Location:
The campus is at 1400 Whitney Avenue, Hamden CT.
Clients
Served: On a daily average over 170 children and families
receive services through at least one of our programs. While
most clients are from Greater New Haven, a typical year will
have children from at least 30 Connecticut towns and cities
outside the region participating in Residential or Day Programs.
Client
Problems: The children we serve struggle with serious emotional, behavioral psychological and social problems, such as physical and/or sexual abuse; psychiatric illness;
learning disabilities; substance abuse; and family trauma.
Residential
Program: 62 boys and girls between the ages of 7
and 18 live at the Hamden campus while in treatment, most
of them for a period of 6 to 15 months. Children may return to
their families, if appropriate, or to group homes, foster
homes, or independent living.
Extended Day Treatment serves an average of 85 emotionally or behaviorally-impaired
children/adolescents who reside in the community but come to the Hamden campus for treatment and services.
School
Programs: The Children’s Center of Hamden operates
Whitney Hall School, a State-approved Special Education
facility, serving Residential and Day Program students who
are SED, LD., or dealing with substance abuse. In addition, we offer
a school-only program to local school systems.
New Choices is Connecticut’s
only program serving court-involved boys and girls with substance-abuse
issues in an intensive short-term residential treatment program.
A maximum of 13 adolescents are enrolled at any one time.
Kids
Cottage is our agency's "Safe Home"
a place where young children who have been removed from their
homes due to concerns regarding abuse/neglect receive care for a period of
45 days, or until a more permanent, safe home can be found
for them. Up to 13 children can benefit from this program
at any one time.
Referrals
come from a variety of sources, including the Department of
Children and Families (DCF), other social service agencies,
psychiatric hospitals, local boards of education, juvenile
justice agencies, and parents.
Staff:
The Children’s Center of Hamden has a staff
of 205, with the majority falling into these categories: child
care workers, therapists, and teachers.
Funding
Sources: Department of Children and Families (DCF),
tuition from local school systems, State and Federal grants,
Managed Care/Health Insurance and contributions from individuals, business and foundations.
Founded
in 1833 as "The New Haven Orphan Asylum," The
Children’s Center of Hamden is Connecticut’s oldest
chartered private child-caring agency.