Family Support Services
Need help in reuniting and stabilizing your family after issues with abuse, neglect or homelessness? The Connection offers nationally recognized child welfare-focused case management, and supportive housing services providing stable, loving homes for all children. We also have supportive housing programs for single adults with histories of chronic mental health issues and homelessness; youth and young family support programs; and several women and children’s centers where young mothers can receive the help they need to be successful, independent parents.
Below is a listing of some of our Family, Residential and Housing Services programs, click on each to read more…
Connecting Children & Families
Connecting Children & Families
Want to make a positive impact in the life of a child? Connecting Children & Families is a licensed, therapeutic foster care program of The Connection seeking supportive foster parents for children who are at risk of being placed in long-term residential psychiatric settings.
- 24/7 On-call support
- Medical, dental and prescription insurance coverage for the foster child
- Counseling assistance
For more information about Connecting Children & Families, please contact Debra Struzinski MS, LMFT at dlstruzinski@theconnectioninc.org, or call (855)435-7955.
Eddy Shelter of Middlesex County
Eddy Shelter of Middlesex County
The Eddy Shelter is an emergency homeless shelter for single adult men and women in Middlesex County. The Shelter provides leadership in identifying and promoting innovative solutions to ending homelessness, while allowing for each individual’s unique capability. We accomplish this by meeting basic human needs with a warm bed and hot shower, providing skills to live in the community, resources and referrals to end homelessness and support to decrease the return to homelessness by utilizing prevention techniques.
The Eddy Building, which houses Eddy Shelter, Eddy Center and Logano Place, was built in 1955 as a residence for 96 Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) employees. It was named Eddy Home in honor of Pearl and Otis Eddy, longtime and dedicated CVH employees. They were members of a family with a long and close relationship with the hospital, as both employees and advocates.
Still located on the grounds of CVH, the shelter now has the ability to house 30 adults. The number of beds increases during the winter months. Case management is provided to shelter guests to help them obtain housing, connect them with health resources, if needed, and employment opportunities. The shelter is involved with the statewide campaign, Reaching Home, to end homelessness in the state of Connecticut by creating 10,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years.
- Housing assistance
- Clothing provision
- Access to healthcare
- Crisis Intervention
- Access to mental health and addiction services
- Counseling assistance
For more information about Eddy Shelter of Middlesex County, please contact Stacy Hooker, Program Manager, at (860) 343-5520 or at shooker@theconnectioninc.org.
Hallie House for Women & Children
Hallie House for Women & Children
Hallie House for Women & Children is a residential treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women who desire to live a clean and sober life. The program was named in memory of Philip and Doris Hallie. Philip was president of The Connection’s Board of Directors for many years.
Located in Middletown, Hallie House for Women & Children, provides substance using women, a safe, home-like environment where they can learn life and parenting skills to be better mothers. Relapse prevention assists the clients in maintaining their sobriety along with developing coping skills to better deal with stresses in their life.
Clients can be both self-referred or referred by state agencies such as the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Correction.
- Relapse prevention assistance
- Drug and addiction education
- Relationship and communication skills
- Life skills
- Parenting skills
- Women’s issues
- Community outreach activities
- Counseling assistance
For more information about Hallie House for Women & Children, please contact Program Manager Aiesha Phelmetto, amphelmetto@theconnectioninc.org.
Intensive Supportive Housing for Families
Intensive Supportive Housing for Families
The Intensive Supportive Housing for Families Program is a 5-year initiative to develop, implement, and study the effectiveness of a supportive housing program for families who come to the attention of the child welfare system due to severe housing issues and high service needs. The program is funded by a grant through the US Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. The project aims to reduce child welfare system contacts, maltreatment, child removal, and foster care placement; and increase family housing stability and parental employment.
The Connecticut Department of Children and Families and The Connection, with a proven track record in the design and implementation the Supportive Housing for Families® program, have developed a collaborative relationship to meet the needs of child welfare involved families who experience severe housing barriers. This new initiative is designed to provide an enhanced version of the already well-established SHF program in order to better meet the mental health and trauma needs of the parents and children served by the program. The Connection provides primary services and the University of Connecticut (UConn) researchers will evaluate the program.
