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Family Connections Inc

EIN 22-1865826 · East Orange, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROWTH HAPPENS HERE EVERY DAY. WITH OUR COUNSELING, SKILLS-BUILDING, TRAINING AND PREVENTION SERVICES, PEOPLE TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN HEALING AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THAT MAKE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY STRONGER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER.

Income
$25.9 million
Spending
$25.5 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
249
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$312,497, chief financial officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $8.5 million spent. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - FAMILY SUPPORT AND REUNIFICATION: GIVING FAMILIES THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEY DESERVE SO THAT THEY CAN STAY TOGETHER, TO BOND AND THRIVE. THESE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS INCLUDE (1) THERAPEUTIC, SUPERVISED VISITATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGHOUT ESSEX, PASSAIC, MORRIS AND SUSSEX COUNTIES; (2) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, COUNSELING AND CARE MANAGEMENT IN ESSEX, PASSAIC, HUDSON, BERGEN, AND UNION COUNTIES, FOR FAMILIES IN WHICH PARENTS HAVE A HISTORY OF CO-OCCURING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL ILLNESS; (3) THE STRONG MOTHERS AND STRONG FATHERS PROGRAMS: GENDER-SPECIFIC INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT (IOP) SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ENHANCED WITH PARENTING AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. (4) FAMILY COUNSELING IS A LARGE PART OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS, TO FOSTER A STRONG FAMILY UNIT BY OFFERING INTENSIVE, HOME-BASED COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT GIVE BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN A SENSE OF SAFETY, STABILITY AND SELF WORTH; (5) YOUTH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, COUNSELING, AND CARE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN UNION COUNTY WHO ARE AGING OUT OF THE NJ DCPP FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. (6) NJ4S-ESSEX DELIVERS A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE MENU OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO INSPIRE STUDENT SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. WORKING DIRECTLY IN THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS, NJ4S SERVICES INCLUDE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, THEIR PARENTS, AND THEIR EDUCATORS ALL TO STRENGTHEN: SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS; SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION; SEXUAL HEALTH AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION; SUICIDE PREVENTION; ANTI-BULLYING AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION; SUPPORT FOR LGBTQIA+ STUDENTS; UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA; UNDERSTANDING GRIEF AND THE IMPACT OF LOSS; OTHER NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY LOCAL STUDENTS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
  2. $2.9 million spent. CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC (CCBHC) SERVICES HAVE ALLOWED US TO COMBINE OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES TOGETHER WITH BASIC PRIMARY HEATHCARE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CREATE OUR INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (IBHS): THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH; BI-LINGUAL CLINICAL SERVICES; CULTURALLY-COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LOCAL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES; WELLNESS HOUSE INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS; OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS; MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND; ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION. THE PROGRAMS ENHANCE PERSONAL AND FAMILY COPING SKILLS, INSIGHT, MOTIVATION AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING FOR ALL AGES. THE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM HELPS ADULTS ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN RECOVERY AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES THROUGH MAKING BETTER CHOICES. MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT USES MEDICATIONS IN COMBINATION WITH COUNSELING, TO TREAT OPIOID USE. OUR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION EMPLOYS ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE AND PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND DRUG ABUSE, INCLUDING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE. CULTURAL COMPETENCY FOR OPIOID TREATMENT PROVIDERS (CC-OTP) PROVIDES STATEWIDE CULTURAL COMPETENCE TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR LICENSED OPIOID TREATMENT PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFICACY OF THEIR SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER. "HELP FOR HEROES" IS OUR STATEWIDE PEER WELNESS PROGRAM FOR PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WORKING WITH ADULTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PEER SPECIALISTS WITH INDIVIDUAL AND GRUP COUNSELING, SELF-COMPASSION SKILLS, WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, AND OPEN PEER DISCUSSION GROUPS ALL DESIGNED TO REDUCE COMPASSION FATIGUE AND BURNOUT AND INCREASE RESILIENCY AND WELLNESS.
  3. $9.6 million spent. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT FAMILY CONNECTIONS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF).1) SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH PROGRAMS: SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS(SBYSPS) PROVIDE ON-SITE SERVICES IN FIVE SCHOOLS TO MEETING PRE-TEENS AND TEENS IN THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT IN A SAFE, WELCOMING SPACE, TO SHARE CHALLENGES AND LEARN EFFECTIVE COPING STRATEGIES. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITES, ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. THE LOCATIONS OF THE PROGRAMS ARE (1) THE SPACE AT ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL, (2) THE ZONE AT ORANGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY, 3) THE LOFT AT COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL, (4) THE HUB AT MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND (5) THE DEN AT BLOOMFIELD HIGHSCHOOL. 2) OTARY PROGRAM (OUTREACH TO AT-RISK YOUTH) PROVIDES YOUTH WITH GROUP-BASED COUNSELING FOR PREGNANCY PREVENTION, VIOLENCE PREVENTIONAND GANG INVOLVEMENT PREVENTION. 3) PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) PROVIDES IN-HOME SUPPORT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN 0-4 YEARS OLD. SUPPORTS INCLUDE PARENTING SKILLS COACHING, INFANT SCREENINGS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES, AND PROVISION OF ESSENTIALS SUCH AS DIAPERS AND FORMULA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.