Family Service Society

05/19/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

It’s a reminder that emotions deserve space and attention. Taking time to pause, reflect, and acknowledge how and what you are feeling is an important part of caring for your overall well‑being. Support is available, and reaching out can make a meaningful difference.

05/15/2026

We recently held our Staff Development and Appreciation Day at Family Service Society, Inc., and it was an inspiring day filled with learning, connection, and celebration. Our team came together to grow, reflect, and honor the incredible people who make our mission possible. We are so proud of our dedicated staff and Board of Directors and all they do. Take a look at some highlights from our special day below!

A huge congratulations to Vicki Mosgrove, our amazing Accounts Payable Associate, for receiving the 2026 Family Service Society Heart Award! This award honors an employee who puts those we serve at the center of every decision. Vicki, thank you for your unwavering dedication and for always going above and beyond.

We’re also celebrating Alisa Wilbur from our Counseling Program, the recipient of this year’s Lotus of the Year Award! This award recognizes a staff member whose work truly reflects the core values and spirit of Family Service Society. Alisa, thank you for your outstanding commitment and for embodying what we stand for.

We are proud to recognize ServU Credit Union as our 2026 Partner of the Year. ServU Credit Union has been an extraordinary and consistent supporter of Family Service Society. They donate generously to our fundraisers—like the YMST Bowl A Thon (as well as sending ServU bowling teams) —provide holiday gifts for Family Focus families at Christmas, donate funds and items for the Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center, and recently contributed funds to help us acquire a brand new refrigerator for the Center. Their generosity directly strengthens our programs and improves the daily lives of the youth and families we serve. ServU, thank you for your continued partnership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our community.

Congratulations to Mary M. Farmer and Jennifer Schack from the City of Corning’s City Clerk’s Office, our 2026 Volunteers of the Year! Mary and Jennifer volunteer consistently at our Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center’s Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations. From serving food to creating a warm, welcoming environment for our youth and their families during these dinners, they show up with kindness, reliability, and heart year after year. Mary and Jennifer, thank you for your steady dedication and for bringing joy to our young people and our community.

Thank you to our staff, partners, and volunteers for making this year’s celebration so meaningful. We are honored to work alongside such incredible people every day.

05/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joan Cates, a remarkable community leader whose impact continues to shape Family Service Society, Inc.

Joan joined our Board of Directors in April 1981, bringing with her a steadfast commitment to strengthening families and supporting the well-being of our community. Her leadership, compassion, and vision helped guide our agency through pivotal years of growth and service.

Joan also had a special gift for creating spaces that felt welcoming, dignified, and thoughtfully cared for. She believed that the environments we offer our clients — both inside our buildings and out in the community — should reflect warmth, respect, and a sense of belonging. Her eye for beauty and her dedication to making things better for others left a lasting imprint on our organization.

In recognition of her extraordinary dedication, our Bath, NY, building was proudly dedicated in her honor — a lasting tribute to the legacy she built and the lives she touched.

We are grateful for Joan’s service, her belief in our mission, and the kindness she shared so generously. Her legacy lives on in the work we do every day.

Our hearts are with her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

04/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who voted in our 2026 FSS Cutest Pet Contest. Our extremely cute winner is Moka! ❤

04/13/2026

Get ready for a cuteness overload! 😍 The 2026 FSS Cutest Pet Contest voting is NOW OPEN!

Our FSS staff have nominated 31 of their cute pets to choose from.
From April 13th to April 19th, you have TWO ways to help us choose a winner!

Vote by LIKING the individual photos of your favorite contestants in this Facebook Post.

You can also visit our FSS Cutest Pet webpage at https://www.familyservicesociety.org/2026-fss-cutest-pet-contest.html to learn more about each of these pets and to vote again using the online voting form (one entry per online form, but you can vote as many times for as many different pets as you like).

We will announce the winner of the FSS Cutest Pet Contest on April 20th!

FSSPetContest2026

04/01/2026

02/10/2026

We’re getting close to our Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier 'Believe in Youth' Bowl-a-Rama. We still have several lanes left to fill. If you’ve been thinking about joining in, we really need you now.

This event keeps local kids connected to mentors who show up for them week after week. A small team on your end makes a big impact on theirs.

If you can pull a group together — friends, coworkers, family — it would mean a lot.

Please share this post so we can get the word out to as many people as possible.

Date: Sunday, March 1st, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Crystal Lanes, Inc. * Corning, NY
Register: https://www.familyservicesociety.org/bowl-a-rama-2026.html

Thanks for helping us fill the lanes and support our youth.

Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center

02/10/2026

01/25/2026

Weather Update for Monday, January 26th

Due to the weather conditions, Family Service Society, Inc. will operate remotely on Monday, January 26th.

The Laura Richardson Corning Youth Center and Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier will be closed for the day.

Please stay safe and warm.

Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier

01/20/2026

Family Service Society, Inc. is honored to receive a Health Equity Innovation Award from in support of our Behavioral Health Screening and Treatment Program.

With support from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and United Way of the Southern Tier, the program expanded in 2025, increasing youth participation by 19 percent and tripling the number of perinatal and parenting adults served.

To date, more than 260 individuals and families have accessed free mental health screenings and short-term counseling through the program.

To learn more or schedule a screening, call us at 607-962-3148.