Highlands Family Success Center has new director

Heather Saraceni is the new director of the Highlands Family Success Center, 1801 Greenwood Lake Turnpike.

Kelly Hart, who was the director since the center opened in 2015, has become executive director of the Center for Family Resources in Ringwood.

Saraceni has been the community and volunteer coordinator at Highlands Family Success Center.

She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in human development and family studies.

She was the lead teacher in the Early Head Start classroom at the Ringwood location of the center for eight years. While there, she was co-facilitator of the children’s Safe Place program.

She also is project coordinator for the Alliance of Wanaque and Ringwood for Education and Awareness for Substance Abuse Prevention.

The Highlands Family Success Center offers programs to strengthen families and the community. All of its activities and services are free to the community.

The center has computer stations for residents and a fax/copy machine where they can make up to 15 copies per visit.

The center originally was at 1546 Union Valley Road. It moved in June 2020.

The center is funded under the Office of Family Support Services in the state Department of Children and Families.

Each county has at least one Family Success Center.

Each year, Highlands center registers a minimum of 300 families and provides activities, programs and workshops in areas such as parent and child education, life skills, health, housing, employment and advocacy. It also provides information and referrals.