Under this new model, ISHF clients will have access to evidence-based interventions for parenting, trauma, and other mental health challenges, substance abuse, health, housing, and employment preparedness. Triage and assessment will prompt team-based services, engaging parents as full members. Interdisciplinary teams will include the parent, case manager, and representatives from support providers. Fidelity, client engagement and satisfactions measures, will ensure families’ access to interventions and housing assistance.
Labella Place
Labella Place
Labella Place is a new transitional housing program for up to 28 homeless adult men and women who are actively working on their recovery from behavioral health and substance abuse issues.
The goal of the program is to provide supports to these men and women so that they can successfully re-enter the work force and permanently exit from homelessness. The program will offer second chances to those who are working to achieve independence in their lives.
For more information about Labella Place, please contact Stacy Hooker, Program Manager, at (860) 343-5500 x.5805 or at shooker@theconnectioninc.org.
Mother’s Retreat
Mother’s Retreat
Mother’s Retreat, located in Groton, is a long-term, residential treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women who desire to live a clean and sober life.
The program assists young women in their recovery from substance use by providing quality clinical services and individualized treatment in a warm, supportive environment. Mother’s Retreat also assists women who are seeking to reunite with their children. All clients participate in a personal recovery plan, as well as individual and group therapy. Clients can be both self-referred or referred by state agencies such as the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Correction.
- Relapse prevention assistance
- Drug and addiction education
- Relationship and communication skills
- Life skills
- Parenting skills
- Women’s issues
- Community outreach activities
- Counseling assistance
For more information about Mother’s Retreat, please contact Sherrie Weaver, Program Manager, at (860) 405-2107 or at sweaver@theconnectioninc.org.
Ondusky Center for Supportive Housing
Ondusky Center for Supportive Housing
The Ondusky Center for Supportive Housing offers case management and rehabilitative services to 15 individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who have a diagnosis of mental illness and/or substance use.
Services include obtaining subsidized housing, case management, social networking and access to community resources. Upon admission, clients are assigned a case manager who meets with the client at least weekly to provide assistance in activities of daily living, money management, medical transportation, entitlements, relapse and prevention techniques and individualized treatment planning.
Client programming includes traditional 12-step groups and substance use prevention as well as motivational and life skills, behavioral management and meditation groups. Clients are assigned case managers upon entering the program.
- Case management (coordination of vocational, employment, financial, psychiatric, medical and social services)
- Daily living skills training
- Supportive housing
- Crisis intervention
- Daily living skills training
- Recreational activities
- Transportation assistance
For more information about the Ondusky Center for Supportive Housing program, please contact Deborah DeJarnette, Program Director at (203) 786-8136 ext. 6001, or at ddejarnette@theconnectioninc.org.
Ross Center for Supportive Housing
Ross Center for Supportive Housing
The Ross Center for Supportive Housing offers case management and rehabilitative services to 10 individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who have a diagnosis of mental illness and/or substance use.
Services include obtaining subsidized housing, case management, social networking and access to community resources. Upon admission, clients are assigned a case manager who meets with the client at least weekly to provide assistance in activities of daily living, money management, medical transportation, entitlements, relapse and prevention techniques and individualized treatment planning.
Client programming includes traditional 12-step groups and substance use prevention as well as motivational and life skills, behavioral management and meditation groups. Clients are assigned case managers upon entering the program.
- Case management (coordination of vocational, employment, financial, psychiatric, medical and social services)
- Daily living skills training
- Supportive housing
- Crisis intervention
- Recreational activities
- Transportation assistance
For more information about the Ross Center for Supportive Housing, please contact Deborah DeJarnette, Program Director, at (203) 785-8136 ext. 6001 or at ddejarnette@theconnectioninc.org.
The Start Program
The Start Program
The Start Program provides homeless youth ages 16–24 with emergency housing, temporary rental assistance, and intensive support services aimed at assisting the youth in transitioning towards safe, stable housing and self-sufficiency.
- Street outreach services for homeless youth aged 16–24 in the Hartford area
- Host home options for homeless youth under the age of 18 in the Hartford area
- Emergency housing apartments for youth ages 18 – 24 for a stay of up to 60 days in the Hartford area
- Temporary housing rental assistance for up to 2 years for youth aged 18 – 24 across the state
- Intensive case management services
- Financial literacy skill development
- Life skill development
- Educational/vocational support
- Referrals, advocacy, crisis intervention and counseling services
For more information about the Start Program, please contact the program’s referral line, at (860) 878-4042 or at youthoutreach@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing Fairfield
Supportive Housing Fairfield
Supportive Housing Fairfield is scattered site supportive housing for individuals who have a history of chronic homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless in the Bridgeport area. Our mission is to provide subsidized housing to individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disability.
