Hundreds of children affected by trauma will be provided with opportunities to build healthy coping skills through recreational play therapies thanks to a $75,000 grant the LEGO Community Fund U.S. has awarded The Village for Families & Children.
Funds will provide vital support to help children in The Village’s Extended Day Treatment (EDT) program overcome social, emotional and behavioral challenges resulting from trauma through innovative play and sports-based therapies, health and safety lessons and other skill-building exercises.
Children in the program are between the ages of 5-14 and have experienced significant trauma, including exposure to violence, addiction, racism, abuse, neglect or toxic stress associated with financial insecurity.
“We’re immensely grateful to LEGO Community Fund U.S. for their support for our EDT program and the children we serve,” said Village President and CEO Galo Rodriguez. “Playing is a natural way for children to process the world around them and is key to their health and development. This funding will serve a critical role in helping children in the program—who have already been through so much—heal by playing, learning and simply being kids.”
In addition to supporting their physical health and emotional development, EDT’s recreational therapies also teach problem-solving, teamwork, trust and communication.
EDT is a six-month day program that supports children or teens in developing and practicing social and coping skills to help them express their feelings in healthy, productive ways through daily peer groups, family support and therapy.
The program has four locations in Hartford, Manchester, Meriden and Middletown and also serves each location’s surrounding towns. More information about EDT, including how to make a referral, is available at thevillage.org/edt.