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 »  » The Annual Appeal is Critical to the Success of NFSB – And We Need Your Help
* ## The Annual Appeal is Critical to the Success of NFSB – And We Need Your Help
  + Posted on December 27, 2024
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  Jim Kuchta has served on the Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) Boart of Trustees for about 35 years. He is a two-time past president, current treasurer, and chair of the finance committee.
  !
  As treasurer, Jim works closely with NFSB leadership to develop and manage the budget every year. He sees the details of every expenditure in terms of amount and purpose, presents monthly financial reports to the board, and reviews NFSB’s annual audit and IRS Form 990.
  Long story short, nobody is more dialed into the financial health of the organization than Jim. And he knows, as well as anyone, the importance of the end-of-year annual appeal to the present and future financial health of the NFSB.
  “When you look at the services NFSB provides – mental health, case management, Food Pantry – the only one that has direct revenue associated with it is mental health counseling,” Jim said. “We receive payments from insurance companies, but those payments reflect a haircut by the insurance companies to the amount billed for the service. The fees we receive just about cover the labor cost of the counselor but not any of the other costs required to provide the service – facilities, recordkeeping, administrative functions. This is just one major example of why we rely so heavily on fundraising, especially the annual appeal.”
  While food items are donated to the Food Pantry, there are costs involved to run the program, maintain the facility, and distribute food free of charge. Community outreach events and initiatives are always free to the public, but they’re not free to plan, promote, and execute.
  Of course, demand for NFSB services, especially mental health counseling and the Food Pantry, have increased significantly since the pandemic. Both programs have been expanded and enhanced to meet demand. We’ve grown our mental health clinical team and staff and added medication management services, while the Food Pantry now invites clients for personalized “shopping” appointments instead of distributing pre-packed bags.
  To fund these and other programs, NFSB holds several signature events, including the Garden Party, Rock Hunger, and A Night at the Races. In 2024, we introduced the first Casino Night and brought back the Harvesting Hope Gala, which was the most successful fundraiser since before the pandemic.
  Despite the popularity and success of these events, the annual appeal is absolutely essential to the continued operation of NFSB.
  “This year, we need to raise $65,000 to balance our budget,” Jim said. “That’s just to break even. Otherwise, we would have to reduce services that are so important to the community in order to cut costs. Ideally, the annual appeal would raise much more than that to build a surplus.”
  Throughout NFSB’s 111-year history, the Nutley community has always stepped up to support our mission. From two World Wars to 9/11, from the Spanish flu to COVID-19, NFSB has been there for the community because the community has been there for us.
  We’re humbly asking for your support again.
  “We realize money might be tight right now, but we’re asking everyone to chip in what they can,” said Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director of NFSB. “Whether you’re an individual, business owner, or part of a giving circle, please consider donating to help us reach our goal of $65,000 to balance our budget. We’re incredibly grateful your support, and we look forward to serving the community with much-need programs in 2025.”
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 »  » Meet the Counselors: Shayna Hintze, LAC
* ## Meet the Counselors: Shayna Hintze, LAC
  + Posted on December 3, 2024
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  Shayna Hintze, LAC was always interested in psychology and understanding why people behave and feel certain ways, but her own experiences growing up motivated her to pursue counseling as a career.
  “When I was going through a rough patch, I sometimes felt like nobody understood me, or nobody was going through the same things,” Shayna said. “I want to be that person who was missing for me – someone who can help people get through tough times when they think nobody is there for them.”
  Shayna has also been inspired by her love for animals. She spent 15 years working at a dog day care and training facility, starting as a counselor and moving up the ladder to become a behavioral trainer and the camp’s director.
  “Working with dogs wasn’t supposed to be a career,” Shayna recalls. “It was something I enjoyed when I was going to school. Dogs taught me a lot because they live in the present instead of holding onto the past. That’s something I’ve carried with me into counseling.”
  Shayna earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey and Master of Arts in mental health counseling from Montclair State University, completing a year-long internship with West Bergen Mental Healthcare Services. She worked mostly with clients in their teens and early 20s, many of whom were dealing with anxiety while navigating major life changes.
