FAMILY CENTERS INC

Family Centers' Early Care and Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Accreditation by NAEYC is widely recognized as a distinction of the highest quality early care and education programs. Only eight percent of the nation's preschools earn NAEYC's stamp of approval. Family Centers' Early Care and Education program is one of two full day-full year program in Greenwich that maintains NAEYC accreditation.

All of our centers utilize Teaching Strategies Gold, a respected online assessment system, to track the growth and progress of our students. The objectives are aligned with the State of Connecticut's Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS). Lesson plans and individualized goals for each child are determined jointly with parents and teachers based on observations and assessments conducted in the classroom. Development benchmarks for each age group are also considered. Family Centers' curriculum is multi-sensory in approach and emphasizes discovery, cooperation and communication.

Family Centers' Greenwich Head Start program provides preschool services to income-eligible families living in Greenwich with three- and four-year-old children. The curriculum-based program teaches children to understand letters, numbers and how to interact in a classroom setting.

Teachers also work on speech development and helps children of immigrant families learn English. An emphasis is also placed on parent involvement to encourage and support children's educational and social development.

In order to enroll their children in the program, families must meet income guidelines set forth by the Federal Government.

The Nurturing Families Network (NFN) helps first-time parents manage the challenges of parenthood by providing a system of continuous care designed to promote positive parenting through telephone support, parenting groups as well as home visiting for eligible parents. NFN staff work in partnership with parents to enhance their strengths, provide education and create community connections. Participation in the program is free and voluntary for all families.

The Connecticut Children’s Trust Fund sponsors the Nurturing Families Network of family support programs existing in all birthing hospitals in Connecticut.

School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are free-standing medical centers located in six high and middle schools in Stamford and Kids in Crisis in Greenwich.

Staffed by licensed nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, dental professionals and a health educator, SBHC provide on-site confidential physical, dental and mental health services to students enrolled in Stamford Public Schools.

The Young Parents Program supports pregnant teens and young mothers as they transition into their roles as parents. In addition to providing prenatal/parenting education and support, YPP clinicians help young parents further their educational and vocation goals.

Groups meet weekly in several Stamford schools. Home visits are also available.

To qualify for the YPP, teen mothers must live in Stamford and be enrolled in school.

For more than 30 years, the Center for HOPE has been one of the area's most respected and trusted resources for bereavement and critical illness support. The Center for HOPE provides comprehensive services for adults and children living with an illness, grieving a loss or coping with a life-altering circumstance. All counseling, support and education services are facilitated by specially-trained professionals in an atmosphere of hope and renewal.

Family Centers’ Counseling and Mental Health Services help individuals, groups, couples and families resolve a wide range of personal, relationship and mental health issues. As part of the counseling program, our Wellness & Prevention services offer an array of workshops and support groups on health and mental health as well as parenting.

We also offer crisis debriefing through our trained Trauma Response Team. Our team of clinicians can also work with your group or organization to arrange a customized presentation.

All services are facilitated by trained mental health professionals and are provided in our licensed and accredited centers located in Greenwich, Stamford and Darien. Day and evening hours are available.

The Den For Grieving Kids provides a safe, caring place for children, teens and families to explore their feelings about the loss of a parent, sibling or other family member and begin the journey toward healing. Children and their families participate in groups led by professionals and trained volunteer facilitators.

The Den also offers support groups at area elementary, middle and high schools. The Den's focus is on supporting children and families and if necessary, our staff may refer family members for individual or group therapy at the Center for HOPE or within Family Centers' Counseling and Mental Health Program. Our professionals also provide trauma response services for community groups, schools or businesses.

The Den is a comprehensive bereavement resource center that does not charge a fee for participating individuals and families, and relies on over 50 volunteers and numerous charitable contributions to cover its operating budget. Our volunteers and donors help make The Den an important community of belonging, and we actively engage their support for its ongoing success.

Focus on K.I.D.S teaches high conflict divorcing or divorced parents how to interact in ways that focus on the needs of their kids to create a more peaceful atmosphere that helps parents and children better manage this critical event in their lives. The acronym "K.I.D.S.” stands for Knowledge, Insight, Decisions and Solutions.

Through a series of personalized sessions, a divorcing couple meets together with a trained parent counselor to learn specific communication and problem solving techniques that improves their co-parenting skills, reduces parental conflict and positively addresses their children's specific needs.

Through counseling and support, the Intensive Family Preservation Program helps families resolve conflicts and improve parenting skills when there is an imminent risk children being removed from the home due to instances of child abuse or neglect.

The Intensive Family Preservation Program is a 12-week program in which clinicians provide families with therapeutic and case management services for up to five hours each week. Family Centers partners with Family and Children's Agency of Norwalk to provide the program's services. The Intensive Family Preservation is a referral-based initiative funded by Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

Mandated by Connecticut Superior Court, the Parenting Education Program (PEP) helps divorcing parents foster positive parenting following a divorce. Family Centers helps parents understand the challenges children face when the landscape of their family changes.

