SERV Achievement’s PAC program holds Memorial Day barbeque for consumers

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer—although it didn’t feel like it this year, as New Jersey faced record cold temperatures and heavy rain. 

However, the team members in SERV Achievement Centers’ PAC program weren’t going to let the weather spoil their plans to hold a holiday barbeque for consumers.

On Friday, as storm clouds moved across Mercer County, they decided to take the party indoors. Using only two small electric grills and a crockpot, they cooked up a feast that included hamburgers, sausages, hotdogs, beans, macaroni, and pasta salad.

“Of course, it’s not easy to cook fifty hamburgers and hotdogs with a tiny grill in the breakroom, but I had a lot of fun doing it,” said Stephanie Vil, Assistant Program Supervisor. “I wasn’t going to let the rain stop us from having our barbeque—not on my watch.”

Stephanie coordinated the barbeque with help from Supervisor Michele Stewart and her team members Faith Jalarue, Brandi Green, Darlinkboye Wawood, and Sydnei Griffin.

“This was very much a group effort,” she said, “and I’m so glad we were able to work together to find a solution and make this a memorable holiday for the consumers.”

The consumers in the PAC program laughed, watched movies, and played games together as they enjoyed the delicious meal the SERV team prepared for them. After dinner, they treated themselves to popsicles and ice cream.

The PAC program reopened at fifty percent capacity in late April. Prior to that, as a result of the pandemic, the program had been limited to telehealth services since March of 2020. This barbeque was the first time they had gathered to celebrate a holiday in more than a year.

Stephanie said that she is looking forward to planning another event for consumers soon. “Hopefully it won’t rain this time,” she added.  

A Labor Day Message From CEO/President Regina Widdows

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CEO/President Regina Widdows released the following message, expressing her appreciation for SERV’s healthcare heroes on Labor Day:

“I want to start off this message by saying thank you. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your devotion to our mission.

Labor Day is a special holiday. It is an opportunity to celebrate our team members and honor the deep commitment each of you has to the consumers, families, and communities we serve. Not enough can be said of your efforts, especially now as we continue to combat and overcome the effects of the pandemic. You are heroes, all of you, and it is your strength and resilience that drives everything we do.

Despite the challenges of the past year, our organization has been able to not only continue operations, but also extend its reach, providing care and services for more people in need. This is thanks to the SERV team, our selfless men and women on the front lines. It is an honor to work alongside so many talented and compassionate professionals. And this holiday weekend, I hope you all take a moment to reflect on the important work you have done throughout this crisis and the impact it has had on our organization and on the lives of those in our care.  

As part of SERV’s ongoing campaign to thank our healthcare heroes—and our commitment to creating a culture of continuous recognition—we held several staff appreciation days and pop-up events this summer. We also bolstered our wellbeing program to help our team members reach their full potential, both personally and professionally.

If I didn’t have a chance to speak with you during this summer’s events, please know how much I appreciate the work you do each and every day. You are vital to our mission, and I recognize the tremendous sacrifices you have made and continue to make during this pandemic.

The challenges of this pandemic have only brought us closer together. Although more obstacles lie ahead, I have no doubt that SERV will emerge on the other side of this crisis stronger than ever and that we will continue to foster an environment where our team members thrive.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!”

SERV Behavioral Health System to Host Job Fair in Clifton July 1

SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc. will host a job fair in Clifton, NJ on Thursday July 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The organization is hiring Residential Program Managers, Residential Coordinators, Residential Counselors, and Senior Residential Counselors.

What: Job Fair

Where: 777 Bloomfield Ave, Clifton, NJ 07012

When: Thursday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you are unable to attend the event, and you are interested in launching a career at SERV, please email your resume to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To learn more about the opportunities at SERV, please visit https://www.servbhs.org/careers-at-serv/why-serv.

Why SERV?

SERV is an award-winning, not-for-profit behavioral healthcare organization. Focused on compassionate care and personal empowerment, we offer a full spectrum of recovery services for children, youth, and adults living with chronic mental illness, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What sets us apart as one of the most desired workplaces is our commitment to providing the best work/life balance options for our team members. We offer flexible schedules, multiple work locations, generous PTO, and robust benefits packages. We also understand that career development and advancement are key to the success of both our team members and the organization.

By investing in our team members today, we prepare our organization for the future. This is why we are committed to developing a team of talented professionals who are better equipped to support our mission, make an impact, accelerate their careers, and meet and exceed the ever-changing demands of our industry.