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Programs and Services

COUNSELING & RELATED SERVICES

GENERAL COUNSELING SERVICES
Individual and family counseling are provided for children, youth, and their families,
who are concerned about:

behavioral problems
family issues
compulsive behaviors
emotional issues
school performance

SUPPORT GROUPS
Groups for adolescents or their parents are developed to meet the needs of the community.

ADD/ADHD
G.A.S.P.
Parenting Discussion Groups
“WOW”

INFORMATION & REFERRAL
A complete listing of area personnel and services that deal with youth and their concerns is maintained.

Cases or situations requiring more intensive services are referred to other professional therapists
or agencies, with family finances taken into consideration.

JUVENILE REVIEW BOARD

CHILD DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY POLICING

PREVENTION PROGRAMS

A. Youth Creating Solutions

Peer Advocates – is a two part program that trains willing and qualified high school applicants to listen to and to be resources for their peers. The training component consists of 13 two hour sessions during which participants work on self-awareness, acceptance of differences, decision-making and communications skills, and the appropriate use of resources to support and help themselves and their peers. Four training groups are scheduled each year: two begin in the fall and two begin in the winter. Trained Peer Advocates, known as Alumni, participate in further education, outreach, and service programs and projects. For further information, call Taffy Bowes.

“Reach Out” – is a welcome/orientation/support program run by the Peer Advocates for students new to Daniel Hand High School, entering from other towns or school systems. Monthly meetings take place at Daniel Hand High School August through January. For information about dates and times, please call Taffy Bowes.

The AIDS Awareness Project – is open to all DHHS students interested in raising consciousness and awareness about HIV/AIDS. The group commemorates World AIDS Day each year. Organizational meetings are held at Daniel Hand High School. For further information, contact Taffy Bowes.

Adopt-A-Grandparent – offers high school students the opportunity to interact with residents of Watrous Nursing Center. Participants meet a Watrous 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays each month from September until May. Contact person at Madison Youth & Family Services is Melissa Balletto.

Peer Helpers – this program is for students at Polson & R. H. Brown Middle School who are considered trustworthy and helpful to their peers. These students are trained tin communication and problem solving skills. The training consists of a weekend retreat and seven 2-hour sessions on Wednesday evenings. Upon completion of the weekend Peer Helpers serve others through the following: peer supported tutorial services, easing the transition for new students, discussion groups with faculty to improve student/teacher communication and respect, assisting the guidance counselors in orientation programs for 5th graders coming to Polson School, and community service trips to nursing homes, daycare centers and other community agencies. Three trainings are conducted throughout the academic year.

6th Grade Orientation Program
Late August – Prep meetings during July & August
Peer Helpers talk to large groups of incoming 6th graders and new students and perform skits to help encourage a positive beginning to Middle School.

New Kids Welcoming Party
Peer Helpers meet weekly through the summer to plan and prepare for the Party to welcome students new to Madison and Polson School. It is not necessary to attend more than two or three of the weekly meetings during the summer – the more the better. Those Peer Helpers then host a Welcoming Party for the new kids two or three days before the start of school.

Madison Harborside Nursing Home and Daycare Center - Once a month after school students visit seniors at the Harborside Nursing home. This includes helping with arts and crafts, games, and dispersing mail. Students will also have the opportunity to provide support to preschoolers at the Daycare Center located in the nursing home.

SARAH – Polson School Students are paired with developmentally challenged adults for various activities. Sessions take place at Polson School.

6th Grade Classroom Visits
Peer Helpers speak to 6th grade students at R.H. Brown School about life at Polson School.

New Kids Buddy
Peer Helpers volunteer to buddy up with a new student during his first days/weeks at Polson School. Peer Helpers might be asked to show students to classes, introduce them to other students, sit with them at lunch, etc.

6th Grade Tour of Polson School
Peer Helpers provide tours of Polson Middle School 6th graders, helping to get them acquainted the school.

