Newtown’s Helping Hands — Part 1

Town Social Services Office Answers Many Calls For Help

By John Voket

(This is the first part in a continuing series profiling town agencies, nonprofit, and grassroots organizations that offer a broad range of assistance to local residents in need.)

When a local resident in the final stages of a terminal illness was left alone, with nobody to provide even the most basic assistance in her limited but still difficult daily routine, Newtown’s Social Services Director, Ann Piccini was there to help. She would get into her vehicle and make the short trip to the dying resident’s home several times a day to fix meals, provide conversation, and companionship, and even took on the responsibility of providing some necessary personal care during the final hours.

This seems like unheard of behavior in an era where governmental social service agents may be perceived as bureaucrats, hiding behind banks of burgeoning caseloads and inaccessible layers of voicemail options that never seem to connect to an actual human being, but not in Newtown.

According to Ms Piccini, her visits to the dying resident were “highly unusual because the person had no other friends or family in town.” Usually, residents inquiring about public support services from obtaining a bag of groceries at the local food pantry to the complicated maze of filings for disability or Medicare benefits, need only call or drop in to Newtown’s Social Service office.

Of course everyone still receives a top-flight level of friendly and comprehensive service.

Located in the basement level of the Newtown Police station, Ms Piccini and Case Manager/Administrative Assistant JoAnne Klopfenstein administer the files of hundreds of Newtown residents who tap into dozens of federal, state, municipal, and nonprofit programs providing either permanent or temporary medical, social, utility, cash, and/or food assistance.

In other words, if you live in Newtown and you need help or have a question about entitlement to certain assistance initiatives, the Social Services Department is ground zero. From there, virtually every connection or referral to the variety of available programs can be made.

“There are a lot of programs out there that can provide a helping hand to people during tragedies or changes in economic status, and you could probably get the information from the Internet, or by calling the state or federal departments individually. But we can qualify a person or family for every benefit they may be entitled to, usually in just one or two visits,” Ms Piccini said.

Ms Piccini said many people who come to Social Services for the first time are concerned about the appearance, and she understands how uncomfortable it could be. But if it’s a matter of survival, or addressing medical concerns—especially when children are involved—there’s a comfortable place to leave your pride by the door.

“We understand the difficulty in a place like Newtown, where many of the people may be seeking these benefits for the first time. But people shouldn’t be afraid to call or stop in,” said Ms Piccini. “If you feel embarrassed about accepting assistance, then at least arm yourself with information.”

Although the number of residents seeking some form of assistance has remained relatively constant over the years that Ms Piccini has staffed the Social Services office, she has seen a shift in demographics. Today, it is most likely a single mother or a widowed older woman who comes looking for help.

She recently noted a moderate increase in the number of people coming for groceries at the Food Pantry, and the frequency with which they come. The community’s medical clinic for uninsured or underinsured residents, located at Kevin’s Community Center, is also serving as many new patients each week, as they are seeing regular visitors.

For an office with only two staff members, the range of services coordinated through Newtown Social Services may seem disproportionate. Ms Piccini and Ms Klopfenstein assist in processing applications for several energy and utility assistance programs, rental rebates, Senior Housing, Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) benefits, Title 19, Medigap policies, the CONNPace state subsidized prescription assistance program, and Social Security.

Locally, the office provides information and referrals for supportive counseling, in-home visits for wellness and well-being for the elderly, assessments, and crisis intervention. The staff shares responsibility for qualifying residents the Salvation Army Food Pantry, which is open Mondays and Thursdays, from 2 to 4 pm.

“A lot more people are using the Food Pantry lately,” Ms Piccini said. “Most clients come in once each week, but we’ve had to restrict the number of visits when supplies are low.”

Luckily, a recent robust collection from the annual Postal Carriers’ Food Drive has helped supply meet demand, she said.

Ms Piccini and Ms Klopfenstein help dozens of local children access summer camp scholarships, connect those in need with home furnishings, appliances, household and baby items. During back-to-school period, they will ensure students are furnished with the necessary supplies and clothing; between Thanksgiving and Christmas, they will steer service groups bearing holiday baskets to hundreds of homes; and if that isn’t enough, they will even provide financial planning and budgeting assistance to residents who are experiencing difficulties paying their personal bills.

“People have no idea about the many small ways we can help,” Ms Piccini said. “We’re not a welfare office, but we can provide qualified residents with cash assistance if needed.”

