We are pleased the Olive Garden at Corbins Corner in West Hartford invited us to apply for the grant in support of vocational education and training programs for students at Raymond Hill School (RHS).  In addition to a standard curriculum, RHS offers vocational electives to engage students in the education process. Our goal is to strengthen the connection between academics, work-related skills and pursuing post-secondary education. Our vocational education components produce either a service or product to be sold, and are based on a profit sharing concept. They include: Culinary/Food service training; Woodworking and furniture refinishing; Marketing/Retail management, Graphic Design and Information Technology. Engaging and sustaining student interest in active learning based on a Youth Business Model fosters the development of self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, work ethic and teamwork. Students also receive instruction in life skills training, including resume writing, interviewing, self-assessment, business etiquette, goal setting and professional communication.

Pamela C. Nichols, Senior Vice President – Wells Fargo Advisors and Mark H Johnson-Vice President -Klingberg

Hartford, Conn. – January, 2012 – The Klingberg Family Centers has received $10,500 from the Wells Fargo Advisors’ Investing in Our Communities initiative and donations from the Hartford Complex of Wells Fargo Advisors. The check was presented on December 19 by Pamela C. Nichols, Senior Vice President – Hartford Complex Manager.

The grant will be used to establish the ongoing Wells Fargo Advisors Fund, allowing the Hartford Complex to help support more than 300 families with a range of programs, including residential treatment, a special education school, family preservation and reunification services, and a parent aide program.

“Our initial effort was to brighten the homes of some of the neediest families in Hartford with basic essentials, as well as provide meals for children who miss their usual school meals during the holidays,” said Nichols. In addition to the grant, team members of the Wells Fargo Advisors Hartford Complex adopted several families, raising additional funds and donating items such as cribs, beds, clothing, and holiday gifts from the families’ wish lists.

“Wells Fargo Advisors is proud to support Klingberg Family Centers in their mission to provide hope and healing to children and families affected by abuse,” said Nichols. “We are very excited to make a dramatic impact on 11 families in the Hartford area who are currently receiving support and services from Klingberg Family Centers this holiday season.

“We appreciate Wells Fargo Advisors’ generous donation,” said Mark Johnson, Vice President of Development for the Klingberg Family Centers. “Their generosity has helped us provide much needed essentials for our families, including beds, clothing, heaters, food, gas and more. We look forward to a long partnership with Wells Fargo in helping the neediest children and families in our community”.

Joe Milke, Klingberg Family Centers’ Vice President of Finance and Administration, was recently nominated for recognition as the ‘Hartford Business Journal — CFO of the Year 2011’.   Pia Brown of Ovation Benefits Group, which serves as KFC employee benefits broker, nominated Joe, based on her respect and appreciation for his great work:  “I have worked with Joe for almost two years on the employee benefit plan strategy (design and cost).  He is thoughtful and comprehensive in the application of the changes to plans in order to achieve the best balance of cost and coverage for his employees, and in staying true to the mission of Klingberg Family Centers.  Joe has guided his organization through some tough financial times due to state funding cuts, and has been instrumental in the development of a new program to help children/families with special needs.”  Always optimistic and encouraging, Joe has had the admiration of his coworkers at KFC for many years.  Now we can all celebrate with him as he is recognized throughout Greater Hartford for his tremendous contributions to Klingberg Family Centers and our cherished clients.  Congratulations Joe.

“Youngsters involved with this Department deserve every chance to experience a normal childhood with a family that loves and cares for them,” Commissioner Katz said. “We have been moving in the right direction, and Klingberg is going to be instrumental in accelerating that movement.” In June 2011, 1,433 youngsters received care in congregate settings within and outside of Connecticut — 28 percent fewer than in 2004. In addition, the number of children six and under in congregate care has fallen to 10 in December 2011 compared to 38 in January, when Commissioner Katz took office. The number of children age 12 and under in congregate care has fallen to 123 in December compared to 201 in January. Reducing the use of congregate care for these younger populations was made a special point of emphasis by Commissioner Katz following the Congregate Care report. “Despite these indicators of progress, too many children and youth are not growing up with family and community ties,” Commissioner Katz said.

Klingberg Family Centers President/CEO Steven A. Girelli, Ph.D. said the private, nonprofit provider shares the same goals. “We fully agree that, whenever possible, children experiencing behavioral health issues are best served in a family setting bolstered by in-home and community-based services.  Over the past 20 years, Klingberg Family Centers has developed a full continuum of in-home, outpatient, foster care and community-based programs to address issues ranging from moderate family problems to serious behavioral health needs and traumatization.”

