IT’S
HERE.

Urgent Crisis Center
now open

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Mission

To build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children.

Diversity Statement

The Village’s commitment to diversity extends beyond our words.

Diversity fuels our mission.

We believe that we are stronger and better when we actively include diverse people and thought to guide our practices and engagement with others. Through our diversity we learn fundamental truths, discover opportunities to create a more inclusive society, and enact real change.

“All of the programs and groups we attend monthly at The Village are very important. It makes the family more united.”


Rossie Alcantara, Village client

Dear friends,

“Where real change happens” is more than a tag line for The Village, it is a call to action. We knew coming out of the pandemic that The Village had an opportunity—really an obligation—to adapt. The mental health crisis facing our families and children requires more than bouncing back. It calls on providers to innovate, invest and lead.

This past fiscal year The Village served more clients, built a new level of care for children and youth experiencing a mental health crisis, implemented a program designed to break generational cycles of poverty and trauma, and transformed our foster care program. You will learn more about these initiatives in this annual report.

Real change is not just for our clients. This fiscal year The Village will welcome new leadership: Curt Cameron will take over as board chair and Hector Glynn will become the new president and chief executive officer. Both leaders are dedicated to The Village’s mission and ready to help write the next chapter in its 200-year history. We are heartened that they will not do it alone. The Village has nearly 600 staff members, and supporting them are thousands of donors, Auxilians, Ambassadors, volunteers and community partners. This annual report reflects their impact and provides evidence that we are all connected. Every donation, grant and hour volunteered creates a stronger Village and better outcomes for the families we serve.

We are grateful for your partnership.

John Turgeon, CPA, HCS
Board Chair

Galo A. Rodriguez, MPH
President and CEO

John Turgeon

Galo A. Rodriguez

FEATURE

“The Urgent Crisis Center means not waiting for eight hours to be seen and also being able to get connected to other resources quicker.”


Tenesha Oates, Mother of Village client

FEATURE

“They’re part of our family unit. They know we love them to pieces, and they can give that love back to us. It’s the best thing you can give a child.”


Jenna Nikirk, Village foster parent

Village Program Directory

The Village’s 40+ programs serve approximately 20,000 clients each year. Some are accessed by referrals; others are open to the public. All programs accept clients regardless of their ability to pay. For more information or to connect to a Village program, click here or call 860-236-4511.

Children/Teen Mental Health & Wellness

Care Coordination

Trained staff work to connect and facilitate care within Village services and outside providers to provide help managing care for the whole system—behavioral and physical.

Provides children and teens with an integrated, comprehensive, family-centered treatment.

Children, Teens (0-21)

A specialized school program for children who are participating in our Eagle House Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility that focuses on trauma-informed practices and positive behavior supports.

Children (6-12) Grades 1-8

Provides comprehensive and intensive behavioral health treatment for children who present with significant emotional or behavioral difficulty and are transitioning from psychiatric hospitalization.

Children (6-12)

A six-month day program that supports children in developing and practicing social and coping skills to express their feelings in healthy ways.

Children (5-14)

Licensed clinicians and care coordinators work with community physicians and other medical staff to support the whole health of each client—physical, social and emotional.

Children, Teens (0-18); Adults

Provides children and teens with integrated trauma-informed, relational, multi-level treatment for complex psychiatric and behavioral needs.

Children (12-17)

Designed to keep children, who are at risk of psychiatric hospitalization or in need of additional clinical support, in their community.

Children, Teens (3-18)

Our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, APRNs, psychologists and clinicians work with youth and their families to achieve progress and change they’re looking for and tackle life’s challenges.

Children, Teens (0-21)

Provides short-term, in-home services for children who have experienced or witnessed a crime in the past 90 days to help reduce the impact of trauma.

Children, Teens (0-17)

The Sub-Acute Crisis Stabilization (SACS) program is a short-term residential stabilization service for youth ages 5-18 years old who are working through a mental health crisis.

Youth ages 5-18 years old

Provides walk-in outpatient services for children and teens who are experiencing an urgent mental or behavioral health crisis.

Children and adolescents ages 18 and under

The Vernon ROCKS Coalition is a collaboration of community stakeholders, parents, youth and volunteers who focus on preventing the use of drugs and alcohol in Vernon’s youth by promoting protective factors and decreasing risk factors that contribute to substance use.

Children, Teens

“We had to leave our country and arrive here with nothing. I don’t know where I would have been without The Village.”


Rosa Ramos, Village client

Pictured: Village client Rosa Ramos with her children.

Adult Mental Health & Wellness

Provides therapy to treat and manage behavioral health, substance use and co-occurring issues and provides support in building and using coping skills, symptom management, managing challenging emotions and cravings, relationship building and repairing, and much more.

Adults

Care Coordination

Trained staff work to connect and facilitate care within Village services and outside providers to provide help managing care for the whole system—behavioral and physical.

Provides children and teens with an integrated, comprehensive, family-centered treatment.

Children, Teens (0-21)

Licensed clinicians and care coordinators work with community physicians and other medical staff to support the whole health of each client—physical, social and emotional.

