
Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS)
Overview
The mission of Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) is to improve the overall functioning and quality of life for families with a mentally ill family member and promote a wellness & recovery model of care.
For further information, contact us at 973-625-7095
Our Team
Our team is comprised of a Master’s level Program Coordinator, and Family Advocate. The IFSS team serves families in Morris County, providing individualized care and support during daytime and evening hours. Access to service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our Approach
Implicit in the value system of IFSS is the belief that family members and professionals can work collaboratively to provide families with the knowledge, skills and support which families identify as useful to a family’s overall functioning and sense of control. Families given appropriate information and support can have an effect on the process of a family member’s recovery. Culturally competent services are provided to family members and/or significant caretakers of mentally ill individuals 18 years or older who reside in Morris County.
Our Locations
Intensive Family Support Services (Morris County)
Saint Clare’s Behavioral Health Denville
50 Morris Avenue
Denville, NJ 07834
Phone Number
To make a referral, contact 973-625-7095 to speak with the Program Coordinator.
Our Services
- Psychoeducation: IFSS hosts workshops for families, and caregivers, focused on information that is timely and relevant for those enrolled. Topics include understanding mental illness, symptoms, medication management, coping techniques, stress reduction strategies, community resources, and entitlements.
- Family Consultation: IFSS staff meet with families to provide information and consultation. Sessions focus on problem solving and coping techniques.
- Respite Care: Respite services provide temporary relief to caregivers and families, giving them the opportunity to recharge, relax, and handle other responsibilities. Respite options may include out-of-home events during day or evening hours.
- Family Support Groups: These sessions provide a place for families and caregivers to connect, share insights, and hear from others who are experiencing similar situations or circumstances.
- Advocacy: To help the community and other professionals understand and respond to the needs of families caring for a person living with mental illness, IFSS offers assertiveness and communication skill-building programs. The team also offers facilities, and mental health education programs for the general community.
- Referral Services: The IFSS team can connect families and caregivers to relevant services and assistance for mental health and non-mental health-related needs.
Featured Services

Stroke Center

Maternity

Bariatric Surgery

Surgical Services

Joint Replacement

Radiology
I appreciate your interest in our Internal Medicine Residency Program. Our community-based program in New Jersey allows our residents to rotate in two hospitals near New York City. The first is St. Mary's General Hospital, Passaic, NJ, and the other is Saint Clare's Health, in Denville and Dover, NJ. The uniqueness of our program is that residents get to rotate in two different healthcare settings which treat patients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
St Mary's General Hospital is about ten miles from Manhattan in an inner city where our residents encounter people from an urban setting and those who may not have regular access to primary care and may have challenges with their insurance status. Here our residents get to see some advanced pathologies and care for extremely sick patients. Saint Clare's Health in Denville is located about thirty miles from Manhattan in a suburban setting where patients are highly informed, with families extensively engaged in their care. The patients also have regular access to preventive medical care and are very involved in their health. Here our residents get excellent training in preventive medical care and learn to deal with informed patients and their families. Both hospitals have access to subspecialties like infectious diseases, cardiology (both interventional and EP), hematology and oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, nephrology, and numerous others.
Traditionally, the education of physicians has focused most heavily on the domains of medical knowledge and patient management. While these areas remain at the heart of our curriculum, we recognize that excellence in healthcare also requires mastery of other essential elements. Our residency program promotes communication and teamwork among colleagues, physicians, nurses, allied professionals, patients, their families, and caregivers. Our residency program is integrated into the various processes of the hospital to support the development of the skills required to assume a leadership role in the healthcare system of the 21st century.
The transformation from medical student to practicing internist is a developmental process that begins during residency. At the heart of this transformation is the understanding that serving a fellow human being is an honor and a privilege.
Our program provides ample opportunity to balance work and play, and the locale allows convenient access to everything exciting New York offers. Few cities in the world rival New York in the breadth of entertainment, culture, shopping, dining, and diverse experiences. Whether you want to catch a Broadway play, visit world-class museums such as the Guggenheim and MOMA, or stroll through many diverse neighborhoods, New York City offers endless possibilities for leisure activity. Spend a day on the Museum Mile, immerse yourself in Central Park's vastness, or enjoy a cappuccino in one of the many sidewalk cafes while people-watching. Whatever your interest, you will find countless things to choose from in Manhattan.
Best,
Dr. Pramil Cheriyath, MD
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program