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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR CT FAMILIES
In collaboration with the Bridgeport Child and Family Guidance Center, the Department of Children & Families (DCF) offers the Community Support for Families program. This initiative provides wraparound services connecting families to community resources, promoting child safety and family well-being, and reducing the need for out-of-home placements. The program aids families in goal-setting, barrier elimination, and resource utilization, guiding them towards a 'better life'. Please note that participation is referral-based exclusively through the DCF.
SUPERVISED VISITATION
SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN TRANSITION
This program, offered on a fee-for-service basis, provides supervised visitation and parenting coaching to families undergoing reunification treatment after the removal of a child due to abuse or neglect.
The Center's Supervised Visitation Program is specifically designed to offer a secure environment where children can interact with their non-custodial parent or family members.
While professional assessments, parental education, and recommendations are not an inherent part of the visit, they can be made available upon request.
PAYMENT AND PARTICIPATION
GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUPERVISED VISIT
Referrals: Private referrals must be paid for prior to the visit. Department of Children and Families visits require prior written approval.Private referrals must be paid for prior to the visit. Department of Children and Families visits require prior written approval.- Fees: The fee is $65 per hour, with additional charges of $.58 per mile when transportation is needed.
- Weekends & Holidays: The Center provides visitation on weekends and holidays, subject to supervisor availability. Visits can be held on-site or off-site without a limit on duration.The Center provides visitation on weekends and holidays, subject to supervisor availability. Visits can be held on-site or off-site without a limit on duration.
During Visitation:
- Engage in fun, light-hearted activities. Show interest in the child’s life, including their school, friends, and plans.
- Stay attentive and positive, offering encouragement. You may help with homework, if applicable.
- Play games. A variety is provided for all ages, but you're welcome to bring your own toys or games.
- Healthy food/snacks and drinks are encouraged. If time allows, consider preparing a meal together, baking cookies, or coloring Easter eggs.
- Activities such as coloring with washable paints, playing with store-bought or homemade play dough, and watching movies are permitted.
- With the child's consent, appropriate photos can be taken. The Supervisor can take pictures of you and the child, provided the child is comfortable with it.
- Weather permitting, a supervised party and child can go outside to play ball or Frisbee, walk to the nearby park, or visit local places like a restaurant, mall or bowling alley within walking distance and visit timeframe. It's not mandatory to stay inside the building.
- Clean-Up: It's expected that the visiting area is cleaned up before the visit ends to prepare for the next family. The supervisor will let you know 10-15 minutes before the visit is finished as your reminder to begin cleaning up. If you have not started to clean up, we will remind you again when there are 5 minutes left to the visit. The room must be left as you found it for the next family.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
GROUP PROGRAMS IN CONNECTICUT
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS
BUILDING POSITIVE FAMILY DYNAMICS
In collaboration with Connecticut community organizations, we offer general parenting support groups. These groups equip parents and children with tools to enhance mutual empathy, establish family morals and values, and reinforce positive behavior. Parents gain insights into non-violent discipline alternatives, understanding the link between choices and consequences, and fostering enriching family learning experiences.
THE SCHOOL BASED PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING
CREATING SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
This group-based program is provided in local Connecticut schools and focuses on promoting academic success. Parents are guided to establish supportive home/school environments, such as setting regular routines, preparing backpacks the night before, ensuring up-to-date medical care, including immunizations, and fostering a positive, motivated attitude towards learning in their children.
These workshops have boosted parental involvement and student productivity. They improve school attendance attitudes towards learning, and ease student integration into the school system, with a strong emphasis on the home/school connection.
THE PARENT PROJECT
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR
Program Overview
The Parent Project is a 10 to 16 week curriculum-based training program specifically tailored for parents of strong-willed or challenging adolescents. It provides effective strategies to identify, prevent, and intervene in destructive adolescent behaviors like poor school performance, substance use, gang involvement, and violence.
This two-part program aims to help parents demonstrate love effectively, assure early success, encourage persistence, teach intervention/prevention tactics, and enhance parent-child relationships, all rooted in behavior modification principles. The focus is on parental control to alter youth behavior, anticipating that attitude change will follow behavioral change (Fry et al., 2003).
Facilitators guide parents to influence their children positively, motivating behavioral change through positive reinforcement and consequences. Ultimately, the Parent Project empowers parents with strategies that are applicable to various populations and grounded in behavioral concepts.
Implementation
- Parents learn in a classroom setting to manage teen behavior problems at home.
- Participants receive an activity-based 216-page workbook, “A Parent’s Guide to Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior.”
- Sessions occur once per week, lasting two to three hours, over 10 – 16 weeks.
- Parent support groups are formed utilizing the UCLA, Self-Help Support Group model.
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203-327-9419
The Exchange Club Center 141 Franklin Street Stamford, CT 06901
office hours Monday Friday 9am-5pm closed on major holidays
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