Children, Teens (0-18); Adults

Offers comprehensive support to help adults overcome addiction and set their path to a better life.

Adults

Using a client-centered and collaborative approach to behavioral health care, our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, APRNs, psychologists and clinicians works with adults to set the goals for what they want to achieve and help bring about changes in their lives.

Adults

Offers a range of support to help individuals and family members who have been impacted by opiate use.

Adults

“They actually care about you. I hadn’t felt that way in a long time. There’s no more dark. I can honestly say that everything is going to be great.”


Anthony Davis, Village client

Pictured: Village adult services client Anthony Davis.

Family Strengthening & School-Based Support

Ascend

The North Hartford Ascend Pipeline (Ascend) is a “cradle to career” effort in collaboration with Connecticut Children’s, local care providers and community-based organizations committed to helping children and families in and around North Hartford access supportive, critical resources to reach their full potential.

The North Hartford Ascend Pipeline (Ascend) is a “cradle to career” effort in collaboration with Connecticut Children’s, local care providers and community-based organizations committed to helping children and families in and around North Hartford access supportive, critical resources to reach their full potential.

Families with children who live or attend school in North Hartford’s Arsenal, …

Helps reduce the impact toxic stress can have on a child’s development by strengthening parents’ relationships with their children and addressing families’ basic needs, such as shelter, food, medical care or employment.

Children (0-6), Adults with children (0-6)

A family-driven program that helps families strengthen natural and community support systems to maintain safe and healthy home environments, reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect.

Children, Teens (0-17)

Provides relationship-based consultation services to help parents manage their child’s behavior and improve their success at school.

Children (0-5)

Helps prepare preschoolers with the skills necessary to transition to kindergarten and beyond by providing a nurturing, open and safe educational environment that promotes learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, independence, social skills and physical development.

Children (3-5)

Provides staff, teachers and parents with support for the social-emotional well-being of children in Head Start classrooms across Hartford and Middlesex counties.

Children 0-5

Provides families with timely services to address their concerns and bring children who are struggling at home or school back to a normal developmental trajectory before problems escalate.

Children, (6 months-6 years)

Educates and trains parents on how to help children adjust in a healthy way to divorce or living apart from a parent.

Adults with children under 18

Helps parents and children adjust in a healthy way after divorce or living apart from a parent/caregiver.

Adults with children

Home visiting program that helps build parental resilience and knowledge of parenting and child development to help children thrive and be healthy, safe and ready to learn.

Children (0-5), Adults with children (0-5)

The Village partners with several Hartford Public Schools to provide children with services and supports to be successful in school and support families’ healthy development through after-school programs, school-based mental health, family resource centers, teen outreach and truancy prevention.

Children, Teens

Serving families in Greater Hartford, our Stronger Families, Stronger Futures (SF²) program connects pregnant people and parents with young children to resources to help families thrive.

Children (0-5), Adults with children (0-5)

Provides private services to help parents and children who are not currently living together have family time in a safe, neutral and comfortable home-like environment.

Children, Non-custodial adults with children

A parent-directed, play-based program that provides parents with support to increase their child’s vocabulary and enhance their conversational abilities.

Children, Adults with children (0-5)

“We were able to afford preschool because of The Village. Without it, our life would be drastically different.”


Jessica Hootman, Village preschool parent

Pictured: Village Early Childhood Learning Center parent, Jessica Hootman with son.

Foster Care & Child Welfare

“Don’t give up. The Village could lead you into a life that you have never imagined.”


Harley Fitzpatrick, Village client

Pictured: Village Fatherhood Engagement Services and adult services client Harley Fitzpatrick.

Financial & Career

The North Hartford Ascend Pipeline (Ascend) is a “cradle to career” effort in collaboration with Connecticut Children’s, local care providers and community-based organizations committed to helping children and families in and around North Hartford access supportive, critical resources to reach their full potential.

Families with children who live or attend school in North Hartford’s Arsenal, …

Offered through our Financial Opportunity Center® and in partnership with United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, career coaching helps adults identify unique skills and interests, build a professional resume, learn about applying for jobs online, improve networking skills and connect to certification programs to build job skills.

Adults in Greater Hartford, low-to-moderate income

Our financial coaching services, offered through our Financial Opportunity Center® and in partnership with United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, help adults effectively manage their finances and achieve financial goals.

Adults in Greater Hartford, low-to-moderate income

A partnership program where coaches work one-on-one with parents and families, empowering them to identify and achieve life goals, connect to community resources and like-minded peers, practice self-advocacy and gain problem-solving and organizational skills.

Individuals over 18 with or without children; Families

Offered through our Financial Opportunity Center® and in partnership with United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and 211 Connecticut, helps individuals and families access free tax preparation, asset-building opportunities, financial education and additional resources.

Adults earning up to $64,000 per year who reside in Greater Hartford, …

“I was at a breaking point. I needed help. The Village has helped me financially, emotionally and now I’m able to pay my bills, I have a vehicle and am on my way to owning a home.”


Tanisha Stewart, Village client

Pictured: Village Financial Opportunity Center client Tanisha Stewart.

Support for Justice-Involved Youth

A community-based program that provides youth who have committed a juvenile offense the opportunity to make things right with an alternative to Juvenile Court.

