Healthy Living
Letter letters

Letter from an Expert: Parents Should Begin Frank Discussions About Substance Abuse EARLY

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To the editor:

I applaud the work of The Community Fund of Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force as it launches its campaign “Our Darien” which is aimed at addressing teen binge drinking. The Thriving Youth Task Force is helping to increase our understanding of teens’ and parents’ beliefs and behavior regarding alcohol use and binge drinking. At the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, where we provide mental health services to more than 3,000 children and teens every year, we are all too aware of the harmful effects of teen drinking.  

The good news for parents is that research shows they are the strongest influence on their children’s decisions about drinking. Our Darien’s use of social media to disseminate scientific information about teen drinking issues brings it squarely into our daily lives.

Community Organizations

Three from Darien on the 2017-2018 Child Guidance Center Board of Directors

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The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, a nonprofit mental health agency serving children and adolescents in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan, has announced their 2017-2018 board of directors. Among the board officers is Margaret (“Meg”) Deluca of Darien, the board secretary. Other Darien board members are Stephen Gramps and Sharad Samy. _________

— an announcement from the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut

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Rich Ostuw, a Stamford resident and a CGC board member since 2009, has been named the new board chairman. “I’ve seen the great work CGC has done supporting children and their families with mental health issues.

Parents & Kids
Child Guidance Center Logo 912-28-16

Child Guidance Center Changes Name of Sexual Abuse Response Team

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The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) changed the name of their Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC is overseen by CGC’s Director of Victim Services (formerly known as the SART Program Director), Setta Mushegian, MSW. The CAC is a child-friendly, neutral environment in which youth who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect are interviewed for forensic purposes and are connected with mental health, advocacy, and medical services. ____________

— an announcement from the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut

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The CAC oversees its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) which is composed of local law enforcement, the State’s Attorneys Office, medical personnel, Juvenile and Adult Probation, mental health professionals, forensic interviewers, and victim advocates. The MDT meets regularly to ensure that they are working in concert so that victims receive timely support and perpetrators are held accountable.

Community Organizations

Child Guidance Center Looks for Mentoring Program Volunteers

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To better help children and their families struggling with emotional or behavioral problems, the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) will offer the Youth, Empowerment, & Support (YES) Mentoring Program starting in January 2017. The YES Mentoring Program is for children, ages six to 18, who are involved in System of Care (SOC) in Stamford and Norwalk. CGC’s SOC program helps families meet the complex needs of seriously emotionally disturbed, abused, or neglected children. CGC is currently seeking mentors for the  YES Program, which begins in January 2017.  If you would like to learn more about the YES Mentoring Program or would like to volunteer, please contact Sheila Figueroa at (203) 517-3346 or sheila.figueroa@childguidancect.org. Through YES, youth enrolled in SOC will have the opportunity to interact and participate in fun, age-appropriate activities with a positive role model.