  During this internship, Shayna worked on social skills with groups of pre-teens and adults on the autism spectrum. She found her work with a group of LGBTQIA+ teens and adults particularly rewarding.
  “Clients in this group were going through big changes and becoming themselves,” Shayna said. “Some were coming out to family and friends. Some were transitioning. Unfortunately, a lot of people in this population still face judgment from family members. I enjoy being that person who will support them unconditionally in a safe, inclusive environment.”
  Shayna also completed an internship at the Institute for Forensic Psychology, a facility that provides evaluations for public service workers, such as police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and security. Evaluations would determine whether someone would be cleared for active duty after traumatic experiences.
  Shayna was drawn to Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) by opportunities to help a variety of populations and educate people through community outreach programs. She also looks forward to incorporating her love of animals into counseling by becoming trained in animal-assisted therapy.
  In addition to mental health counseling, Shayna loves that NFSB can help people in so many ways, whether they need Food Pantry services, financial assistance through social services, or help finding a job. She can refer people to the NFSB case management coordinator instead of sending them to a different facility.
  “You can tell that everyone is happy to be here,” Shayna said. “All our services are interconnected, and everyone is very supportive. I can lean on them, and they can lean on me. It’s a very welcoming, warm environment.”
  The ultimate reward of her work, of course, is seeing a client make progress that leads to positive change.
  “I love when something just clicks and clients celebrate their own victories,” Shayna said. “When they realize they have a safe space and someone to support them, they feel motivated, and they notice when therapy is working. For me, that’s a really big thrill.”
 »  » Meet the Clinicians: Maria Hoppas, LCSW
* ## Meet the Clinicians: Maria Hoppas, LCSW
  + Posted on November 26, 2024
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  “One of my most important roles will be training and supervising our clinicians and helping them be the best they can be,” Maria said. “We have such a wonderful group of clinicians and I want to be a support system for them. I also want to make sure we’re following best practices and providing high-quality care that’s accessible and affordable for anyone who needs it.”
  Maria knew from a young age that she wanted to help people. She would observe people and their circumstances and think to herself, “Why is this the case? How can I make it better?” Always passionate about human rights, equality, and social justice, she wasn’t sure where her passions would take her.
  Maria earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from William Paterson University. While pursuing her Master of Social Work with a concentration in Advanced Direct Practice with Children and Families at Rutgers University, she fell in love with the experience of being a clinician.
  “I learned that therapy is the only relationship in life where it’s just about you,” Maria said. “In other relationships, you have to be mindful of the feelings and thoughts of others, but therapy is the only place where the focus is just on you. It’s not about the other person in the room. Their job is to help you figure out who you are, how you feel, and how to be your best self. The therapy process is almost sacred in that way.”
  Maria started her career as a clinician at Metropolitan Family Health Network in Jersey City, providing crisis counseling and social services to the homeless population. Most of her career was spent as an LCSW at Hackensack Meridian Health – JFK University Medical Center in Edison, which allowed her to explore many areas of therapy for individuals, groups, and families. Seeking new challenges, Maria joined Cornerstone Day School in Cranford, providing therapy to middle and high school students.
  “Students humble you, and you’ll never laugh harder than when you’re surrounded by students all day,” Maria said. “I eventually found myself missing the diversity in populations and wanting to move into a full-time leadership role. NFSB has allowed me to go back to my true love, which is working with different people in all age groups through outpatient therapy.”
  At the end of the day, Maria has the heart of a social worker. She has come full circle at NFSB, supporting other clinicians in the same way she has been supported throughout her career. She’s also grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization that addresses the whole person and helps the community in so many different ways.
  “I’ve always been the clinician who’s willing to supervise because I love the energy,” Maria said. “I enjoy training and brainstorming with other clinicians to make sure we’re delivering a high standard of care. But I also care about the bigger community. The work we’re doing at NFSB is really important. We have people’s lives in our hands. There’s a great sense of responsibility and passion here and I’m excited to be part of it.”
  The Mental Health Program at NFSB provides counseling and psychiatric services for individuals and families. New clients are welcome and immediate in-person and telehealth appointments are available. English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are ready to help and we’ll always respect your privacy. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 973-667-1884 extension 1.