News from Wheeler

A short video with Sharon Pendleton-Ponzani, director, Wheeler Foster Care Programs, highlights the need for loving foster homes in Connecticut and what individuals and families can do to help.

Maybe it’s a field trip to a food industry conference. Or time spent in the onsite automotive garage. Or a regular shift at the school store. Whatever the setting, students at Wheeler’s Northwest Village School (NVS) have plenty of opportunities to acquire skills and experience that prepare them for the world of work through comprehensive prevocational programs.

Wheeler recently honored four donors for outstanding support of its mission at the organization’s 14th Annual Hands & Hearts event, held virtually, on December 12.

John and Brian Pica-Sneeden started their foster care journey nearly 30 years ago. Since then, they have adopted six of their foster children – one as recently as last month!

Valerie Fusco, a pediatric LPN for Wheeler's Susan Walkama Family Health & Wellness Center in Hartford, received the organization's second annual Ethics & Integrity Award. Valerie was nominated by her peers as part of the 2024 Health Care Compliance Association’s Corporate Compliance & Ethics week, November 3 through 9.

"Now, it's just a whole different perspective."

Sharon Pendleton-Ponzani, director, Wheeler’s Foster Care program, was a guest on Connoisseur Media’s “For the People Radio” show on November 17, where she highlighted Wheeler’s foster care programs and discussed the significance of National Adoption Month.

To provide same-day assessments and rapid access to follow-up care, Wheeler Health has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant as part of a $4.2-million funding package distributed to seven community health centers across Connecticut.

November is National Adoption Month, which is designed to raise awareness about the critical need for adoptive families for children and youth in foster care. It’s also a time to consider the urgent need for foster homes for hundreds of children and youth in Connecticut.

Wheeler Health has announced a $110,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The funds will support the “Walk With Me” program at its Family Health & Wellness centers in Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, and Waterbury, Connecticut, and extend the program and its services to Wheeler’s Bristol, Connecticut, center.

The new year is approaching, and a Wheeler Celebrate Bristol 2025 calendar might be just what you need! Calendars are available for free while supplies last at Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center at One Hope Street, and other locations in the city.

Violet Pastorkova-Jaouen, RDN, CD-N has joined Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center as a registered dietitian nutritionist . Violet comes with 18 years of nutrition and 24 years of dietetic experience, including providing nutritional assessments, education, and counsleing to a broad range of patients with varied diseases and conditions.

Wheeler Health has begun its first residency program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, designed to cultivate clinical leaders in community health.

Daniel Melchor, LCSW, integrated care supervisor at the Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center in Waterbury, recently sat with NBC Connecticut and Telemundo to discuss how to manage anxiety and stress in these turbulent times.

A Community Baby Shower for expectant families and new parents will take place on November 7 from 3 to 6 pm at Human Resources Agency of New Britain, 180 Clinton Street, New Britain.