Family & Child Welfare
All children need a foundation that leads to a productive life as they grow. Our child welfare services are designed to address issues in your home such as adult substance abuse, family violence, or abuse and neglect, that can interfere with a child’s development and well-being. Through strengths-based strategies, we treat your entire your entire family – and work with and promote the strengths and supports in a
child’s life.
Programs for Foster Parents and Youth
Programs for Foster Parents and Youth
Therapeutic Foster Care
Provides 24-hour supported family homes to children and adolescents needing a therapeutic level of foster care.
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For Youth and Families Referred through the State of Connecticut or Other Referral Sources:
Caregiver Support Team - (C-KIN)
Supports Department of Children and Families (DCF)-licensed foster homes, with a focus on kinship families – biological relatives of a child or children in care. The service is designed to prevent – or minimize – disruption of a child’s placement with a foster family by providing intensive in-home interventions to the child and family.
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Community Support for Families
A voluntary, family-driven service designed to assist families in strengthening natural and community support systems to maintain safe and healthy home environments. Offered in DCF Region 4, Hartford/Manchester and DCF Region 6, New Britain/Meriden. (learn more)
Foster Care Clinic
Provides multidisciplinary evaluations to children and adolescents entering foster care and safe home programs. Each child receives a comprehensive medical, dental and mental health evaluation within 30 days of entering a foster or safe home.
Intensive Family Preservation (IFP)
Supports families involved with the Department of Children and Families due to concerns about abuse and neglect in the home.
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Multisystemic Therapy-Building Stronger Families (MST-BSF)
An intensive home-based approach for families with children, ages 6-17, involved with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) protective services due to neglect and physical abuse concerns and where there is also concern about the impact of parental substance abuse on the family.
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Parenting Education Program (PEP)
Serves parents with active divorce, separation or custody cases in the Family Division of the Connecticut court system.
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Reunification and Therapeutic Family Time Services (R&TFTS)
Supports and reconnects families who have been separated as a result of trauma, child abuse or neglect and serves children and families in 19 cities and towns in DCF Region 6 - New Britain/Meriden.
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SAFE Family Recovery (SAFE-FR)
Wheeler’s SAFE Family Recovery (SAFE-FR) program offers three types of services to help meet the substance use treatment and recovery needs of adult caregivers wherever they are in their recovery. The program helps identify client needs for substance use services, fosters connections with providers, builds motivation to enter and stay in services, and supports a return to long-term family functioning that promotes child well-being.
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Supportive Housing for Families®
Provides families served by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) throughout the state with support and services, and access to safe, quality, affordable and permanent housing.
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