News & Events

Village Donors Leave Their Mark on Hartford Community, Historic Campus With Life-Changing Gifts

Thousands of youth and families served by The Village for Families & Children will receive the help they need to overcome challenges and heal for generations thanks to members of the organization’s board of directors and supporters who recently made transformative legacy gifts to The Village.

Village Donors Leave Their Mark on Hartford Community, Historic Campus With Life-Changing Gifts Read More »

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Returns Nearly $28 Million to Residents of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

More than 13,000 tax filers received free tax preparation and filing services from hundreds of IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers, resulting in nearly $28 million in refunds and credits being returned to Connecticut communities thanks to the 2023 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) campaign.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Returns Nearly $28 Million to Residents of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Read More »

L-R Village Board Member and Golf Committee Chair Brian Reilly, Village client Jabron, Village President & CEO Hector Glynn

Golfers Raise More Than $100,000 To Help Dads Receive Life-Changing Support at The Village

With more than 120 golfers hitting the greens, The Village for Families & Children’s 13th Annual Foursomes for Fatherhood Golf Classic at TPC River Highlands was a swinging success, raising upwards of $100,000 to benefit dads who are receiving crucial support from The Village as they work to reunite with their children.

Golfers Raise More Than $100,000 To Help Dads Receive Life-Changing Support at The Village Read More »

Through foster care and adoption, national and state child wellbeing jurisdictions have focused their efforts on stability and permanency for teens before they "age out" of care and custody. In this photo, TJ shares that call to action in an interview with WFSB.

“You Never Stop Thinking About Wanting to Belong to a Family”

Colleagues at DCF partner-provider The Village for Families and Children (The Village) say their associate Vice President of Permanency, Thomas “TJ” Michalski, is the real deal – he “walks the walk” so to speak. Not only in his day-to-day work of placing the children they serve in safe, stable and permanent homes, but also in his personal life.

“You Never Stop Thinking About Wanting to Belong to a Family” Read More »

Dr. Laine Taylor and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Blumenthal Pushes For Federal Funding For Mental-Health Services

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says that fighting suicide and declining mental health for young adults and children will need “probably billions” of dollars. At a news conference Monday morning, which was held at The Village’s Urgent Crisis Center – which serves as an urgent care for behavioral health services – the senator spoke alongside advocates for children’s mental health in the state, and cited social media and pandemic-borne isolation as some of the main causes for steep increases in suicide rates among young adults.

Blumenthal Pushes For Federal Funding For Mental-Health Services Read More »

Nonprofit Coalition Encourages Filers to Utilize Free Tax Preparation Assistance as Tax Day Approaches

Hartford, CT April 8, 2024 – With the tax season ending, the Central and Northeastern VITA Coalition (comprised of United Way, The Village and Human Resources Agency of New Britain) and State Representatives encourage qualified families to take advantage of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services to file their taxes. VITA is a free, professional and trusted resource that offers free federal and state income tax preparation and filing for Connecticut residents with annual household incomes of up to $64,000. The tax deadline is Tuesday, April 15.

Nonprofit Coalition Encourages Filers to Utilize Free Tax Preparation Assistance as Tax Day Approaches Read More »

Hartford Healthcare, The Village Bring OnMed Healthcare Experience to Hartford

As part of ongoing efforts to make accessing quality healthcare easier for everyone, Hartford HealthCare (HHC) has teamed with OnMed, an innovative care delivery company, and The Village for Families & Children (The Village), a human services agency addressing community health for more than 200 years, to open the OnMed Care Station at The Village’s 331 Wethersfield Avenue location in Hartford.

Hartford Healthcare, The Village Bring OnMed Healthcare Experience to Hartford Read More »

Stark Reality for Many CT Kids: Trauma, Social Isolation, Negative Impact of Social Media

Murphy spoke of his concern for the way social media impacts young people as he and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz this week headed a roundtable on the impact of loneliness and social isolation on young people and children and what can be done to combat the growing problem. Also addressed were: trauma, parenting, education, violence and mental health.