As part of this plan, Klingberg Family Centers will reduce the number of congregate treatment beds from 68 to 26 at its main campus in New Britain. This will enable Klingberg family Centers to redirect its attention to expanding its network of foster homes, family support services, and day treatment and educational programs at the same time as DCF continues its efforts to shift state spending on behalf of children to community based services. Planning is underway to provide alternative care settings for 30 youths who have been residents at the treatment facility. DCF and Klingberg Family Centers have been working closely to plan and implement the next phase of care and treatment for each of these children. It is expected that the majority, consistent with existing discharge plans, will return to family homes with specialized in-home support services to be arranged as necessary by DCF or Klingberg.

Klingberg Family Centers acknowledged that these changes will be disruptive for its employees. It hopes to retain staff, whenever possible, and transfer them to positions being created in new programs. The agency has invested in considerable training of its staff members and values their expertise, dedication, and commitment to working with children with special needs and their families.

Founded in 1903, Klingberg Family Centers originally served as a “substitute home” for children who were orphaned, abandoned or whose families were unable to care for them due to economic, social or medical hardships. During the orphanage era, many of these children spent their entire childhood at the Klingberg “Children’s Home,” as it was then known.  In 1968, the organization made the transition into a treatment center for children and families.  For decades, it has been providing a range of services beyond residential treatment to children and families across Connecticut. In1988, it was the first agency to bring the “Home-Builders Model” to Connecticut. This approach, which is designed to work with families in their own homes to strengthen parenting skills and prevent the unnecessary removal of children, effectively anticipated the formal state policies that are now being implemented by DCF.

DCF and Klingberg Family Centers have worked in partnership since the state agency was formed in 1969. Commissioner Katz underscored the importance of this relationship. “Throughout the decades of shifting state and national priorities about the best approaches to care for and treat children, the two organizations have enjoyed a productive and mutually respectful relationship that has been guided by a consistent focus on the well being of the children in our care,” Commissioner Katz said. “I expect we will continue to build on this collaborative spirit as we embark on this important set of improvements to Connecticut’s system of services to children and families.”

NEW BRITAIN — After the school bell rings and students are dismissed, programs funded by the American Savings Foundation will help give New Britain children a place to have fun while making learning a priority.

The foundation’s board of directors has approved $820,000 in grants to local organizations, including $470,400 in grants for after-school programs.

The foundation funds after-school programs with the objective of supporting student learning, providing help for working families and keeping kids safe.

Most of these programs start this week.

“The foundation is very proud of its efforts in connection with after-school programs, particularly at the beginning of each new school year,” Harry Mazadoorian, chairman of the American Savings Foundation’s board of directors, said in a prepared statement.

Mazadoorian said studies show that on school days, 3 to 6 p.m. is the peak time for teens to commit crimes or to become victims of crime. For working families this is when unsupervised children experiment with drugs and alcohol. Children who participate regularly in after-school programs show better school attendance and behavior, which lead to better grades and higher graduation rates, he said. 

Grants approved at the foundation’s September board meeting include $42,900 for the Smart Girls Program at the New Britain Boys and Girls Club; $7,500 for the Queen Ann Nzinga Center arts program; $104,000 for after-school programs run by New Britain Parks and Recreation Department; $53,000 for Klingberg Family Center’s after-school program; $55,000 for the Hardware City Bike Program on Arch Street; $106,000 for Opportunities Industrialization Center’s Moving Mountains-Sullivan Academy; and $102,000 for YWCA’s STRIVE program for girls.

“After school programs provide fun and challenging activities that keep kids coming back,” foundation President and CEO David Davison said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal visited Klingberg Family Centers to meet with Klingberg President Steve Girelli and tour several programs. The main purpose of his visit was to see the fine work we do, especially the Webster House, which relates to his interest in the interface between physical health and mental health. The Senator spent a great deal of time talking with the adolescent residents in the program and was very eagerly and warmly received by them.

The Senator also toured the Raymond Hill School where he spent a considerable amount of time focusing on the vocational programs, which help prepare our students for independence and for employment and ongoing contributions to society.

Klingberg has had multiple and productive meetings with members of Senator Blumenthal’s education staff and behavioral health staff in the DC office. Since he has assumed office, the Senator’s staffs, both here and in Washington, have been very interested in and supportive of the work we do.

The Senator indicated that he is interested in returning to Klingberg to spend more time and to visit our other programs.

Laura Centurelli, Program Coordinator, with Christy Parker, RN in the nursing office of the Webster House.

All the children that come through the doors of Klingberg Family Centers benefit from a safe, therapeutic environment where they can heal from past trauma.  Some of these children, who struggle with health problems as well, need an even more targeted support system.

Many kids who fit this profile are living in hospitals throughout the state, but they would be better served in a residential, homelike setting.  About one year ago, the Medically Complex Unit opened here in response to a growing need throughout Connecticut for treatment of children whose emotional or behavioral health needs are compounded with “co-occurring medically complex needs.” This program, located in the Elizabeth Webster House, is the first of its kind in Connecticut. 

