St. Francis Medical Center Welcomes State Senator Shirley Turner

New Jersey State Senator Shirley Turner recently visited St. Francis Medical Center for a tour of its C.A.R.E.S. Program (Children Are Really Extra Special), which offers support to children ages 3 to 14 with severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric needs.

Children with the CARES program helped with leading a tour of the unit. They also created a homemade card to welcome Senator Turner to the medical center.

“We were so pleased to have the Senator visit our CARES unit,” said Michele Czechowski, LCSW, director of the CARES program at St. Francis Medical Center. “Senator Turner is an advocate for children and we thank her for taking the time to learn about our program and how it can help children in need of emotional support.”

Since 2003, the CARES program at St. Francis has provided compassionate, high-quality care to children who do not require inpatient service but cannot be managed by community resources alone. The program is open weekdays, year-round at St. Francis Medical Center.

Pictured (left to right): Ron Defeo, Executive Director of Hospital Services, Center for Family Guidance; Mathew Williams, Licensed Associate Counselor, St. Francis CARES program; Michele Czechowski, LCSW, Director of St. Francis CARES program; Senator Shirley Turner; Dan Moen, President, St. Francis Medical Center; Les Paschall, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Family Guidance; Eddie Perez, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, St. Francis Medical Center; and Dr. Suzanne Lind, St. Francis CARES program Medical Director.