A Friend in Need
Peer Helpers might be asked individually, or as a group, to help a particular student who is having social problems such as being picked on or ostracized. The request for a Peer Helper would come from the guidance office and must be kept confidential.

Safe Rides – is a community-wide, confidential, student-to-student transportation service, which operates most Friday and Saturday nights between 10:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. to provide a safe alternative to driving with or as an inebriated driver by calling 245-8347. Volunteer shifts of 3 – 5 high school students provide passengers confidential and safe ride home within the Madison town limits. A student core group manages much of the nuts and bolts organization of the program. Volunteers do not need to be able to drive. Adult volunteers supervise the shifts. Anyone interested in volunteering please call Melissa Balletto at 245-5656.

Download the April-June 2008 schedule
View the April-June 2008 schedule

Mentoring Matters – The program matches 5th and 8th graders with highly-motivated, well qualified high school students to provide guidance and positive role modeling. Within the bounds of this positive peer relationship and through mutuality of experience, all young people are given further opportunity to thrive and expand their horizons. Madison Youth & Family Services staff member supervise all meetings. For further information call Melissa Balletto at 245-5656.

Violence Prevention Programs - “Who’s Got The Power?” is a 4 session program that examines the dynamics of bullies, victims and bystanders and empowers bystanders (the majority) to act to reduce bullying and its consequences. The program is presented to all 6th grade students. For additional information on “Who’s Got The Power” contact Marcy eatty. The Violence Prevention Program is a 5 session course focused on the causes and prevention of emotional, verbal, physical and gender-related violence. The program is presented in the 11th grade health classes by Taffy Bowes.

B. Parenting Programs

Parent Support Counseling – through the School Community Outreach Program Exchange (SCOPE) Madison Youth & Family Services offers a variety of services to parents of children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Services include: consultation on child development and positive discipline, education and support groups for parents, family advocacy, family assessment, referral for appropriate services, and crisis intervention. Contact Marj Adler for further information.

Parenting Education - Madison Youth & Family Services offers a continuing series of parenting courses and workshops to help parents gain insight and develop skills that foster healthy relationships between parents and their children.

“Tweens –to-Teens– The Turbulent Years”. Think being a pre-adolescent/adolescent is difficult; try being a parent! Parenting a child between the ages of 10 and 14 can be a very stressful and challenging time. The program offers an opportunity for parents to openly discuss issues such as curfews, limit setting, allowance, appropriate discipline, age appropriate behavior, developmental issues, and so much more. Workshops being facilitated by Marj Adler.

Parents of Teens Discussion Group – Being a parent of an adolescent often brings on unexpected challenges for parents. As our children grow, our role as parent gets redefined. The discussion group is held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month beginning in October. For further information contact Marj Adler.

Safe Homes Network – is a group of concerned parents ready to make a stand against underage drinking and drugs. To keep our children, Grades 5 – 12 safe, we ask parents to sign an agreement in which they agree to be present when their children host parties or social gatherings in their homes and that they will not serve nor will they knowingly allow minor guests to consume alcohol or illegal drugs in their home or on their property. If you want to sign up or have any questions, please call Marj Adler. Form available here

C. School-based Prevention Programs

Violence Prevention

“Who’s Got The Power”
11th Grade Violence Prevention Program

Substance Abuse Prevention

Student Assistance Counselors are provided at Daniel Hand High School, Polson Middle School, and R.H. Brown School. The counselors are available for information and referral, counseling and crisis intervention. Services are available on a drop-in basis at the schools or by appointment, after school hours, at Madison Youth & Family Services. Various student assistance groups are also offered at the schools. Assistance and supportive counseling are available for friends and family members of students using alcohol and other drugs.

Ninth Grade “Choices” Program - a drug and alcohol prevention programs that provide middle and high school students with skills and information to help them avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs. The 9th grade program prepares students to make responsible choices concerning alcohol and other drugs through information combined with activities to increase awareness of symptoms and risk factors. The 9th grade program is conducted by our Student Assistance Counselor - Erin Corbett.