Children, Teens (12-18)

A center-based program for court-involved youth and their families where clinicians work with youth to make sustainable behavioral changes and promote skill-building opportunities and connections to community supports.

Children, Teens (12-17)

Financial Report

The Village Board and executive leadership are committed to the safeguarding of the agency’s assets and operating its programs in a cost-efficient manner with optimal results.

This dedication to fiscal oversight and a disciplined management style has enabled the organization to experience significant planned growth, and commendation from regulators, funders and lenders.

The generosity of donors and the commitment of our staff have placed The Village in the top tier of fiscally strong non-profit providers.

Program Funding

Grants - State Funds
$22,252
Program Fees and Contracts $15,151
Other Grants and Contributions $4,671
Grants — Federal Funds
$4,247
Authorized Endowment Contribution
$4,083
United Way
$414

Program Expenses

Community Services
$14,424
Residential Services and Extended Day Treatment Programs $12,039
Outpatient Behavioral Health Services $10,981
Permanency
$6,081
General & Aministrative $6,057
Fundraising
$699

Client Satisfaction

Client feedback and input is key to our ability to provide quality, effective services. While we are always looking for ways to improve, we are pleased with the results of this year’s surveys. Here’s a sample of client feedback from our more than 40 program offerings at The Village.

0 %

of clients in The Village’s Community Support for Families program were satisfied with the service.

0 %

of clients in The Village’s Child First program were satisfied with the service.

0 %

of clients in The Village’s Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS) program were satisfied with the service.

ProgramOverall SatisfactionAccess to ServicesCultural SensitivityEngaged in Treatment PlanningImproved Social SupportImproved Functioning/Outcomes
Child First100%100%100%96%98%98%
Community Schools/After School Programming98%99%99%96%NANA
Community Support for Families100%100%100%100%NA100%
Eagle House Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility89%77%100%93%89%59%
Early Childhood Learning Center73%NA100%NANA100%
Extended Day Treatment98%91%95%95%95%84%
Fatherhood Engagement94%94%100%88%100%97%
Functional Family Therapy - Foster Care100%NANANANANA
Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services95%97%97%97%95%77%
Mid Level Developmental Assessment83%100%NANANA67%
Outpatient Behavioral Therapy (Children & Teens)99%92%100%99%100%89%
Quality Parenting Center100%100%100%100%NA95%
Rapid Response89%100%NANANA92%
Reunification and Therapeutic Family Time100%98%100%100%100%98%
Stronger Families, Stronger Futures (SF2); Parents as Teachers99%NA100%100%NA100%
Overall97%97%99%98%98%94%
0 %

of clients in The Village’s Extended Day Treatment program were satisfied with the service.

0 %

of clients in The Village’s Outpatient Behavioral Health (Children & Teens) program were satisfied with the service.

0 %

of clients in The Village’s Quality Parenting Center were satisfied with the service.

Outcomes

Our impact can be found in the thousands of children, adults and families who have overcome enormous challenges to achieve real and meaningful change in their lives with help from the treatment, services and advocacy of The Village.

Our wraparound approach includes individual and family counseling, group home, residential and outpatient treatment, school-based support programs and in-home family strengthening. Our goal each day is to do whatever it takes to improve the health, well-being and success of children, adults and families.

total clients served
0
Clients receiving outpatient services, early childhood and youth support, addiction and recovery support, foster care and additional support services 10,994
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clients 7,051
0 %

of children in The Village’s Early Childhood Learning Center improved in their use of sentences and vocabulary to describe ideas.

0 %
of children in The Village’s Extended Day Treatment program did not require placement in a more restrictive setting.
0

children, teens and adults received services in The Village’s outpatient behavioral health programs.

“I got support from the mentors that really helped me shape my life. This was more like a family environment where they made you feel like they care about you.”


Jared Ramsdell, Village client

Pictured: Village Fatherhood Engagement Services intern and former client Jared Ramsdell and children.

0
clients received services in The Village’s Stronger Families, Stronger Futures program.
0
children and youth received services in The Village’s Functional Family Therapy – Foster Care program.
0 %
of fathers who completed The Village’s Fatherhood Engagement Services program say they will use what they learned through the program.
0 %
of children were reunified in The Village’s Reunification-Therapeutic Family Time program.
0 %
of children in The Village’s Early Childhood Learning Center improved in their use of sentences and vocabulary to describe ideas.
$ 0 M
of children in The Village’s Early Childhood Learning Center improved in their use of sentences and vocabulary to describe ideas.

Clients Served

Gender

Female
Male

Ethnicity

Latino
African American/Black
Latino
Other

Age

40 ≥
6-11
25-39
18-24
12-17
≤ 6

FEATURE

“Every time I see a family making a big change, I feel great. It is not Galo’s Village or agency. It belongs to 600 workers, working together to fulfill the mission.”
Dr. Galo A. Rodriguez, Village President & CEO

FEATURE

“When I retired, I decided that I would have a little extra something—mainly my time, as well as some money—and I wanted to be able to help other people.”
Barry Lastra, Village Legacy Donor & Board Member