"Glitz & Glam" Father-Daughter Dance Brings Hollywood to Bergen County

Little Ferry, NJ – New Jersey Student Support Services (NJ4S) Bergen Hub, a New Jersey Department of Children and Families program providing a hub-and-spoke model of services and resources to support youth mental wellness in Bergen County, and the Little Ferry Police partnered with the Meadowlands Family Success Center to host a father-daughter dance. Approximately 75 residents attended the “Glitz and Glam” event at the Little Ferry Public Safety Building, which was open to all father figures and featured interactive crafts and activities, raffles with prizes, and access to Bergen County area mental health and wellness resources.

“NJ4S Bergen Hub enjoyed partnering with the Meadowlands Family Success Center and Little Ferry Police Department to offer a father-daughter dance to the Little Ferry community,” said Bryan Connelly, NJ4S Bergen Hub Director. “Whether it’s an uncle, stepfather, mentor or father figure, it’s important to celebrate the important relationships that can have a positive impact on a young person’s life.”

“NJ4S Bergen Hub is dedicated to building a healthier, stronger, and more connected community,” said NJ4S Prevention Consultant Elizabeth Camargo. “The Glitz and Glam event is a great way to recognize the meaningful relationships in a young person’s life, and we look forward to providing more events like this in the future that help bring the community together.”

The Meadowlands Family Success Center organized the event as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote Fatherhood Engagement in Bergen County. NJ4S Bergen Hub hosted an activity for families to share positive messages about a loved one, inspired by the evidence-based Positive Action Parenting Curriculum, which encourages connections between parents and students to foster academic and emotional success. Additional family activities included a fashion runway walk, freeze dance, and soul train dance line. Raffle winners took home toys, LEGOs, and puzzles.

Seven teen volunteers from the Bergen County area supported NJ4S Bergen Hub, Meadowlands Family Success Center and the Little Ferry Police Department in hosting the event. The Meadowlands Family Success Center accepted donations of feminine products in recognition of Women's History Month in March.

“The Meadowlands Family Success Center is a gathering place for Bergen County families to connect to each other and to the community at large. The Daddy-Daughter dance was created in an effort to bring us closer to the mission,” said Brille Kenner, Director, Meadowlands Family Success Center. “Collaborating with a like-minded organization such as NJ4S Bergen Hub has been integral in spreading the reach of this mission and building a greater network of support for our Bergen County families to turn to.”

Children’s Aid and Family Services, Inc., is the hub provider for NJ4S Bergen Hub. To learn more about NJ4S Bergen Hub, visit https://www.nj4sbergenhub.org/

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About New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S)
The New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) is a New Jersey Department of Children and Families program providing a statewide, innovative hub-and-spoke model of services and resources to support youth mental wellness. 15 regional hubs provide prevention and brief intervention services to New Jersey public school students, parents/caretakers, and school faculty. To learn more about NJ4S, visit https://nj4s.nj.gov/s/.

About Children’s Aid and Family Services
Children’s Aid and Family Services is one of northern New Jersey’s leading nonprofit providers of services that protect and support vulnerable children, adults and families. The agency is focused on meeting ever-evolving social needs by expanding our programs to help members of the community live their best lives.