Stories of Impact

Program Category

Since 2022, The Village has played a key role in implementing an innovative, evidence-based model known as Functional Family Therapy – Foster Care. This model is designed to offer comprehensive ...
Rosa had no choice but to leave her native country when she was seven months pregnant. When she and her children arrived in Connecticut with nothing to their name, The ...
Harley connected to The Village for the help he needed to overcome a lifelong challenge with addiction and reunite with his daughter. As part of The Village’s Fatherhood Engagement Services ...
When Jared was connected to The Village Fatherhood Engagement Services program, he was immediately met with a judgement-free, family-like environment—a group he could feel was there to support him. Here, ...
The Village is one of the largest foster care agencies in Connecticut and works around the clock to ensure hundreds of children have a safe, stable home and the support ...
The start of a new year is a time to celebrate new beginnings, like Anthony's. After a harrowing experience led him to begin his healing journey, Anthony was connected to ...
Foster care in Connecticut has been transformed to build brighter futures for kids. Working in partnership with the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), The Village is implementing a ...
The Village has opened Hartford’s first-ever, walk-in Urgent Crisis Center (UCC) for youth mental health, making a massive stride to address the children’s mental health crisis in Connecticut. Working with ...
Jayden had a hard time expressing his emotions in a healthy way. Once he enrolled in The Village’s six-month day program, he was able to develop and practice coping skills. ...
Norman became a first-time father at the age of 54. His new responsibilities coupled with his wife’s personal struggles caused intense feelings of fear and loneliness. Just when it seemed ...
Once her baby girl was born, Genesia’s life changed. Like many new moms, she needed support as she embarked on her journey of caring for a newborn. When self-doubt creeped ...
As a single mom without any family in the United States, Sonia needed support when her children, Adryan and Sheyla, experienced emotional abuse by a friend of the family and ...
When the pandemic was in full swing, Levi’s ADHD and anxiety were heightened. He was having a hard time adapting as school and daily routines were quickly changing. ...
Samar was completely broken after escaping a domestic violence situation. She reached out to The Village for help, despite being told by others that she wouldn’t be able to make ...
Sulma, Kimberly and Julio left Honduras for a better life in the United States. During their travels, they became victims of human trafficking. Sulma and her children came to The ...
Tammy—like so many others— became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When her faith and confidence started to fade, she knew she needed help. That’s when she reached out to ...
Davine desperately needed help with her credit and finances after leaving a traumatic relationship. Once she connected with The Village, she was able to build her finances, receive counseling and ...
Student and Vernon ROCKS’ Real Talk youth group leader Saher Ashraf is working hard to help her peers build resilience by offering tools, resources and guidance around substance use prevention ...
After losing her job, Krystal needed assistance with her rent while she took care of her daughters and brother who is intellectually disabled. The Village was able to help, while ...
Today, Kyla Thomas is setting big financial goals: she’s learning all she can about tax credits, perfecting her resume to land an internship and taking budgeting courses to help build ...
Having already been diagnosed with cancer and grieving the loss of her mother, the COVID-19 pandemic added even more mental, physical and financial stress to Liza Huertas’ life. Struggling with ...
Struggling from the effects of the Vietnam War on his mental health, Billy connected to The Village for help. With newly regulated medicine and support through counseling and resources as ...
“I was feeling depressed and there was a lot of anxiety going on. I didn’t really love Leah. I love who I am now. If it wasn’t for The Village, ...
Pauline and Alyissa inspire us by sharing about the power of fostering. ...
Not many 28-year-old women own their own homes. But, with ambition, hard work and the help of The Village’s Financial Center, Allena and her fiancé are now ecstatic to have ...
“We help them heal, thrive and move forward in their lives.” Tameka Hewitt is proud of the blended family of five she and her husband Rohan have together. ...
“She said that I deserved all the love in the world.” ...
Parenting can be the most fulfilling and joyful role of a person’s life. ...
Anyone meeting Tyler today would never suspect the challenges he has overcome in the past few years. As a young boy, Tyler was bullied. His reaction was to lash out ...
When Dave learned about the great need for foster parents and decided to go all in. For Danny, whose mother could no longer care for him due to her struggle ...
When Jasan, a third-grader at Sarah J. Rawson school in Hartford, lost his father, he stared displaying troubling behaviors in school. Concerned, but unsure of what to do, Jasan's mother ...
When Shanthal got a call from the Department of Children and Families, she knew she needed help. She wanted to change as a parent, to deepen her connection with her ...
At the encouragement of her VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax preparer, Deborah finally becomes a homeowner, then pays it forward by becoming a VITA volunteer. ...
When Neveah began showing behavioral problems at an early age, her mother, Tabitha, had a hard time accessing services and being taken seriously because of her own mental health issues. ...
In addition to carrying backpacks and an enthusiasm for learning, students at Rawson elementary school in Hartford often bring unresolved issues related to traumatic experiences or constant stress. The ACT ...
When we are stressed, our bodies feel it. When we are sick, our minds feel it. The idea that physical, social and emotional health are connected is the driving force ...
As every parent comes to know, their babies are like sponges – soaking up what they hear and feel from the most important people in their lives – their caregivers. ...
Following a domestic violence incident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and devastated her family, Davine struggled to keep herself and her children stable. When she heard about The ...
Rachel Bailey, now a student at Post University, talks about her struggle with depression and the program at The Village that finally helped her. ...
A victim of bullying, Tyler began acting out in school. The Village's Extended Day Treatment program helped him cope with tough feelings and get back on track. ...
With help from a team of professionals at The Village and his caring mom, 10-year-old Sebastian learns effective ways to deal with anxiety and other challenges. ...
When Eddie and his wife divorced and he found himself alone a lot of the time, he reached out to The Village to become a foster parent. ...
With a loving mom, great teachers, and her own space, a young child thrives. ...
Like many parents, Jose Pratts sometimes lost his temper when his children acted up. Then, Jose and his wife, Zulma, found a program that offers support and information for families ...
Demetrius Chamblee was raised by his grandparents, until his grandfather passed away when he was 14. With help from a Village program, Demetrius was able to put the lessons he ...
The Family Financial Stability Initiative is helping Hartford women effectively manage their finances and achieve financial goals. ...
"Miss Kizzy taught me that I can make something of myself,” said Zicalya. “In order to fulfill my dreams, I have to finish school." ...
Jordan Cuffy doesn't like to talk about his past − at least the part before his life with Odell Martin. Jordan joined Odell's family as her foster child when he ...
The mid-level development assessment – or MLDA – is helping kids like Christian receive services before problems escalate. ...
"Ms. Firestone's generosity has provided these kids with a safe place where they can extend their learning after school." ...
As a sixth-grader, Allen missed over 40 days of school. After help from the truancy court prevention program, he missed only one day. ...