Community Connections
Shining a local light on:
Kids In Crisis
Proudly serving:
Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Newtown, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, Wilton
Learn more about their charity:
Community Connections
Community Connections shines a light on local charities whose compassion, service, and dedication strengthen the fabric of our community. By sharing their stories, we hope to inspire others and help the spirit of giving spread throughout our towns.
Under the spotlight today: Kids In Crisis
An interview with Paula Barker, Kids in Crisis
How do you brighten our community?
Kids In Crisis (KIC) brightens the community by being known as a "safe space" to go to and rely on for children and families in crisis, where confidentiality is observed and results are achieved. KIC is available 365/7 and just this year our Emergency Help line instituted a "Text" version so that our target population could speak to us in the language they feel most comfortable with. This brightens the community as outreach will be expanded to more in need.
Who do you serve in our community?
Kids In Crisis (KIC) serves Connecticut children of all ages (newborn -18 years), gender identities, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, or socio-economic levels. Children may be referred to KIC by social service agencies, schools, family members, friends, and the children themselves. KIC is the only crisis program in the state serving both boys and girls and children not involved with state protective services. 95% of the youth served are from Fairfield County, CT. 91% of youth served are minorities. Ethnicity of SafeHaven residents: 94.2% minorities; 47.1% Black; 37.3% Hispanic; 7.8% Multiracial; 2% Asian.
What are you most proud of?
Kids In Crisis (KIC) has provided critical crisis prevention and intervention services to over 181,000 children, newborn to age 18, and their families since 1978, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, socio-economic status, community of origin, or sexual orientation. Kids In Crisis offers community-based counseling and education programs designed to protect children and preserve families. KIC provides crisis prevention programs in 19 elementary through high schools. KIC is 75% funded by private sources. KIC receives no State funding. All KIC services are offered at no cost to children and families.
What are some of your future impact goals?
One of our future impact goals is to ensure that children experiencing crisis receive immediate effective intervention and counsel, emergency shelter, medical and psychological care, and connection to support services they require; Furthermore, to provide children the individualized medical, therapeutic, educational and family services necessary to stabilize, heal from trauma and achieve developmental gains; and to maintain a strong community awareness and presence by providing prevention and outreach services that give children, youth, and the adults with whom they interact the information and skills needed to identify and address problems before they are in crisis;
Local-Insta thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Community Connections series possible!
Celebrating the charities that make our community stronger.
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