Stark Reality for Many CT Kids: Trauma, Social Isolation, Negative Impact of Social Media Read More »

NBT Bank Donates $75,000 To Help Local Youth Receive Critical Mental Health Support

As children and teens across Connecticut continue facing mental health crises, NBT Bank is stepping up to help ensure youth have access to care and provide healing to adolescents in crisis through a $75,000 grant backing services at The Village, including its youth mental health Urgent Crisis Center (UCC) in Hartford.

NBT Bank Donates $75,000 To Help Local Youth Receive Critical Mental Health Support Read More »

Period Poverty Takes Center Stage at Village Fundraiser Benefiting Local Women and Girls

The Village’s largest annual fundraiser—Girl Within—returned on Friday to provide critical support to women and girls in Greater Hartford who have been affected by trauma and other mental health challenges, raising more than $200,000 to support a range of services at that help them to heal and build resilience, confidence and independence.

Period Poverty Takes Center Stage at Village Fundraiser Benefiting Local Women and Girls Read More »

Thousands of Girls to Benefit from The Village’s Largest Fundraiser of the Year

The Village for Families and Children’s annual Girl Within event will return at the Connecticut Convention Center on Friday, December 1 to raise funds that help support local women and girls in Greater Hartford who have been affected by trauma and other challenges through life-changing services at The Village.

Thousands of Girls to Benefit from The Village’s Largest Fundraiser of the Year Read More »

The Village Opens Mobile Opiate, Substance Abuse Treatment in Middletown

Officials gathered Oct. 25 at St. Vincent De Paul Middletown on Main Street to christen the Hartford-based Village for Families & Children’s new expanded recovery vehicle (VERV) program, which provides peer support, case management, harm reduction resources, and connection to treatment for those impacted by opiate and substance use, according to the agency.

The Village Opens Mobile Opiate, Substance Abuse Treatment in Middletown Read More »

Local Entrepreneur, Adopted Through Village, Becomes Its New Board Chair

The Village, one of Connecticut’s largest providers of adolescent mental health services, welcomed Curt Cameron as its new chair of the board of directors this week. The unanimous vote took place at The Village’s downtown Hartford location on Church Street and is believed to be the first time in its 200-year history that The Village’s board chair is also a Village adoptee.

Local Entrepreneur, Adopted Through Village, Becomes Its New Board Chair Read More »

The Village Named a Top Workplace for Fourth Year in a Row, Earns National Recognition as a Top Non-Profit

The Village has been named a 2023 Top Workplace by The Hartford Courant, marking the organization’s fourth consecutive year receiving the award. The Village was also one of six non-profits in Connecticut to be awarded a National Top Workplaces Non-Profit Industry Award, which is the second time The Village has received this recognition on a national scale.

The Village Named a Top Workplace for Fourth Year in a Row, Earns National Recognition as a Top Non-Profit Read More »

Connecticut Child Crisis Centers Ready for New Year

Students across Connecticut are heading back to school. But, the transition from home to the classroom can be challenging, especially after a difficult few years. At The Village for Families & Children in Hartford, staff stand ready to help. The Urgent Crisis Center has already seen 21 families and children, according to Amy Samela, the vice president of residential programs.

Connecticut Child Crisis Centers Ready for New Year Read More »

Success! Village Donors Provide More Than 1,000 Hartford Children With New School Supplies and Food

Just in time for the first day of school, more than 1,000 Hartford students received brand-new backpacks, school supplies and food thanks to many donors who contributed to a back-to-school drive hosted by The Village for Families & Children, in partnership with Staples. The new supplies will give children what they need to feel confident and prepared as they start school tomorrow.

Success! Village Donors Provide More Than 1,000 Hartford Children With New School Supplies and Food Read More »

Village Back-To-School Drive: One Week Left To Get 1,000 Children New Backpacks

Children in Hartford return to school in just one week, but many will need adequate supplies such as backpacks, pencils and uniforms to begin the school year. The Village for Families & Children has partnered with local Staples Stores to launch a Back-to-School Drive and ensure children in need have the tools to succeed.

