Child Advocacy Center Awarded Sizable Grant

DANBURY — The Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF) recently awarded a $20,000 one-year competitive grant to the Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center Inc. The funds will be used to support the Parent Aide Program.

The Parent Aide Program provides support and training to parents at high risk of child abuse and neglect who are experiencing stress in their families. Parent aides visit the parent weekly in the home, providing information and education regarding positive discipline, improving parent-child relationships, and management and organization of the household.

The parent aide focuses on raising the self-esteem of parents so that they are better able to meet the emotional, physical, and psychological needs of their children. Parent aides are trained, professionally supervised by an LCSW, and offer fluency in Spanish and Portuguese as well as English. The trusting relationships they develop with parents are nurturing, nonjudgmental, and consistent.

During the July 1, 2008–June 30, 2009 fiscal year, 80 percent of 440 clients from 119 families learned and applied skills and information that contribute to reduced risk of child abuse and neglect and increased independent family functioning.

The Child Advocacy Center, headquartered in Danbury, has supported this program since the agency incorporated in 1976, serving 14 communities in northern Fairfield and southern Litchfield Counties. The nonprofit agency is a contractor with the State Department of Children and Families and is a member of the United Way of Western Connecticut.

The FCCF promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations, and organizations can establish charitable funds and contribute to existing funds.

The foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond.

For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.