Supportive Housing Fairfield, based in Bridgeport, is a permanent supportive housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and monitored by the City of Bridgeport. The program has a capacity to serve four individuals and three families and the criteria for the program eligibility is to be homeless with a disability.
- Case Management
- Transportation
- Rental Subsidies
- Vocational Assistance
All referrals come from community providers. Individuals must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or possess a disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.
For more information about Supportive Housing Fairfield, please contact Sandra Hill, Program Manager, at (203) 336-1148 or at shill@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing for Families
Supportive Housing for Families®
The Supportive Housing for Families® program provides families served by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families with support services and access to safe, quality, affordable and permanent housing.
Our mission is to help families thrive by finding homes in safe, nurturing neighborhoods, achieving economic independence, developing healthy relationships, and providing their children with a stable and caring home environment.
Supportive Housing for Families® is located throughout the state, with offices in New Haven, Groton, Middletown, Hartford, Waterbury, Torrington, Danbury and Bridgeport. The program helps families become reunited with children who have been placed in foster care, or prevents the placement of children in foster care by providing adequate housing.
- Housing subsidy and/or rental housing assistance
- Transportation assistance
- Referrals, advocacy, crisis intervention and counseling services
- Coordination of substance use treatment
- Provision of children’s services, educational support and parenting training
- Access Community Action Agency
- BH Care
- Community Health Resources
- Family and Children’s Agency
- Wellmore Behavioral Health
- Wheeler Clinic
The Connection is proud to be a member of the Child Welfare League of America and of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare.
For more information about Supportive Housing for Families®, please contact Anne Ventimiglia, Program Director, at (860) 343-5500, ext. 2106 or at aventimiglia@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing Litchfield
Supportive Housing Litchfield
Supportive Housing Litchfield is a Next Steps branch providing scattered site supportive housing to individuals who have substance use or mental health issues in Litchfield County. Our mission is to provide subsidized housing to individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disability.
The Connection, in collaboration with Prime Time House, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Social Services, provides supportive housing and case management services for 10 individuals with severe and prolonged mental health and/or chronic chemical dependency who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness in the northwestern portion of the state. The program also provides intensive strength-based, relational, case management and vocational support services.
- Case management
- Transportation assistance
- Rental subsidies
- Vocational assistance
All referrals come from community providers. Individuals must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or possess a disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.
For more information about Supportive Housing Litchfield, please contact Christina Jackson, Program Manager, at (860) 510-3200, or at cjackson@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing Middlesex
Supportive Housing Middlesex
Supportive Housing Middlesex is comprised of two branches: PILOTS and Next Steps. PILOTS provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to individuals and families with disabilities in Middlesex County. Next Steps provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to individuals who have substance use or mental health issues in Middlesex County.
The Next Steps branch is a collaboration of The Connection, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Social Services’ collective efforts to provide effective housing and social services for individuals with severe and prolonged mental health and/or chronic chemical dependency who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness and who have incomes at or below 50% of area median income. The Department of Social Services has allocated 10 Rental Assistance Program (RAP) certificates in order to provide rental subsidies to assist these individuals in maintaining stable housing in Southern Middlesex County (Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Westbrook, Clinton and Old Saybrook). Case Management services are available as long as needed by the client.
The PILOTS branch is a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services that provides a rental subsidy for individuals or families in which at least one adult member is homeless, disabled and has a household income at or below 50% of the poverty level. Clients are referred to PILOTS through the Shelter Plus Care program that has eligibility requirements for individuals with mental health and/or significant substance use problem that is of a chronic and long term nature, and/or are living with HIV/AIDS.
- Case management
- Transportation assistance
- Rental subsidies
- Vocational assistance
All referrals come from community providers. Individuals must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or possess a disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.
