New Parents’ Group, Grant, Benefit Concert Announced By NYFS

By John Voket

Newtown Youth & Family Services made three announcements recently regarding a new parents’ support group, a new grant to support AIDS awareness, and an exciting development regarding the agency’s annual benefit concert by the local Concert Society Chamber Orchestra.

On December 1, NYFS became chartered as a Circle of Parents program site through Prevent Child Abuse Connecticut.

Circle of Parents is a parent mutual self-help support program based on a simple and time tested model: through peer-to-peer leadership and support at weekly meetings, people in a parenting capacity can, over time, gain self-esteem, overcome isolation, and improve their parenting skills by exchanging support and positive parenting suggestions.

NYFS Executive Director Beth Agen said her agency recognizes parenting as one of the most difficult jobs anyone will ever have.

“Most parents wish their children came with an instruction manual, and while there are no such manuals, parents can be a wonderful source of support and strength for each other [as part of these] mutual self-help support groups,” said Ms Agen. “We know that parents can benefit from one another’s thoughts and experiences and we are happy to be able to provide this free program to families.”

Newtown Youth & Family Services’ first Circle of Parents group will be held on Monday, January 18, at 7 pm, at 17 Church Hill Road. The group will be on the first and third Mondays of every month.

NYCAAP Grant

In other news, the local agency’s Newtown Youth Creating AIDS Awareness for Peers (NYCAAP) group was awarded a $249 grant from KIDS Consortium of Maine and Dara’s Fund for a service learning project

“With the support from KIDS Consortium [of Maine] and Dara’s Fund, in memory of Dara Jeanne Kaufman [1983-2006], NYCAAP is able to peer educate eighth grade health students at Newtown Middle School with new curriculum and updated information on HIV/AIDS,” said Jessi Zeigler, program manager.

Peer education at Newtown Middle School allows the NYCAAP members to educate eighth grade health students on what risky behaviors are, the four fluids of transmission, abstinence-only education philosophy, HIV does not only affect the homosexual population of America, HIV is a virus the virus does not go away, and it damages the immune system.

NYCAAP is a community awareness group of high school students. NYCAAP members are trained to peer educate from an HIV/AIDS peer educator trainer from Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Danbury. NYCAAP works in collaboration with AIDS Project of Greater Danbury and the Leeway House in New Haven for volunteer initiatives.

Benefit Concert

The Concert Society Chamber Orchestra will present its 9th Annual Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 30, at 8 pm, at Trinity Episcopal Church to benefit the agency. The concert will be directed by William Boughton and feature solos by Maria Ferrante, soprano, and Wayne Hileman, bassoon. Proceeds will benefit NYFS.

The spirit of late conductor Richard E. Serbagi will live on in the selections he made for the program. Ms Ferrante will sing two of J.S. Bach’s great arias and feature Mr Hileman, well-known bassoonist, who will perform the Mozart Bassoon Concert.

The Concert Society Chamber Orchestra is welcoming William Boughton, an internationally recognized conductor and artistic and music director of New Haven Symphony Orchestra, to conduct in Mr Serbagi’s place.

“Richard and William came to be good friends in recent years and Mr Boughton is pleased to have worked with him in preparing for this event,” Ms Agen said in a release.

Tickets are $35, and must be purchased or reserved in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are available by calling 203-270-4335 or at the NYFS building on 17 Church Hill Road.

Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc is a licensed, nonprofit, mental health clinic and youth services 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.

To find out more about the Newtown Youth & Family Services Circle of Parents, NYCAAP or The 9th Annual Holiday Concert, contact Jessi Zeigler at the agency by phone, 203-270-4335, or visit NewtownYouthAndFamilyServices.org.