CHAOS Brings Supports To Substance Abusers At NYFS

Newtown Youth & Family Services is offering three new free groups to meet community requests for support beginning the week of January 19.

CHAOS (Choosing Healthy Alternatives Over Substances), an adolescent substance abuse support group, and “The Me After We,” a surviving divorce group, are open-ended and drop-in in format; “Women Empowering Women,” a place for women to explore their challenges and encourage each other to reach their highest potential, is an eight-week group.

“We believe all of these groups — especially CHAOS — will answer a call that came directly from community members,” said Beth Agen, executive director of NYFS.

CHAOS will meet weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6. The program will be based on the Hazelden Matrix Model, which acknowledges there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for youth who are battling substance use or abuse.

The Me After We group was born out multiple requests from participants in the court-mandated Parenting Education Program (PEP). Every divorcing couple with children in Connecticut must attend a six-hour PEP class. NYFS sees more than 20 clients per month in the class.

The group acknowledges that more and more adults need to depend on others for support and guidance after a divorce. Me After We will meet on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm.

Women Empowering Women is a creative group open to all women over the age of 18. The goals of the group include helping women increase their self-esteem, empowering women to make changes and improvements in their lives, and to increase their sense of optimism. Women Empowering Women will meet Thursdays from 6:45 to 7:45 pm.

“The Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan in November. I am so pleased at how quickly the staff at NYFS worked to implement answers to the community needs identified in that strategic plan,” said Layne Lescault, chairman of the NYFS board.

All three programs will be facilitated by master’s-level NYFS staff and meet at 17 Church Hill Road.

Newtown Youth & Family Services’ vision is to become a recognized leader in providing mental health and social services to assist people in achieving their highest potential.

The agency is a licensed, nonprofit, mental health clinic and youth service bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups, and education throughout the greater Newtown area regardless of ability to pay.

The agency combines clinical services and positive youth development programs to provide a continuum of care to residents of the greater Newtown area with outpatient individual, couple and family counseling, and substance abuse treatment services.

In addition, NYFS offers prevention initiatives, after school, evening and weekend programs, and support groups to promote individual and community wellness. For more than 25 years, the agency has offered specialized programs and services to individuals of all ages regardless of ability to pay.

Reach Newtown Youth and Family Services at 270-4335 or visit www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.