined by the 
challenges that individuals, families and our community face. They are 
moving into their second hundred years of service by building upon 
community partnerships that will develop and provide essential services 
for people who need preventive intervention and essential support in 
order to enhance the quality of their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
wishing Family Services of Montgomery County a most joyous 100th 
anniversary celebration and our appreciation for a job well done.

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