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First Children Services, a premier provider of behavioral health and special education services in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, on June 5 celebrated the opening of its fifth location–a new 8,400-square-foot autism diagnosis and treatment facility located at 316 Westfield Ave. W. in Roselle Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free community event.

Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello III and members from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce were also in attendance to celebrate the milestone, which drew kids and families from the local community. The event featured tours of the new facility, a magic show, arts and crafts, music, giveaways, and a variety of pizzas from Il Forno A Legna food truck.

Formerly operating out of a 3,000-square-foot space at First Children School in Fanwood, the relocation and expansion of First Children Services’ STRIVE Autism Care Continuum into a new dedicated space in Roselle Park will increase client capacity from 15 to 50 children on the spectrum and their families. The relocation and expansion will create roughly 100 new jobs in Union County as First Children Services looks to expand its expert staff of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), behavior skills technicians (BST), clinical psychologists, school psychologists, clinical counselors, and social workers.

“As a family-owned and family-focused community-based provider, our number one priority is to make a positive impact on children and families in the communities we serve,” said Matthew Hess, chief executive officer, First Children Services. “Since founding First Children Services 10 years ago we have firmly adhered to that mission, which has enabled us to grow our organization’s autism services into a comprehensive care continuum providing vital treatment and diagnostic services and support programs for children and their families in our region. We are so grateful to the community members and families who joined us for our grand opening event and look forward to building on our presence and providing kids and families with the highest quality of care through our new Roselle Park facility.”

The new location marks the latest chapter in the community-based provider’s ongoing expansion of its STRIVE Autism Care Continuum in New Jersey, which offers a suite of on-site diagnostic, assessment, and treatment services as well as community-based services for kids on the spectrum and their families.

Further punctuating the provider’s rapid growth, in October 2020, First Children Services also relocated and enhanced its operations in South Jersey from a 7,500-facility in Cherry Hill, to a more than 7,000-square-foot facility in Maple Shade.

Through the addition of the new Roselle Park location and existing Maple Shade facility, First Children Services has expanded its capacity to serve approximately 200 children on the spectrum and their families across 17 New Jersey counties.