Village Back-To-School Drive: One Week Left To Get 1,000 Children New Backpacks Read More »

A CT Mom Faced Barriers Getting Mental Health Care For Her Son. Then This Walk-in Clinic Opened

The Hartford UCC, located at The Village for Families and Children at 1680 Albany Ave. accepts walk-in patients who are welcomed into a colorful, playful waiting room and quickly met with a team of healthcare providers ranging from psychologists to triage nurses, who provide a broad spectrum of care for children in need.

A CT Mom Faced Barriers Getting Mental Health Care For Her Son. Then This Walk-in Clinic Opened Read More »

Urgent Centers for Kids’ Mental Health Crises Open in CT

Wednesday marked the grand opening of The Village for Families and Children‘s urgent crisis center in Hartford. The centers are designed as walk-in, outpatient clinics for kids who are having behavioral health crises such as thoughts of suicide or self-harm, depression, anxiety or out-of-control behavior, among other mental health issues.

Urgent Centers for Kids’ Mental Health Crises Open in CT Read More »

New Mental Health Care Models in Connecticut Offer ER Alternative to Children in Crisis

A couple of refurbished, old red brick houses on Asylum Avenue in Hartford now host two new models of mental health care for teens and children. The facilities are part of The Village for Families & Children and include an outpatient Urgent Crisis Center (UCC) which opened Thursday – it’s one of four UCCs statewide. An adjacent building will be the site of the state’s first and only sub-acute children’s mental health unit, scheduled to open in August.

New Mental Health Care Models in Connecticut Offer ER Alternative to Children in Crisis Read More »

Accountants Trade Office for Landscaping in a Volunteer Effort to Improve Children’s Mental Health Facility

John Mallin normally spends his afternoons leading a team at Ernst & Young in a downtown Hartford office. On Tuesday, he was leading some of the same workers while landscaping in the city’s West End. Mallin and a team of 25 workers from EY were volunteering at The Village for Children & Families, doing upkeep at the organization’s Albany Avenue campus. The property houses facilities for children dealing with mental and emotional trauma, and Vice President of Residential Programs Amy Samela said the appearance is an important part of the services The Village provides.

Accountants Trade Office for Landscaping in a Volunteer Effort to Improve Children’s Mental Health Facility Read More »

Connecticut in Color: The Village’s Fatherhood Program Helps Dads Thrive

The Village’s Fatherhood Engagement Services program is helping dads in Connecticut thrive and become more engaged in their children’s lives. NBC Connecticut spoke with fathers Norman Sparrow and Devon Kempson and Village staff about the positive impact the program is having on their families through workshops, support groups and individualized coaching.

Connecticut in Color: The Village’s Fatherhood Program Helps Dads Thrive Read More »

WNBA Stars Bring Basketball Clinic to Village To Help Children Facing Mental Health Challenges

Connecticut Sun WNBA stars teamed up with The Village for Families & Children on Tuesday, April 25 to provide a one-day basketball clinic for kids in Greater Hartford to help address the children’s mental health crisis through an innovative, sports-based therapy at The Village.

WNBA Stars Bring Basketball Clinic to Village To Help Children Facing Mental Health Challenges Read More »

Need Help With Your Taxes? Here’s What To Know About Free Assistance in Connecticut

The United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, in partnership with The Village for Families & Children and Human Resources Agency of New Britain is offering Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The program offers free federal and state income tax preparation services for Connecticut residents with annual household incomes of up to $60,000.

Need Help With Your Taxes? Here’s What To Know About Free Assistance in Connecticut Read More »

CVS Health Foundation Grant to Advance Health Equity, Help Families Access Mental Health Support

As families in Connecticut face a historic mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, inflation and other causes, CVS Health Foundation is stepping up to bolster behavioral health and other support services for families in Greater Hartford through a $25,000 “Hometown Fund” grant backing The Village for Families & Children’s work across region.

CVS Health Foundation Grant to Advance Health Equity, Help Families Access Mental Health Support Read More »

(L-R) Village President & CEO Galo Rodriguez; 2022 Girl Within Woman of the Year and Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Steadman; 2022 Young Woman of the Year Shaniece Nugent; Channel 3 Eyewitness News Morning Anchor and Girl Within emcee Irene O’Connor

Successful Girl Within Event to Aid Thousands of Women and Girls Affected by Trauma

After two years of celebrating virtually, The Village for Families & Children’s annual Girl Within event returned in person and with full force on Friday to raise one of the event’s largest-ever totals to support life-changing services for women and girls affected by trauma and other life challenges.

