MARTINSBURG – The Martinsburg office of the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia celebrated the organization’s 128th anniversary by hosting a welcome event Tuesday, where people came to learn more about what the organization does in the community and meet the people who run the different programs available.
This year was the first time the Martinsburg office decided to celebrate the anniversary by hosting this event.
Megan Livingston, site director of Children’s Home Society’s Martinsburg office, has been with the agency for the past seven years and served as site director for about a year. Livingston shared that the team wanted to try something different to engage the community.
“Every year we try to recognize the birth of our organization,” Livingston said. “This year we decided to do something a little different. In previous years we would have a picnic or something with just the staff, but this time we decided to invite the community as a whole and give them the opportunity to learn more about the different programs we have available.”
Some of the programs represented at the event included the organization’s family centers, mental health therapy within local schools, an independent living program that teaches adult children in foster care how to live alone, a foster care program and further.
Guests spoke with different staff members who are dedicated to helping children in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. Alex Batten, an independent living social worker, works with many different young people. She helps them understand life and is passionate about working with them.
“I connect with them,” Batten said. “I have always been able to communicate and work well with teenagers. “I think it’s important to give them the support they need without making them feel stupid or inadequate.”
For 128 years, the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia has served people and provided services like these to help protect and care for children. The Martinsburg office team looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the community.
“We see a lot of agencies providing similar services, but we’re still here and I think that says a lot about what we do,” Livingston said. “This shows that we are doing something right. Over the years, we have grown with the community. When we see a need, we try to find ways to address and satisfy those needs.”
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