Laura Centurelli, LCSW is the Program Coordinator at the Webster House, which has 12 children aged 12 to 18.  She says it is similar to other residential units on campus, but with additional elements:  an around-the-clock nursing service and consultations with physicians at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and an on-site registered dietician.  The entire program, medical or otherwise, is individually tailored to each child. 

Though some children in the Webster House do have life-threatening conditions, the most common ailment is diabetes.  Staff are trained to provide close monitoring, helping manage blood sugar and recognizing the signs of hypo- and hyper-glycemia. 

The greatest challenge on the unit, according to Centurelli, is food.  She admits it can be difficult to balance dietary restrictions with the room kids need to be independent and make their own choices.  Kids are encouraged to research and prepare some of their own meals in the Webster House kitchen.  They also keep logs of their diet and activity.   Ultimately, Centurelli wants to see kids lead a fun, healthy life at the same time they are learning to deal with their illness. 

And they are making excellent progress.  There are rich rewards for everyone when kids take ownership, gain freedom and begin to feel at home in the Webster House.  It’s not uncommon to witness that when medical issues are resolved, behavioral issues somehow follow suit with out more intervention.  Once their health is stabilized, kids are discharged to a lower-level care setting, such as a group home, or they return to live in their original community.

Erin Joudrey (far right, third row from front) with other women honored at the luncheon

The YWCA of New Britain hosted its 14th biennial Women in Leadership luncheon recently at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. This year’s group of “Women in Leadership” included 12 honorees and six inductees into the Academy of Women Leaders.  One of this year’s honorees is Erin Joudrey, Director of Community-based Care at Klingberg Family Centers.

Erin is most deserving of recognition for her outstanding work.  She began her career at Klingberg Family Centers in 1998 working with pre-adolescent children facing behavioral health issues. Since that time she has made her mark on the lives of scores of boys and girls, earned a Masters Degree in Social Work, and taken on increasingly demanding leadership roles in the organization.

Known for her cheerful, enthusiastic spirit, Erin embraces new challenges. Her roles have included serving as Director of the Therapeutic Foster Care Program. In that capacity several years ago, she headed up a redesign of our specialized foster care and adoption services that involved participation in many statewide meetings and training staff in new models of care. Currently, Erin oversees the agency’s three group homes for teens and is working hard on opening a fourth group home. 

Erin is driven by a passion for helping young people overcome the tragic consequences of trauma and move forward to a more promising future. As she has advanced into supervisory and administrative roles, Erin appreciates the opportunity to inspire her staff to always treat children and families with genuine respect and seek to understand their unique situations. She is dedicated to hiring a diverse staff that reflects and appreciates the diversity of the clients we serve.Erin realizes that advocacy is an essential component of working with children and families who often have no voice.  Her greatest fulfillment has been witnessing the healing and restoration that takes place when abused children come to know they are loved and have tremendous value.

In keeping with her heart of compassion, Erin also enjoys volunteering for the Connecticut Humane Society.

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW of Bristol, is one of six members of the National Association of Social Workers, Connecticut Chapter, to be honored June 14 at the association’s annual awards dinner in New Haven.

Wilcox will receive the 2011 Social Worker of the Year Award.

She is the vice president for strategic planning at Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain. At Klingberg she is responsible for designing new programming, maintaining a quality assurance process, consulting clinically, and contributing to sustaining trauma-informed care.  It is her work in the area of trauma treatment for youth that particularly distinguishes her.

A national leader in the area of trauma treatment for youth, especially in congregate care treatment settings that work with the most psychiatrically complex children, Wilcox has forged new paths.  At Klingberg she initiated and oversaw an organizational transformation process from a traditional, control-oriented, token economy treatment approach to one that is based on state-of-the-art knowledge about treatment of complexly traumatized children.

Wilcox is also the primary creator of the Restorative Approach, a trauma-informed alternative to traditional point-and-level systems for child congregate care treatment settings.  She has trained internationally on the Restorative Approach, has self-published a book on the subject, and is writing a book to be published by the NEARI Press.

Helping to bring the Risking Connection Training Program to Klingberg, Wilcox has established Klingberg as a national training center for RC, and has assisted 30 agencies in nine states and Canada to adopt RC as an ongoing staff training program.  A member of NASW since 1983, she has participated on the board of directors, on committees, and has presented numerous workshops at conferences.  She is a strong advocate for paying attention to the care of both clients and treatment providers and has a long history of supervising and mentoring social workers, generously sharing her expertise with those who care for children.  Service to deeply troubled children has been the central mission of her life work and she has done this work tirelessly and unselfishly in her effort to look for ways to help them heal.