Through expert counseling, parents learn how they can help their children adjust to parent separation, provide cooperative parenting, conflict resolution and dispute management, visitation guidelines and stress reducing techniques.

Stamford CARES (Coalition for AIDS Resources, Education and Services) offers by direct service or through its community partners, access to health and support services to children, adolescents, adults and families living with HIV/AIDS in the Stamford region. Chief among these services is the provision of Medical Case Management, Early Intervention Services and Mental Health Counseling, where Stamford CARES staff members directly address barriers and disparities so that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to life-saving medical care and long-term maintenance in care.

Stamford CARES is staffed by Medical Case Managers, Early Intervention Specialists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers and support teams who understand the challenges and difficulties unique to those living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Staff provide medical and substance abuse systems navigation, entitlement assistance, counseling, housing coordination and emergency financial assistance to those newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or long-term survivors.

The program’s primary goal is to ensure that those living with HIV/AIDS have access to and remain in medical care. For more information or to make a referral, call (203) 977-4848.

Free, confidential, rapid (same day results) HIV testing is also available at various locations throughout the Stamford community courtesy of the Stamford Health Department HIV Prevention Program.

WorkLife Solutions Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work-Life Services give employees confidential, 24-hour daily access to behavioral health professionals and community resources that help employees take care of their personal concerns so that they can reduce stress and focus on their work.

Operated in collaboration with Charter Oak Communities (the Stamford Housing Authority), Community and Supportive Services Program is designed to strengthen Stamford’s public housing communities by empowering residents to become active members and leaders within their communities and beyond. Through counseling, case management services, referrals to community agencies, community building, socialization and general support, the program helps families living in public housing achieve greater self-sufficiency and independence.

Our Resident Service Coordinators are onsite at Stamford public housing communities five days a week at public to help residents develop plans and take the necessary steps to reach their goals. By focusing on individual strengths and addressing personal and family needs, Resident Service Coordinators also work to utilize appropriate educational and vocational services to help residents obtain employment or improve their economic self sufficiency. For residents who are homebound, Resident Service Coordinators help to create support systems necessary in order to improve quality of life and ultimately maintain their independence.

The Family Self Sufficiency Program provides residents of the Greenwich Housing Authority or Charter Oak Communities the tools they need to attain economic self sufficiency. The program offers individualized support including vocational counseling, goal planning, job and life skills training and family counseling aimed at helping participants become economically independent.

We work with partner agencies in the area to identify potential employment, education, homeownership, childcare, transportation and self-improvement opportunities for participating families. Free computer training courses are also offered.

To further encourage self-sufficiency and financial development, the Greenwich Housing Authority and Charter Oak Communities have both established special escrow savings accounts for the program’s participants. Rather experiencing a rent increase as their income improves, participants are eligible to contribute the escrow account. All funds saved into these accounts are available to residents for any self-sufficiency related expenses at the conclusion of the five-year program.

Friendly Connections is an innovative service for aging adults. Friendly Connections offers a variety of in-person and telephone-based services designed for the aging population. Friendly Connections is a great way for homebound and aging adults to continue to socialize, stimulate educational interests and stay connected with the community.

Family Centers' Housing Resource Program locates and places clients living with long-term mental illness in safe, stable and affordable housing in lower Fairfield County. Program staff provides an array of supportive services necessary to maintain community living and prevent psychiatric hospitalizations.

In addition to providing housing, the program also assists clients gain community and government entitlements, and helps set up and furnish apartments.

Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers believes that access to education is critical to becoming economically self sufficient and independent. Proficiency in reading, writing and communication is essential to further advancement both personally and professionally.

Our students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve personal and occupational goals. With the help of our dedicated volunteer tutors, Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers offers free English language instruction and basic literacy programs for adults and families. Through our partnerships with other community organizations, we are able to provide small group settings throughout the Greenwich and Stamford communities

Reaching Independence Through Employment (RITE) helps individuals and families attain a greater sense of self-sufficiency through counseling, goal planning, job-skills training, life skills and family support.

RITE coordinators provide free weekly vocational support clubs focusing on resume writing and defined job search skills.

Trained volunteers assist Greenwich residents eligible for Medicare Insurance to choose a supplemental insurance plan for Medicare (Medigap Insurance) and a Part D Prescription plan. Counselors can also provide some guidance on long term care insurance.

Family Centers Health Care is a Federally Qualified Health Clinic providing primary healthcare services to children and adults living in Greenwich Public Housing units, Section 8 housing and the surrounding neighborhoods. Dental and mental health services are also offered.