Needy children receive bikes at Foundation for Life event in Shelton

These are some of the lucky children who were surprised Saturday with new bicycles and helmets. /Contributed photo

SHELTON - Fifty area children, ages 6-11, from TEAM, Inc., United Way of Coastal Fabirfield County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center were selected for a day of fun Saturday at the Sports Center of Connecticut.

The event was organized by The Foundation for Life, a 501(c)3 organization that works to improve the quality of life for children and families through actions that promote change and deepen connections within the community. 

Contributed photo

The Foundation for Life is supported by the employees of Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife.

First Niagara Bank sponsored three hours of free play for the selected children and families including mini golf, laser tag, bowling and batting cages.

At the end of the event, The Foundation for Life surprised each child with a brand-new bicycle.

Team members from Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach Department and “Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley” program were on hand to give out free helmets to each of the children, and to teach them how to properly adjust the helmets for maximum safety while riding.

 

Foundation for Life is not affiliated with MetLife or any MetLife affiliate. 

This post is taken from a press release from MetLife.

Agency in Derby announces new Valley Kids Belong coordinator

DERBY - The Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center today announced that Desiree Caporaso, MSW, is new Program Coordinator of Valley Kids Belong. 

Desiree Caporaso

Valley Kids Belong (“VKB”) is a children’s mental health program based in the Lower Naugatuck Valley that works collaboratively to promote resilience and  health for children in the Valley – mentally, emotionally, socially and academically. 

Caporaso brings a wealth of experience to the position. She obtained a Masters of Social Work degree from Fordham University in 2010 and comes to us from working with adjudicated adolescents as a Clinician in the YES! Program at Connecticut Renaissance. 

Caporaso also has professional experience from the Norwalk Office of Juvenile Probation as well as the Prevention through Early Intervention Program (PEIP) at PCRC. 
She is an EMT with the Echo House Ambulance Corps in Shelton and is a Gold Award Recipient with the Girl Scouts.

Caporaso joins a team of Valley Kids Belong staff members who have been working for the last three years to bring preventive-level programs to children and families in the Valley, such as After-school Programs, Summer Programs, Triple P Positive Parenting Programs (“Triple P”) and Families and Schools Together (“FAST”). 

Look for information about the upcoming Triple P parenting groups as well as the 2013 Summer Program in the works.

About PCRC

The Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center has been serving families in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton and the surrounding area since 1975. 

It is the leading provider of behavioral health services to children and families in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The mission of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center is: SavinglLives by passionately caring for children, families, and the community.

This post is taken from a press release from PCRC.