Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP)

The Early Childhood Consultation Program (ECCP) identifies and meets the social, educational and emotional needs of children from birth through age 5. Consultation in early childhood settings is provided by a mental health professional to help care for the needs of young children.

Nurturing Families Network (NFN)

The Nurturing Families Network (NFN) offers a continuum of preventative services for prenatal and first-time parents. NFN is funded by the Children’s Trust Fund and The Exchange Club Family Life Foundation and is designed to reduce parental risk factors for child abuse and neglect. Research shows that parents who participate in NFN programs have increased knowledge of child development, enhanced parenting skills, improved parenting attitudes, increased likelihood to reach their academic or employment goals, and increased awareness of community resources. The program is offered to first-time parents who are pregnant or have a child less than 3 months of age and can last up to the first child’s 5th birthday.   Services include:

• Nurturing Parent Groups discuss topics such as parenting skills, prenatal care, and fathering.

• Home Visiting Program includes weekly home visits focused on increasing parent’s knowledge of child development and increasing the wellness and stability of the family.

• The Nurturing Connections Program is a 3 to 6 month telephone support program which connects first-time parents to a Family Support Worker after the birth of their child, and provides educational information related to the development and health of the new baby, and adjusting to first-time parenting.

Community Support for Families (CSF)

Community Support for Families (CSF) is implemented as part of the Department of Children and Families’ Differential Response System.  CSF is a family-driven, strengths based, culturally responsive program that assists families in accessing community services utilizing a “Wraparound” model to resolve crisis and preventing further child protection service involvement.  The CSF staff use clinical and community systems knowledge to advocate for services; assist the family in developing an individualized service plan; and coordinate and monitor implementation of that plan. With the help of the CSF staff, the family invites service providers and natural supports to participate in “Child & Family Team” meetings to ensure successful implementation of their plan.  A Parent Navigator is also available, as needed, to augment services by providing support, educaton, and advocacy to families.

Family Enrichment Services (FES)

The Family Enrichment Services (FES) program is open only to families that are involved with and referred by the Department of Children and Families. These families have a substantiation or allegation of abuse or neglect and live in the towns of Beacon Falls, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury, Wolcott and Woodbury. The Family Enrichment Services program provides a range of in-home teaching, modeling, support, advocacy and assistance with obtaining services from the community in order to enhance parenting competencies and improve the parents’/caregivers’ overall functioning and ability to care for their children. Services can be provided for 4 months and can be modified per request of DCF.

Care Coordination (CC)

Care Coordination (CC) is a family-focused, child-centered model that assists in managing multiple community services. Emphasis is placed on the current strengths and needs of the family. A culturally competent Care Coordinator uses knowledge of community services to advocate for the family and assist them in developing an individualized service plan. The family invites other family members, neighbors and other supporters, along with service providers, to participate in “Child and Family Team” meetings to ensure a successful outcome. A Family Advocate is also available to provide support.

School-Based Health Services

School-based health services promote the social, emotional, physical, and academic well being of students. Services include individual, group and family therapy, as well as early intervention, so that students are able to overcome roadblocks to meeting educational objectives.