The Administration for Children Services (ACS) hosted the Queens Boro Office & the Jamaica/Elmhurst Community Partnership Project Community Fair this fall to give ACS workers a chance to learn more about the organizations that can benefit their clients.
The fair marked the first time such an event was held in Queens. About 35 service providers were set up and more than 150 ACS workers visited the fair.
Marsh Kellam, Queens Brough Commissioner, Division of Child Protection, said the idea of the fair was to get as many community organizations there and to make the staff more aware of what was available. She said it’s important for workers to have this knowledge so that they can tap into the resources to help the families they work with.
“I think it’s going great,” she said of the fair, adding that it exceeded her expectations.
Kellam said the next step will be holding a similar fair but inviting community members to participate.
Henry Arroyo of H&L Counseling Services Inc. said he was impressed with the fair and that the only way to help others is to know the options out there. He said more knowledge means more options, which means more hope.
Arroyo said he thought the fair would only benefit the ACS workers who attended by giving them more tolls that will be an asset to assisting their consumers.
Nigel Nathanial, the Director of the Office of Community Partnership at ACS, said, “What we wanted to do was to bring many of the service providers in Queens to have a face-to-face with the child protective staff.”
Dale Joseph, the ACS Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Community Partnerships and Advocacy, said that creating networks and opportunities will benefit the families.
