Organization Spotlight: Family Services, Inc. - Thriving Germantown (TG)

June 11, 2019

For this month’s organizational spotlight, we spoke with Angelo Knox. Mr. Knox is the Program Director for Thriving Germantown since its inception in 2017. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Management and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.


Can you describe your history and how your organization came to be?


Family Services, Inc. (FSI) is a 111-year-old non-profit organization that is part of the Sheppard Pratt Health System (SPHS). FSI is one of the oldest and most enduring nonprofit social service agencies serving Montgomery County. The mission of the agency is to “promote the resilience, recovery and independence of individuals and families across the life span through integrated mental and physical health, social service, and education programs, thereby strengthening communities.” The agency provides direct service programs in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, community support, early childhood, school-focused services, and domestic violence. Last year, our programs served close to 13,000 individuals through 268,199 service units in Montgomery (MC) and Prince George’s (PGC) Counties. While we have a bi-county footprint, there are programs that either by location or design focus on specific regions, communities and/or schools.

Can you briefly tell us about the work Thriving Germantown (TG) does with Captain James E. Daly Elementary School (DES)?

With a staff of four Family Service Coordinators (FSC), TG provides comprehensive family risk assessments and develop intervention plans within a "pathways" model, offering concrete steps toward problem resolution and resource linkage.  Each FSC provides intensive case coordination services, which includes the following:

  • Home visits
  • Regular follow-up with the child and their family
  • Outreach
  • Advocacy with community resources

What are the demographics of learners? 

A combined 87% of our learners are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Our learners comprise of 79% female and 21% male. 

For readers who may not be familiar with the TG, what are somethings you would like them to know about your program/s?

Thriving Germantown (TG) Community HUB is a multi-generational, multi-sector care coordination project developed to alleviate the impact of poverty in the Germantown area starting with the Captain James E. Daly Elementary School (DES) Community. TG acts as a central clearinghouse that assess and tracks individual and family risk factors and establishes pathways for achieving measurable outcomes. Each FSC specializes in a specific risk area, which includes: Early Care & Education, Health & Wellness, Behavioral Health, and Household Sustainability (Economic Sustainability and Emergency Assistance).

Can you share a recent success story?

Angelica started with ESOL classes during the fall session and has continued taking classes throughout the entire school year. She has attended more than 80% of classes each session. Throughout the year, she has improved her vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening skills. Angelica has also reported more confidence in her speaking abilities and how she is happy to be able to speak with people in English in public places when she's out in the community. In addition to improving her English skills, Angelica has also become a leader in the classroom and other students often turn to her for additional support and help during class.

Picture of WUMCO Help's location in Poolseville, MD.

MCAEL Partner Spotlight: WUMCO Help, Inc

By Kayla Savoy • November 1, 2024
On Friday, October 25th, the MCAEL staff had the privilege of visiting WUMCO Help's facility in Poolesville, MD. What began as a quick journey to distribute our Adult English Language Program Directories turned into an insightful tour of WUMCO’s expansive ESOL classroom, designed for local residents, and their food pantry, where they provide shelf-stable goods and fresh produce to the community. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, community members, and local Boy Scout troops, WUMCO is committed to addressing food, language, health, and financial insecurities in Poolesville and the surrounding areas. We are proud to partner with WUMCO Help , which began with MCAEL as a Start-Up Grant recipient in 2023 and then grew to become an Access Small Grant recipient the following year. To learn more about WUMCO and the good work of all of our current Grant Partners, click here.

Leadership Change at MCAEL

By Kathy Stevens • August 29, 2024
Dear MCAEL Community: I am writing to share with you that I will be leaving MCAEL as of early October. I have accepted a position as President and CEO at the Healthcare Initiative Foundation. After 12 years of stewarding and growing the coalition, our team, and the organization’s role in the county, it is time for me to pass the torch to new leadership and pursue some new challenges of my own. MCAEL is a strong organization that has proven the value of having one entity coordinate the work of the coalition to build a diverse network of adult English language learning opportunities. With the partnership of Montgomery County government, dedicated coalition organizations, and incredible supporters and volunteers, MCAEL continues to provide much needed and much desired English classes. With an incredible staff, the organization is well positioned to continue to meet the needs of our community. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served as MCAEL’s Executive Director. It has been rewarding to work alongside such a remarkably talented team, engaged Board members, dedicated program staff and instructors, and committed funders and supporters. While I'll miss MCAEL, the people I've worked with, and most especially the thousands of adult learners we have been able to support, I am excited to see MCAEL continue its growth and leadership in the county. The Board of Directors is meeting to identify the search process and timeline for a successor leader of MCAEL and that information will be shared as soon as practical. I will be working with the staff, board, and coalition to ensure a thoughtful and smooth transition. Thanks to you and the many other people who support MCAEL’s work, I am confident that the organization will continue to be strong and impactful. With gratitude, Kathy Stevens

Uber Impact

By Kathy Stevens • July 30, 2024
I’ve had to use Uber more in the last month than the entire last year while my car was out of commission. As you may know, the app offers you the option to indicate your comfort level with conversation. While I was trying to lean into just relaxing on the car rides and not talking much, I couldn’t help myself and quickly started conversations with my drivers. Many of my drivers were non-native English speakers, and they shared their experiences adjusting to a new country while not being comfortable with the language. Their stories echoed an all-too-common experience among immigrants in our community, who often work at jobs below their training levels. We discussed how to find English classes, should they be interested, and I was even able to connect one of my drivers to a workforce development opportunity. ๏ปฟ Sure, it would have been more convenient to have my car in working order so I could drive myself to work. But I never would have made these rewarding connections.
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