Brookdale Alumna Leads the Way in Family Success

When Jeanne Warnock first enrolled at Brookdale Community College nearly five decades ago, she was determined to create a better future for herself and her children. What began as a personal journey to break cycles of hardship has grown into a statewide movement for family empowerment.

Today, Jeanne is the cofounder of the Family Success Institute (FSI), a nonprofit organization that shapes policy, practice, and community engagement to ensure that families have the tools they need to thrive.

Jeanne recalls stepping onto Brookdale’s campus at age 30 as “the very beginning of [her] journey.” Coming from a challenging family situation and seeking stability for her young children, she found Brookdale to be a welcoming, supportive environment. “There were women there just like me, some returning after many years, others starting fresh. It was a comfortable place to learn and grow.”

Balancing coursework in psychology and sociology by raising her sons who were two and seven years old, Jeanne modeled perseverance for her children. That example left a lasting impression: Her son, who once watched her type papers on the living room floor, is now a professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “He always says Brookdale helped him, too,” Jeanne shared with pride.

After earning her associate degree, Jeanne transferred to Rutgers University’s School of Social Work, armed with the confidence and academic foundation Brookdale provided. Jeanne was the founder and CEO of Family Intervention Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting family success.

Jeanne’s professional journey led her to partner with longtime colleague Tom Blatner, founder of JANUS Solutions and former director of the Division of Youth and Family Services, with whom she shared a vision: that families must be at the center of child welfare services and public policy. Together, they founded FSI, guided by three principles:

• Recognizing families’ journeys and needs from birth through young adulthood.
• Ensuring that parents, youth, and community members are actively involved in decisions that affect them.
• Investing in success rather than spending overwhelmingly on crisis response.

“We coined the term ‘family success’ as a message of hope,” Tom explained. “Every family, regardless of background, deserves the support needed to raise children successfully.”

FSI has since grown into a statewide movement that has influenced the formation of nearly 60 Family Success Centers across New Jersey and a strong legislative advocacy presence.

One of the most successful local partnerships to embody this vision is Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services), a public—private collaboration initiated by the Monmouth County government. Brookdale President David M. Stout, Ph.D., played a key role in its early design, bringing his background in psychology and commitment to family-centered solutions to the effort. A steering committee of community leaders has helped guide Monmouth ACTS, including Brookdale’s Associate Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Anita Voogt, Ph.D., a longtime advocate for education and social services. “Anita has been instrumental in shaping the way Monmouth ACTS connects families with resources,” Tom noted. “She’s one of those smart, passionate leaders who ensures families’ voices are always at the table.”

Monmouth ACTS has become a paradigm for connecting government, nonprofit, and community resources to better support families. “It’s exactly the kind of holistic, family-first approach we’ve been advocating for through FSI,” Jeanne said. “Brookdale’s involvement underscores how educational institutions can strengthen communities beyond the classroom.”

In recent months, FSI’s connection to Brookdale came full circle. Feedback from more than 40 statewide Community Action Forums held by FSI led to a series of ongoing regional forums focused on advocacy, communication, and leadership skills. At Brookdale, Professor Elana Maloney led parents, frontline workers, and community members in a Human-Centered Design workshop, a process that empowers families to identify local challenges and create actionable solutions. This event built on Brookdale’s broader role in community partnerships such as Monmouth ACTS, which links county agencies and nonprofits to better serve families.

“Brookdale has been involved from the very beginning, both in practice and in teaching,” Tom noted. “The forum at Brookdale reinforced how important it is to listen directly to families about their experiences, what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed to make systems more effective.”

Dr. Voogt, who has long been engaged in Monmouth County’s collaborative efforts to strengthen families, praised Jeanne’s journey and FSI’s statewide impact. “Jeanne’s story embodies what Brookdale stands for: education as transformation, not just for individuals, but for entire families and communities.”

For Jeanne, the work remains urgent. “What drives me now is concern for families struggling in poverty. Without support, children suffer, and I believe the only way to help them is to help their families.”

Her advice to current Brookdale students? “Don’t give up. Find your passion, focus, and move forward. The change you make for yourself can ripple out in ways you can’t even imagine.”