Thriving Children Stories

Stories of those who have been helped and inspired by your United Way donation

 

Three siblings came to the Summer Enrichment program because of their mother’s work hours and being displaced due to domestic violence. They needed added support as well as special education classes during the school day. 

The children received academic support during Out of School Care through 
enrichment activities provided by The Drop-In Learning Center. The 
youngest loves listening to stories, another had an opportunity to 
experience playing a keyboard, while the third sibling loves making 
gifts for others. 

The Drop-In Learning Center has been a safe place for the
children where they have a place for their arts, a 
place to dance, supplies, and a place to call home. 

The children have participated in enrichment activities like
the Connecticut Storytelling program, Black History Jeopardy, 
tennis, swimming lessons, drumming, art classes, and gardening.
 

Like many of the youth at Drop-In Learning Center, N must relearn how to interact with peers. But now, she has found her voice as a young artist and is able to express herself. Art at The Drop is expressed in diverse ways - sewing, keyboard, writing classes, and spoken word. 

Volunteering in our community is one of the components of the Teen Life Skills program. N has accrued ten hours of volunteering in the office, running classes for the younger 
children, and helping with food distribution for the community. N is building 
her employment experience with volunteering, and her artwork has 
been given as gifts to community partners and the volunteers.

United Way gave support to the older youth through Pfizer 
this year with a virtual back to school backpack collection. 
The Drop-In Learning Center was able to give support to both 
local middle schools for the influx of new students. 

The students were able to set-up the bags for distribution,
and it made a difference for families at The Drop-In Leaning 
Center and the New London community. 
 

A teacher at Riverfront Children's Center had a little girl in class, and they developed a close bond. She remained connected with the girl and her twin brothers who were also at Riverfront.

One day she heard that the little girl and her brothers had been placed in foster care. About a year later, the teacher received a call asking if she would be interested in opening 
her home to the twin boys for foster care. Their sister had been adopted 
but the boys needed placement. 

One of the reasons their prior foster care placement was disrupted 
was behavioral issues that resulted in them being removed 
from their childcare setting. Because of that, teachers were
happy to have the boys back to Riverfront. It is a program that 
understands children who come from a variety of backgrounds 
who can struggle with self-control and emotional regulation
due to prior experiences and trauma. 

The family formally adopted the twins and admit they never 
could have faced all the challenges with work demands and 
supporting the boys’ needs without help from the staff 
at Riverfront.

Arianna is a single mother to an active three-year-old boy, Amari. As a mother, Arianna does her best to provide all the necessities for her son. She also has been trying to stay ahead of her bills and has started working to become a Child Development Associate.

Recently, both Arianna and Amari were affected by COVID at different times, 
and Arianna missed numerous days of work. Shortly after that her car broke 
down, which resulted in more missed days of work and unexpected 
bills. Arianna fell behind in her rent and other bills and had no money
to purchase clothes for her growing son including pull-ups. 

Arianna spoke with the Groton Little Learners Family Liaison 
and Enrollment Manager
seeking assistance with her rent, 
childcare fees, and pull-ups for Amari. 

Little Learners provided pull-ups from their supply closets. 
Local agencies partnered to assist with her rent and childcare 
fees. This assistance has allowed Arianna to be current with 
her bills once more, feel confident again, and of course, 
be a great parent to Amari.

A mother of three started utilizing services at Madonna Place when her toddler was about one year old. Due to the inflated prices of food, her family has needed assistance. Madonna Place offers supplemental food boxes for families each week from the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center. She has also received diapers and other items.

The Family Support Center administers the Ages and Stages 
Questionnaire to families with children five and younger to assess 
possible developmental delays. While administering the 
questionnaire, the child scored below the cutoff for the 
Communication category. Agency staff referred the child to 
the Birth to Three program for further support. 

Within a week of submitting the referral, the mother was 
contacted by Birth to Three because her child was eligible for 
services. She is grateful the referral was submitted and 
accepted so quickly, and that services were now in place for 
her child. She said, “I love this program. You all have been 
so helpful to me and my family.” 

From day one, Samantha has made it known that she planned to honor her late grandmother who inspired her to follow her dreams of becoming a social worker. Her grandmother was a huge support to Samantha and inspired her to want to have as great of an impact on others’ lives that her grandmother had on hers. Losing her grandmother had a profound effect, and she turned this immensely difficult time into a time of transformation. 

