Family Service Society

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

Welcome Back! Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier programming resumes the week of September 14th. We're looking forward to seeing all of our mentors and mentees.

08/25/2026

All YMST Mentors are invited to a virtual training session on Wednesday, September 9th at 5:30 pm. Please contact YMST at [email protected] to confirm your attendance.

08/24/2026

UPCOMING WEBINAR

Words Matter: Strengths-Based Documentation for Human Service Professionals

Presenter: Cynthia Gee, Psy. D.

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
Format: Live Interactive Webinar via Zoom
Cost: $39 (Includes 2.0 Contact Hours of Continuing Education Credits - NY Social Workers, LMHCs, LCATs, LMFTs, NBCC, OASAS)

The target audience is open to all human service professionals, with a focus on entry-level staff. The training will include case examples and opportunities for participants to practice rewriting documentation in real time.

REGISTER ONLINE AT:
https://www.familyservicesociety.org/professional-training-institute.html

The words we use in documentation matter. In human service and behavioral health settings, professionals are required to document challenges, risks, and areas of concern. However, the way this information is written can impact how individuals are perceived and how clearly information is communicated to others.

This training focuses on how to document concerns in a professional, objective, and respectful way. Participants will learn how to move away from language that is absolute, vague, or judgmental and instead use clear, specific, and behavior-based descriptions.

Using real-world examples, participants will practice rewriting common documentation statements. For example, changing statements such as "Client lies” to more accurate and objective language such as “Parent reports client has been dishonest about their whereabouts approximately two times per week.”

The goal of this training is not to remove important clinical information, but to strengthen how it is written so that documentation remains clear, professional, and appropriate for clinical, legal, and insurance purposes.

​Learning Objectives:
*Identify words and phrases in documentation that are vague, absolute, or judgment-based.
*Describe the difference between opinion-based statements and objective, behavior-based documentation.
*Rewrite documentation to include specific, observable, and measurable information.
*Demonstrate the use of professional and objective language when documenting client behaviors and concerns.
*Apply strategies to ensure documentation is professional, clear, and appropriate for clinical and regulatory review.

08/23/2026

🎉A huge thank you to Beartown Road Alliance Church for spending the morning at our Princeton office as part of their “Church Leaves the Building” day of service!

Their volunteers helped with some much-needed sprucing up around the office, helping us create a warmer and more inviting space for our clients and staff. They were fantastic, and we are so appreciative of their time, hard work, and generosity!🌻

Thank you for choosing to spend your morning with FSS! 💚

08/19/2026

Family Service Society, Inc. is looking for a friendly and organized Administrative Assistant/Receptionist for our Bath, NY office (may include occasional travel to Corning and Hornell). Responsibilities include greeting clients, answering phones, and general office support. If you’re dependable, compassionate, and enjoy working with people, we’d love to hear from you. Send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

The full job description can be found at https://www.familyservicesociety.org/employment-opportunities.html

08/13/2026

Please vote daily for Mary Caruso from the Corning Community Food Pantry. Mary is one of 4 national finalists to win the 2026 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award through the NASCAR Foundation.

The winner will receive $100,000 for their organization. Please share this and vote for Mary! Mary and the Corning Community Food Pantry are such an incredible partner to Family Service Society, Inc. and making sure local families don't go hungry.

Vote here: https://www.nascarfoundation.org/bjfha-vote-2026/

Voting is now open for The NASCAR Foundation 2026 , and our very own Mary Caruso is one this year’s four national finalists! Help her win $100,000 to provide nutritious food for children through our daily operations and partnerships. Vote now at https://www.nascarfoundation.org/bjfha-vote-2026/

07/28/2026

Our Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center program is offering so many great opportunities for youth this summer!