For more information about the PILOTS and Next Steps programs, please contact Christina Jackson, Program Manager, at (860) 510-3200, or at cjackson@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing New Haven
Supportive Housing New Haven
Supportive Housing New Haven is a PILOTS branch that provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to area individuals and families with disabilities. Our mission is to provide subsidized housing to individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disability.
The New Haven PILOTS Program, also known as the New Haven Family Partnership, is a collaborative effort between The Connection, New Haven Home Recovery and the Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis. The program provides long-term, scattered-site supportive housing services to families where the head of household has a mental health disability, substance abuse issues, a physical disability, or HIV/AIDS.
- Case management
- Transportation assistance
- Rental subsidies
- Vocational assistance
All referrals come from community providers. Individuals must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or possess a disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.
For more information about Supportive Housing New Haven, please contact Samantha Batson, Program Manager, at (203) 776-9900 or at sbatson@theconnectioninc.org.
Supportive Housing New London
Supportive Housing New London
Supportive Housing New London is a PILOTS branch that provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to area individuals and families with disabilities. Our mission is to provide subsidized housing to individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disability.
The New London PILOTS Program provides long-term, scattered-site supportive housing services to families where the head of household has a mental health disability, substance abuse issues, a physical disability, or HIV/AIDS.
- Case Management
- Transportation
- Rental Subsidies
- Vocational Assistance
All referrals come from community providers. Individuals must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or possess a disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.
For more information about Supportive Housing New London, please contact Christina Jackson, Program Manager, at (860) 510-3200, or at cjackson@theconnectioninc.org.
West Village
West Village
The West Village Program offers case management and rehabilitative services to 40 individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who have a diagnosis of mental illness and/or substance use.
Services include obtaining subsidized housing, case management, social networking and access to community resources. Upon admission, clients are assigned a case manager who meets with the client at least weekly to provide assistance in activities of daily living, money management, medical transportation, entitlements, relapse and prevention techniques and individualized treatment planning. Staff is on duty from 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday and from 9am to 5pm on the weekends. Clients have access to their case manager whenever necessary through office hours or through a pager system.
- Case Management
- Relapse Prevention Techniques
- Recovery Groups
- Psycho-social Activities, such as bingo, life skills, and community outings
- Crisis Intervention
West Village is a partnership between The Connection and Alpha Community Services, a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA. The apartments are managed by The Community Builders of New Haven and the program is funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. In 2009, the West Village program received $2 million in funding over five years from the Federal Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand the program to 40 clients.
For more information about the West Village program, please contact Deborah DeJarnette, Program Director at (203) 785-8136, or at ddejarnette@theconnectioninc.org.
Women’s REACH Program
Women’s REACH Program
The Women’s REACH (Recovery, Engagement, Access, Coaching & Healing) program provides female Recovery Navigators for pregnant or parenting women with substance use or co-occurring disorders.
The Women’s Recovery Navigator will provide education, advocacy, recovery coaching and case management to individuals choosing to work with a navigator. Through their personal knowledge of the recovery community, each Navigator will help connect women to services aimed at enhancing their recovery journey while supporting their goals as they develop a safe support network.
- Community outreach and engagement
- Education, advocacy, recovery coaching, and case management
- Assistance with developing individualized plans of safe care
- Support for developing collaborative relationships with care providers and community resources
The Women’s Recovery Navigator is not intended to replace clinical services; Navigators are part of the care team supporting women. Recovery Navigators will have a key role in the development and support of individualized plans of safe care. This program is a partnership with DMHAS Women’s Services for Region 2 — serving Meriden, Middletown, and New Haven area communities.
Please contact Aiesha Phelmetto at (475) 234-1717 or amphelmetto@theconnectioninc.org for more information.
Women’s Recovery Support Program
Women’s Recovery Support Program
Women’s Recovery Support Program is a voluntary substance use recovery and supportive housing program for single women. Our mission is to support women in substance use recovery and to provide safe, affordable housing, in addition to offering opportunities for personal growth and development.
Located in Bridgeport, Women’s Recovery Support Program strives to help women become part of the community. By connecting them with the resources they need to maintain their recovery, find a job, and ultimately an apartment the women build a support system around them. Through all the support services provided by the program, women are typically living independently within 6 to 18 months.
- Relapse prevention assistance
- Vocational assistance
- Financial management skills
- Housing assistance
- Counseling assistance