Successful Girl Within Event to Aid Thousands of Women and Girls Affected by Trauma Read More »

The Village’s Second Chance Shops Raise More Than $440,000 To Help Children, Adults and Families in Need

Thanks to the patronage of shoppers across Greater Hartford and the dedication of volunteers, The Village for Families & Children’s four Second Chance Shops—in West Hartford, Glastonbury, Simsbury and Suffield—have raised a combined $440,300 this year to support The Village’s services at that help families in need face and overcome challenges in order to heal and thrive.

The Village’s Second Chance Shops Raise More Than $440,000 To Help Children, Adults and Families in Need Read More »

New Behavioral Health Pharmacy To Boost Access and Improve Mental Health and Recovery Outcomes

The Village and Genoa Healthcare celebrated the grand opening of a new full-service, on-site pharmacy within The Village’s Wethersfield Ave campus, Village South, that will increase help for people facing challenges with mental health, substance use disorder and other chronic conditions.

New Behavioral Health Pharmacy To Boost Access and Improve Mental Health and Recovery Outcomes Read More »

House Speaker Ritter, Rep. Exum Named “Champions for Children” for Leading Landmark Legislation

The Village has named Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives Matt Ritter and Deputy Majority Leader and State Representative Tammy Exum as The Village’s 2022 Champions for Children, recognizing them for leading passage of landmark bipartisan legislation addressing Connecticut’s mental health crisis in the 2022 legislative session.

House Speaker Ritter, Rep. Exum Named “Champions for Children” for Leading Landmark Legislation Read More »

Village’s Family Navigators to Assist Families in Cradle to Career Initiative To Improve Academic Success for North Hartford Promise Zone Students

The Village for Families & Children is joining forces with community leaders, local care providers, city officials and community-based organizations in a new initiative to provide Hartford children and their families with the supports they need to reach their full potential.

Village’s Family Navigators to Assist Families in Cradle to Career Initiative To Improve Academic Success for North Hartford Promise Zone Students Read More »

Cipes Pediatric Dentistry Provides Village Preschoolers With Free Care During Children’s Dental Health Month

Cipes Pediatric Dentistry Provides Village Preschoolers With Free Care

The Village for Families & Children recently teamed up with Drs. Monica Cipes and Elizabeth Chisholm, a mother-daughter team of pediatric dentists at Cipes Pediatric Dentistry of West Hartford, to provide dental health care to preschoolers at The Village’s Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) in Asylum Hill.

Cipes Pediatric Dentistry Provides Village Preschoolers With Free Care Read More »

Village Annual “Girl Within” Event Raises More Than $150,000 To Empower Women and Girls

The Village’s largest fundraiser of the year, the 2021 Virtual Girl Within Event raised more than $150,000 to support Village programs that help women and girls in Greater Hartford who have been affected by trauma to heal and become resilient, confident and independent.

Village Annual “Girl Within” Event Raises More Than $150,000 To Empower Women and Girls Read More »

National Top Workplace Award

The Village for Families & Children One of Just Two CT Non-Profits to Win National Top Workplace Award

The Village for Families & Children has just been awarded the first-ever National Top Workplaces Non-Profit Industry Award, one of only two non-profits in Connecticut to earn such a distinction. Top Workplaces serves more than 60,000 organizations in the United States and hundreds in Connecticut. The awards are based exclusively on anonymous staff surveys.

The Village for Families & Children One of Just Two CT Non-Profits to Win National Top Workplace Award Read More »

Thousands of Children Opened Gifts on Christmas Thanks to Generous Donations

The Village for Families & Children was determined that the thousands of children who benefit from its annual toy drive – The Holiday Giving Tree – wouldn’t miss out because of the pandemic. With so many employees working from home and large gatherings prohibited, participating companies, Village staff and dozens of additional Village supporters have found new ways to help.

Thousands of Children Opened Gifts on Christmas Thanks to Generous Donations Read More »