Local Programs

We are part of your community to to better serve you and your neighbors.

Capitol Region Programs
Serving Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, Collinsville, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Suffield, Unionville, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.

Types of Services Offered:

• Adoption and Birthparent/Pregnancy Counseling Services
• Black Family Enrichment Program
• Child-Adolescent Mentoring
• Crisis Intervention: Basic Human Needs
• Day Care Centers and School Readiness programs
• Elderly Outreach
• Employee Assistance Program
  
• Family Centers
• Family Violence Education
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Mental Health Counseling
• Parenting Education
• Positive Youth Development and Recreation
• Substance Abuse Counseling

Note: Services available in English and Spanish

Program Descriptions:

ADOPTION SERVICES
Catholic Charities is one of the oldest child-placing agencies in Connecticut. Our Adoption program is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. We provide a full range of services, including homestudies, for domestic, international, and special needs adoptions. We also offer search services for adult adoptees interested in learning about, connecting with, or reuniting with their birthparents.

ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUP
A support group for families waiting to adopt. They meet regularly to share adoption transition issues.

BIRTHPARENT/PREGNANCY COUNSELING SERVICES
Our services are designed to assist birthparent(s) to make a sound, appropriate, permanent life plan for their child. We offer counseling, assistance with basic human needs and medical costs, and ongoing support.

BLACK FAMILY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
African-American and West Indian staff members provide culturally competent and specialized mental health counseling and support to African-American and Caribbean-American individuals and families in the Greater Hartford Area.

CHILD CARE AND SCHOOL READINESS
We provide quality state-licensed, full-time child care for infants through preschool and offer comprehensive school readiness programs at a number of different locations in accordance with the Department of Education and local School Readiness Councils. Fees are set on a sliding scale according to ability to pay.

CHOICE PROGRAM
A community-based program for youth ages 9-17 who have been found delinquent by the Juvenile Court. The Hartford Choice Program has been recognized by the United States Department of Justice as one of the nation’s most successful programs for adjudicated youth. Choice involves intense mentoring relationships that monitor the youth at school, home, and at the Choice center. The program is guided by the philosophy that delinquent youth are most effectively treated in their own communities with the participation of family members, school personnel, employers, and community resources.

COMMUNITY-BASED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS
We help ex-offenders make a successful transition to community living. Our program includes a thorough initial assessment followed by assignment to one or more core services: individual therapy, anger management groups and/or medication monitoring. Alcohol/drug education groups and employment assistance are also provided.

CRISIS INTERVENTION: BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
When an immediate, unexpected crisis prevents families and individuals from functioning in their normal manner, we provide them with food, clothing, and holiday assistance through emergency case management and advocacy services.

DWI GROUPS: (Driving While Intoxicated)
We provide alcohol and substance abuse assessment for individuals who have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Clients participate in ten group sessions where they are educated about the physical, emotional, occupational, and social effects of alcohol and other substances.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Employees of companies that have contracted with our agency receive help in dealing with issues in their personal lives. We offer evaluations, counseling, and help to resolve personal problems that may be interfering with work performance.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE FOR SUCCESS
JOBS FIRST EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM
Catholic Charities, in collaboration with the Department of Labor, and Regional WorkForce Development Boards, assists individuals in their transition from welfare to work through outreach, assessment, referral, and support services. We also work with the United Way of Connecticut/Infoline, Connecticut Family Services Agencies, and the Department of Social Services to reduce the risk of harm to children of families that have lost state assistance.

FAMILY CENTERS
Our three family centers in the City of Hartford offer a culturally sensitive and comprehensive approach to the development and enhancement of the family, focusing on activities that reinforce parent-child bonding. Catholic Charities operates these centers, but each center is administered by parents and families who form an independent Board of Directors and establish the center’s agenda, goals and objectives.

FAMILY AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
Our counseling locations are individually licensed by the Department of Health as adult mental health clinics and by the Department of Children and Families as Child Guidance Clinics. Counseling and mental health services are provided to individuals, couples, and families. Fees are set on a sliding scale according to ability to pay.

FAMILY VIOLENCE
This program provides culturally relevant therapeutic and supportive services to families who are victims of family violence. Treatment is available for the abusing adult as well.

HARTFORD STREET YOUTH PROJECT
An urban center dedicated to the promotion of healthy adolescent development and the prevention of youth violence. The center serves over 400 young people each year with counseling, violence prevention workshops, peer leadership training, structured recreation, and summer camp activities. Our staff also run weekly small group discussions at our center, at nine Hartford elementary and middle schools, and at Hartford High School.

PARENTING EDUCATION
We provide a range of educational and counseling services for parents of infants, preschool, elementary and adolescent aged children.

INSTITUTE FOR THE HISPANIC FAMILY
For over 25 years, this model program has provided a wide range of culturally competent mental health and family counseling services for the local Hispanic community. Over 1,000 families each year benefit from the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Counseling Unit, the Hispanic Elderly Program, and the Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Programs. The Family Council, a grassroots community-based project, is responsible for creating and generating updated resources and information about cultural issues as well as issues dealing with the community, families, and children.

HISPANIC MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Provides culturally competent and specialized mental health interventions to Hispanic individuals and families within Hartford’s Capitol Region.

HISPANIC CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
Promotes sound mental health and life skills that maximize a child’s success at home, at school, and in the community. Puerto Rican/ Latino children are provided with a variety of outpatient mental health interventions to enable them to experience healthy development and achieve their maximum level of functioning.

HISPANIC ELDERLY PROGRAM
Provides culturally competent and specialized mental health interventions along with advocacy, companionship, and case management to Hispanic elderly persons and their families. A full day Senior Center program provides socialization, recreation, nutrition, and health screenings.

HISPANIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM
This program provides culturally competent substance abuse counseling to Hispanic alcohol/drug abusing dependents and their families in Hartford.