Ms Piccini said her office processed 265 fuel assistance applications last season, 157 for seniors and 108 for individuals or families. To date Newtown Social Services has helped send more than two dozen town youths to summer camp, with more to come.

“Mothers who may be divorced or single tend to stay in town because they want to give their children some continuity in their schooling,” Ms Piccini said. “For many of them, we create a combination of benefits including Food Pantry, fuel assistance, back-to-school backpacks with school supplies and holiday baskets.”

The Level Of Need

When examining the status of need in Newtown, and comparing that need to other neighboring communities, the primary resource for statistics is the state Department of Social Services. The latest report, reflecting information available through June 2003, details the number of families and individuals receiving food stamps, Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), state supplements, Medicaid and State-Administered General Assistance (SAGA) benefits.

State Administered General Assistance (SAGA) covers most of the services available under Medicaid for single adults who do not qualify for that coverage.  The DSS operates Jobs First, Connecticut’s welfare reform program, providing Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) to those in need of cash assistance. This is a time-limited program that emphasizes early case management intervention and participation in the labor market.  The program provides Safety Net services to families who exhaust their time limit and are not eligible for an extension.

The federal Supplemental Security Income Program serves people who are elderly, disabled, or blind.  In Connecticut, this is augmented by the State Supplement Program. 

Another division supplies information on state HUSKY medical plans and CONNPace benefits. HUSKY (Healthcare for UninSured Kids and Youth) offers health coverage to Connecticut children up to age 19 in all income levels.  HUSKY is a combination of Medicaid managed care (HUSKY A); managed health insurance for children in higher-income families (HUSKY B, or State Children’s Health Insurance Program); and supplemental services for children with special health care needs (HUSKY Plus).

The latest report indicates 87 food stamp recipients in Newtown, although in recent years paper books of food stamps have been replaced with an ATM-style card that is electronically replenished monthly and offers a significantly lower-profile experience for participants.

 As of June 2003, 19 residents in Newtown were receiving Temporary Family Assistance. Four elderly and 15 disabled individuals were receiving a state supplement, seven individuals get general SAGA cash assistance and 46 receive general SAGA medical assistance.

When considering Medicaid assistance, however, the numbers change dramatically with 759 clients in Newtown.

More recent information on HUSKY and CONNPace is available, with figures provided as of July 1, 2004. According to the DSS, 605 residents receive HUSKY A benefits and 99 qualify for HUSKY B coverage. Of that total, 439 clients are age 19 or younger. Currently, 202 seniors are enrolled in the CONNPace initiative.

When comparing the figures against neighboring Monroe to the south, and Brookfield to the north, there are some striking demographic contrasts:

There are 30 fewer food stamp recipients in Monroe and 22 fewer in Brookfield.

Monroe’s ratio of TFA clients is only two behind Newtown, but Brookfield has eight more.

Monroe has twice as many disabled individuals receiving State Supplement as Newtown, while Brookfield has only half as many.

Newtown’s 759 Medicaid recipients rank comparatively high against Monroe’s 479 and Brookfield’s 433 clients. This trend is mirrored somewhat in the numbers receiving Medical SAGA assistance, with 20 in Brookfield and 18 in Monroe compared to 46 locally.

One Brookfield client receives SAGA cash assistance and Monroe provides similar benefits to two individuals.

Newtown Social Services may refer or network with many other nonprofit agencies and grassroots organizations that provide support including The Newtown Fund, the local Salvation Army service unit and the Junior Women’s Club. There are several scout troops, an American Legion Post, a chapter of Church Women United, The Cullens Youth Association, FAITH (Food Assistance Immediate Temporary Help), the nonprofit Family Counseling Center, Inc.

There is FISH (Friends In Service Here), the Hiram Chapter 1, Royal Arch Masons and the Hiram Lodge 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the local Lion’s Club, Meals on Wheels, the Newcomer’s Club, Newtown Scholarship Association, Newtown Woman’s Club, Youth Services, a local chapter of the Regional Hospice, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Rotary Club, VFW Post 308, the regional United Way, the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown, Inc., and Women Involved in Newtown (WIN).

Numerous organizations in town host support groups including daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Overeaters Anonymous and Al-Anon.

Considering there are so many service and support organization in the community, perhaps it is easy to see why Newtown Social Services staffers can accomplish so much for so many.

“People in town are very generous with their donations and their time,” Ms Piccini said. “We really couldn’t do the job we do without this strong outpouring of community support.”