Samantha has been on the honor roll every quarter of her high 
school career. Not only has she excelled academically 
during her time in high school, but she has also been a member 
of the Grasso Tech basketball and softball teams all four years 
of high school. 

Samantha’s positive attitude and drive to do whatever is 
required to make her dreams come true makes her 
the perfect candidate to further her education to become a 
social worker. The College Access program assisted Samantha 
by guiding her through the applications process and ensuring
she had the proper requirements and classes scheduled 
for a career as a social worker. 

Samantha always looks on the bright side of things and has an 
ability to make others feel good around her.

Rayna was a high school Senior who had a close circle of friends and was always looking out for her little brother. She carried her smile and her secrets well, with no one suspecting she was on the brink of giving up until one day she approached a teacher saying, “I need to talk to someone, I need help.” 

While waiting in the main office, the Safe Futures Prevention Education 
advocate placed at Rayna's school noticed her anxious disposition. 
The advocate asked a simple question about the music on Rayna's 
phone to break the ice. A conversation about music spread to 
chatting about family and friends, and Rayna opened up about 
her anxiety. Over the school year, one conversation became
regular week-to-week check ins. 

Together they created a plan that helped Rayna set 
boundaries and add balance in her life, offering her relief, 
and the push she needed to graduate. 

Rayna invited the advocate to her Senior presentation during 
which she shared that she aspired to become a social worker. 
She wanted to show kids like herself that they can be whoever 
they want to be. 
 

First-time parents were anxious about sending their daughter to school, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic. They wanted a school that would follow CDC guidelines, where their daughter would be safe and protected. The stress of finding the right school that they could afford, was a daunting task. 

Their decision on selecting a school was not clear until they saw the 
Early Childhood Development (ECDC) experience. ECDC added a 
personal touch the other schools did not, a virtual tour of their 
facility. The video shows ECDC's attention to detail and 
the staff their daughter would interact with and 
learn from on a daily basis. 

During enrollment, the first-time parents instantly felt that
their daughter would be protected, and their family would 
become a part of the ECDC family. Since starting at the ECDC, 
the parents say their daughter arrives home radiant every 
day and is thrilled to go back. 

Robert began working with Child & Family through its in-home family therapy program, after being referred by his school. Robert had struggled to attend virtual classes and in connecting with his family. The school had concerns about his risk-taking behavior and potential drug use. As the family worked with their in-home program, the therapist referred Robert to the New London outpatient clinic so he could have a space of his own to openly talk about his struggles. 

Robert shared about feeling increasingly isolated, losing connections 
with peers, and becoming disinterested in learning. His therapist
noticed he developed a great deal of anxiety. 

At the onset of treatment, Robert noted that he sometimes 
utilized marijuana to stay calm or sleep. After completing 
treatment, he told his therapist that he didn't feel the need to 
use marijuana to calm down, and his sleep had returned to 
normal. 

Robert and his family were able to successfully complete 
treatment in their family therapy program and individual services.

Logan, a non-verbal but very social sixteen-year-old on the Autism Spectrum, and his parents searched for a safe place for Logan to meet friends and socialize after school. Without afterschool options for Logan, his parents struggled to balance their work with ensuring Logan's well being.

Since joining The Light House After-School Program, Logan spends three 
afternoons a week being a teenager who enjoys socializing with friends 
and culinary and musical activities. He now eagerly asks when his next 
day at the program will be and, with the help of a speaking device, 
tells his parents about afternoons with his friends. 

His favorite part of the program is Music Therapy, which Logan 
refuses to leave if Mom happens to arrive a bit prematurely. 
For Logan’s parents, it is wonderful to see him in that 
environment where he thrives. The program has helped Logan 
live his life as a teen and develop as a person. 

As part of United Way’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a grant opportunity was created to work with programs that drive positive change and improve outcomes for racial and ethnic minority children and youth. United Way’s Thriving Children Equity Grant awarded funds to three organizations. S.T.E.P.S. was one of the grantees to support the expansion of its College/Career Enrichment Program for middle and high school girls in New London and Groton.

