Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut

Results: Founded in 1954, the reach and diversity of our programs continues to grow to meet the changing needs of our communities. Our staff is comprised of highly-trained mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers who specialize in assessing and treating the needs of young people, ages birth to 18, and their families. With office locations in Stamford, Greenwich (which also serves Darien and New Canaan residents), CGC provides comprehensive in-office and off-site services, as well as mobile emergency crisis intervention 365 days a year, for families regardless of their ability to pay.

Target demographics: All of CGCs treatment programs are targeted to children, birth to 18, who experience mental health problems that interfere with daily functioning and threaten long term development. Priority access is provided to children with serious symptoms (i.e. suicidal ideation, violent or self destructive behavior, psychotic symptoms, including gross impairments in judgment and reality testing) and those children experiencing trauma or crisis (i.e. child abuse, neglect and sexual abuse, children suffering from serious physical illness or impacted by the illness or death of a parent or significant other). Though services are available for families from all economic and ethnic backgrounds, we are committed to assuring access to lower income, uninsured and underinsured families, and to providing services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for our multi-ethnic community.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 2100 kids

Geographic areas served: Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan Connecticut

Programs: Employing a child-centered, family-focused approach, CGC provides the following programs and services to area children and their families: Crisis services target children at the highest risk for injury, abuse, or trauma: Mobile Crisis Intervention Services are available 365 days a year to stabilize critical situations and prevent suicide, violence, and dangerous behaviors; the Child Advocacy Center provides a child-friendly environment in which kids who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect are interviewed for forensic purposes and connected with mental health, advocacy and medical services. Specialized treatment services help children with a range of clinical problems to foster healthy development and reduce psychiatric symptoms and problematic behavior. Our Child and Family Therapy provides clinic-based assessment and treatment services; Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy offers intensive, in-home child and parent treatment for youth abusing alcohol or drugs and engaging in delinquent or dangerous behaviors; Child First offers intensive, in-home parent/child therapy and care coordination focused on decreasing the harmful effects of trauma and deprivation on early development. Additionally, we offer services to further ensure the stability of children: System of Care helps families with complex needs access integrated services; Developmental Evaluations and Psychological and Neurological Assessments identify and design plans to address developmental, learning and neuropsychological concerns; Community Emergency Response offers on-site counseling for emergencies impacting large groups; Preventative Services such as community education workshops and consultation services advance best practices in the field of children’s mental health