Family Support

• Information and referral
• Crisis intervention
• Family to family networking
• Parent education programs

Our Family Support staff combine their personal and professional experience to assist families with specific questions and concerns by offering community resource information and advocacy support as well as the empathetic ear of "someone who has been there." Additionally, a Hispanic translator is available to appointment and an on-staff Chaplain, by request, to assist with crisis intervention and provide spiritual counseling at all stages of life, loss or bereavement.

Support Services can be accessed by telephone, email, or personal meetings at the Family Center or in the family home, as well as through attendance at parent support and information programs we sponsor.

The Family Center regularly sponsors speakers and information programs independently and in cooperation with other organizations within the family support network of the wider community.

"The Parent Network", a supportive parent and provider networking and resource sharing group that meets the last Thursday evening of the month in the Family Center, is typical of our on-going parent education. The Parent Network offers families the opportunity to receive information first-hand from state and other community provider agencies and to interact and gain support from other families.

Families, themselves, have been responsible for the evolution of Family Center services since its founding in 1993, and we welcome and act upon suggestions for new services when there is significant interest.

Conductive Education, facilitated by a conductor trained in Hungary, is one of the first parent-driven programs initiated by the Family Center and continues to be offered Saturday mornings at the FEROLETO Center. Call 203-386-2714 for further information.

"News You Can Use" is an information and resource packet that we assemble and distribute quarterly to keep families updated about upcoming parent education programs at our Center and in the community, new support groups forming, changes in legislation, entitlement programs affecting families of children with disabilities, and helpful hints for daily care and coping. Please contact us at 203-386-2743 to be added to our "News You Use" mailing list.