Prospective foster and adoptive parents are welcome at any Open House listed on our website. Please call one of the regional coordinators listed at the bottom of this newsletter or

for more information or to schedule an individual appointment.

 Click here for the most current listing of open houses across the state.

 Click on the calendar at right to see FAM events. 

Check out all the great information we've been posting on Facebook recently!

•  Tuesday Trainings: This week we focus on kinship care. Please note: if you attended the recent training in Southbury featuring Dr Crumbley, you may not receive credit for watching this training. Please check with your worker first.  Click here for link.
• Beautiful story of an ESPN producer and two young men who redefined family~
  Tissues required!  Carry On
• This is what can happen when we all collaborate~
   DCF Spokes in a Wheel
  Who knows a pastor who might take on this ministry here in CT? This is MOST impressive!
  DC Pastor Couple Mobilizes City Churches to Fill In Foster Care Gap
• One of those articles that uses irony to get across an important point~ Have you ever experienced any of these situations? 10 Surefire Ways to End a Friendship With a Foster Parenting Friend  

 Please join us as a family or contact Selina Daniels  

at 203.583.9374 to learn more about becoming a vendor.

The 1st inaugural "Dads Matter Too!" Awareness Day will take place on September 22, 2013 in Waterbury, CT at Library Park! This statewide event focuses on raising awareness around the importance of fathers in today's society.  

This event is hosted by the State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families Region #5 Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team (F.E.L.T). The mission of the F.E.L.T. is: To Educate, Inform and Empower Fathers while strengthening and increasing their roles in the lives of their children. The team is comprised of DCF workers and external community providers and other local and state organizations.

Research suggests over 24 million or 33% of American children live apart from their biological fathers. It is a fact that the federal government spends nearly $100 billion dollars every year to support father-absent homes. Children who live in homes with absent fathers are more likely to be impoverished; use drugs; to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems; commit suicide; experience teen pregnancy; become victims of child abuse; and engage in criminal behavior. This event is the F.E.L.T effort to combat this issue in CT.

This event will allow fathers/ father figures to congregate and demonstrate their commitment to children and their future and provide an opportunity for community providers/organizations to showcase the services they offer and empower residents by exposing them to resources. The event also has the ability to offer a health component for those who choose to participate in the walk, run, or planned activities. Children will also have the opportunity throughout this event to recognize and highlight the significant male figures in their life by way of an essay contest and present the award to the selected recipients.  

The event is comprised of the "Dads Matter Too!" 5k Road Race, resource tables, giveaways, award ceremony, food, entertainment, guest speakers, etc. The event is capped off with a 1 mile "Dads Matter Too!" Walk. We are calling on dads of all ages to come out and walk a mile with your child. Men: Lets show the world that "Dads Matter Too!"

We are looking for sponsors, vendors, guest speaker, providers, donations, volunteers and support for the 1st Annual Dads Matter Too! Awareness Day.

If you have any questions or want to volunteer or host a table feel free to contact Anthony.gay@ct.gov