The program includes six components:

  • Monthly online career interviews with women in careers that the students have chosen;
  • College campus tours;
  • An online panel with former S.T.E.P.S. students attending college to answer questions and describe their journeys;
  • Open forum Zooms with the students to discuss any issues of concern;
  • STEM/STEAM modules to help ensure students can  navigate and engage in a 21st century global society; and
  • Community service projects to foster a sense of teamwork and giving back.

Two young women started S.T.E.P.S. in seventh grade and participated for six years. As a testament to the success of the program, Shaneva (right) is now going to college in Williamsport, PA, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in psychology. Emme is attending Three Rivers Community College in Norwich and studying graphic design.

“S.T.E.P.S. workshops gave me confidence and a platform to practice it in a safe and supportive environment,” Shaneva said. While another participant, Emme, noted, “S.T.E.P.S. was the stepping stone needed to put me on the right path.”

S.T.E.P.S. continues to work for a world where every young woman has the opportunity and support to reach full equity.

During a TVCCA Little Learners meeting with Kyle’s mother, the staff determined the family was unable to provide basic needs.

The family disclosed they had no health insurance, were in a motor vehicle accident, and were homeless. The family was able to successfully enroll in Husky Health Insurance. The agency’s Family Liaison worked with the parent to enroll in Husky Health Insurance and the WIC program, helped them receive toys through the Tommy Toy Fund, provided diapers through their Diaper Bank Program, and assisted with the application for Care 4 Kids.

Kyle was struggling with his speech and the agency made all the required referrals with the public school to support his educational needs. TVCCA works with clients in every program to ensure all of their needs are met. Little Learners interacts with parents on a daily basis and becomes deeply involved in understanding the needs of the family and the children.

Little Learners is often the gateway into TVCCA’s myriad of services that help families move out of poverty.

Most recently, 100 percent of the participants in "The Drop" programs were children of parents classified as essential workers. Seven-year-old Tanya attends this program, and her mother works for United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern Connecticut and worked the duration of the pandemic. It was important for her to have childcare during this time because their family qualifies as low-income and there was no other family to help her.

Because her mother entrusted The Drop to care for Tanya, Tanya had many opportunities that she probably would not have been exposed to. In July 2020, Tanya participated in the New England Science and Sailing program and learned important lessons about water safety. Tanya also experienced a unique art program through the artist in residence at Expressiones. She also participated in the full Summer Enrichment curriculum, hybrid learning in the fall, and After School Care.

These diverse enrichment activities have allowed Tanya to grow and flourish in the two years she has been at The Drop.

Casey has her sights set on a level of success for her family that was unimaginable even a few short years ago. As a daughter in a dysfunctional family, growing up she did not have stability and security and dropped out of high school. Casey wished for a different kind of future and today she has goals for herself and her family.

To help achieve this, she was able to utilize the childcare services at Riverfront Children’s Center while she progressed through her educational programs. Her son is blossoming because of Riverfront’s unique supportive model. When her son first started in the program his language skills were delayed compared with peers.

Today, he has expanded his vocabulary while learning important social-emotional skills that promote positive peer relationships. He is currently participating in the Summer Meals program and has access to the Center’s Diaper Bank and clothing closet. Benefits such as these are essential to so many of the Riverfront families.

Casey is now able to pursue a college degree and is grateful for becoming an independent, self-supporting family unit because of the supports provided.

Oluwafemi was a high school senior when he joined Higher Edge. Together, he and his advisor navigated the college application process, but not a step was without hurdles. Yet Oluwafemi has risen to the occasion and taken challenges in stride. He never backs down and always works beyond his potential. Oluwafemi's drive and persistence paid off when he received two local scholarships. One scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition while  the other will allow him to purchase textbooks, school supplies, and other necessities.

One morning however, before Oluwafemi’s high school graduation ceremony, tragedy struck. His family lost everything in a two-alarm fire that spread through all three floors of his home. Resilient as ever in the weeks since, Oluwafemi has cared for his mother and two younger siblings. Not shy to admit future obstacles are inevitable, it is evident that Oluwafemi’s courage and perseverance will prevail.

Oluwafemi is a 2021 graduate of New London High School Multi-Magnet Campus. He now attends Three Rivers Community College as an engineering major, and he works as a youth leader with FRESH New London.