Eighth Grade “Choices” Program - a 2-session 8th grade program focuses on refusal skills and utilizes high-school-aged Peer Advocates to help the younger students consider negative consequences associated with substance use. Role-plays and open discussions are utilized to enhance understanding between the middle school students and substance-free Peer Advocates. For information on the 8th grade program contact our Student Assistance Counselor – Erin Corbett.

Community Outreach - Throughout the year Peer Helpers and Community Service Graduates become involved in various community activities. These include walk-a-thons, helping individual members in the community, fund raising, etc.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Juvenile Review Board – This group exists under the auspices of Madison Police Services and has representatives from various other local agencies. Juvenile offenders may accept an alternative to the court process designed by the Juvenile Review Board and coordinated by Madison Youth Services.

CD/CP (Child Development/Community Policing) – is a partnership between the Madison Police Services and Madison Youth Services to address the comprehensive needs of children and families who are witnesses of, or are victims, of violence. Through ongoing training and collaboration, police officers are sensitized to the effects of trauma on children. Youth Services’ staff provide on-site response to crises to help children cope with domestic violence or other trauma.

Safe Homes Network
The Safe Homes Network is a group of concerned parents ready to make a stand against underage drinking and drugs. To keep our children, Grades 5 – 12 safe, we ask parents to sign an agreement in which they agree to be present when their children host parties or social gatherings in their homes and that they will not serve nor will they knowingly allow minor guests to consume alcohol or illegal drugs in their home or on their property. The Town of Madison has an Ordinance regulating possession of alcohol by persons under 21 years of age. If you want to sign up complete the " Parent Pledge" and mail it in. If you have any questions, please contact Marj Adler.

Selectmen’s Council on Youth Substance Abuse
The Selectmen’s Council on Youth Substance Abuse, an advisory group to Madison’s Board of Selectmen, was established to reduce drug and alcohol related problems for children and youth by coordinating local public and private efforts in this area; advocating for the creation and maintenance of needed new programs and policies related to substance abuse, and conducting an ongoing awareness campaign.

S.M.A.S.H. - Students of Madison Alliance for Saving Hears is a program comprised of students from Daniel Hand High School and The Grove School whose goal is to educate the parents, students and community about the dangers and consequences of substance use, and how they can help to reduce it.

Friends of Madison Youth/Wilbur W. Pardee Youth Center
The Wilbur W. Pardee Youth Center was established by The Friends of Madison Youth as a safe, drug-free, supervised environment where Madison teens can enjoy a positive recreational experience and avoid risk-taking behavior common to adolescents. In addition to providing age-appropriate recreation for the town’s young people, the Barn seeks to encourage opportunities for growth, maturity, and personal skill development through a balance of challenging activities and programs that will enhance their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Madison Youth Services was a founding member of Friends of Madison Youth and continues to provide consultation and technical assistance.

Shoreline Collaborative
The Shoreline Collaborative is one of many multi-agency teams in Connecticut that provide coordinated, comprehensive service planning for youth with severe emotional disturbance. The Collaborative has a membership of agencies committed to providing a variety of services for youth. In recent months, referrals have continued despite the lack of additional much needed resources in our communities. A variety of needs have been identified by member agencies as well as children and families served by the Collaborative.

Madison’s Committee on Children & Youth
Madison Committee on Children and Youth (MCCY) is an interdepartmental organization with the mission: To raise awareness of the issue facing children and youth and to advocate and plan for coordinated responses.

Representation includes Madison’s: The Youth Services Director, David Melillo Chairs MCCY

Madison United is an effort to reinforce the values and ethics that have traditionally made Madison a special place to live. Specifically, Madison United hopes to build on our strong community through a campaign to foster the development of responsibility, respect and kindness. Our goal is to reach out to all age groups and encourage these personal characteristics. In addition, we hope to encourage participation in the existing organizations that provide community service (service organizations, PTO, etc.).