2-1-1 Connecticut | 2-1-1 Child Care | Child Development Infoline | Community Results Center

June

2016

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

ConneCT Kids Summer Guide

A Message from Richard Porth

President/CEO of United Way of Connecticut

The official State of Connecticut website for children, ConneCT Kids, has published its online summer planning guide for 2016.

The guide has advice for parents and teens about finding summer jobs, volunteer opportunity listings, summer safety tips, links to summer programs throughout the state, and more.

The website also has a section dedicated to resources, for children with special needs.

The 2-1-1 ChildCare website has a searchable database of camps that enables you to find the best fit for your child's needs and interests. For more information visit the 2-1-1 Child Care website or dial 2-1-1.

Greater Hartford Summer Programs for Youth

Summer should be fun, but it's also important to engage young minds year-round so that educational gains are not lost.

Research shows that reading during the summer helps students maintain or improve their reading skills and better prepare them for school in the fall. Be sure to read with your child, visit your local library and find summer learning opportunities.

The Summer Programs Serving Youth in Greater Hartford Directory lists a variety of camp, tutorial and other summer programs that are available throughout Hartford and the surrounding area, as well as a park and pool schedules, free lunch programs, and other activities.

Get Ready for Hurricane Season

June is the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm threat to Connecticut peaks in mid-August, making now a time to take three simple steps to prepare. Get a kit, make a plan, stay informed. 2-1-1's eLibrary paper has information on how to prepare and safely weather a hurricane/tornado.

Stay informed by registering for CTAlert. CTAlert is Connecticut's emergency notification system, which sends out information and alerts by e-mail, text message, or telephone call to state residents who are registered on the site. Click here to learn more and register for emergency alerts.

As always, in the event of a storm emergency, you can visit www.211ct.org or dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in the state for up-to-date information about emergency shelters and storm relief resources in in your community.

Kids in Need of Summer Meals

For many children who depend on school breakfast and lunch programs, no school means no food. The Summer Food Service Program ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.

When school is out for the summer, kids and teens under 18 can receive meals and snacks free-of-charge through summer food programs. The meals are made possible through funding from the USDA and are available at participating sites throughout the state.

The goal of the Summer Food Service Program is to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals and snacks all summer long. Food is provided at no cost to children or their families, but hours of operation vary by site.

For more information and to find summer meal sites near you, call 2-1-1 or text CTMeals to 877877. Additional details about the program are available on the CT Summer Food website at www.ctsummerfood.org.

The mission of United Way of Connecticut is to help meet the needs of Connecticut and its residents by providing information, education and connection to services.