The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut Receives $10,000 Grant from First County Bank Foundation

The First County Bank Foundation, Inc. awarded a $10,000 grant to the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) in support of the agency’s largest program, Child and Family Therapy (CFT).

With 160,000 children in Connecticut having mental health concerns and care being accessible to only 20% of them, and State budget cuts effecting social services, financial support from funders like First County Bank Foundation is critical to continuing to provide timely mental health support for local youth. CGC’s CFT program serves Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, and New Canaan children and teens, ages 3 to 18, who experience mental health problems that impact their daily activities and long term development. Within the CFT program, CGC treats children struggling with issues like depression, bullying, poor school performance, developmental delays, physical aggression, or drug or alcohol abuse. Higher risk children who pose a threat to themselves or others are given priority access; these children may be experiencing thoughts of suicide or homicide.

CFT uses a team approach to provide a broad range of individualized mental health services. CGC has a special commitment to in-depth assessment and evidence-based approaches to treating complex problems and fostering healthy parenting.

“We are incredibly grateful to First County Bank Foundation for their unwavering support of our agency’s work in providing the best possible mental health care to our community’s youth,” said CGC’s President and CEO, Eliot Brenner, PhD “Untreated childhood mental health disorders increase the risk that as adults, these children will experience unemployment, poverty, and difficulties maintaining stable relationships. This is why we provide services to children, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. The Foundation’s support helps ensure that each child that requests our support receives the mental health care that they need,” explained Dr. Brenner.

About the First County Bank Foundation, Inc.

The First County Bank Foundation, Inc. contributes generously to non-profit organizations that support community and economic development; increase the availability of affordable housing; and programs that support quality of life and educational enrichment for families and children. For more information about the First County Bank Foundation, visit their site at www.firstcountybank.com/first-county-bank-foundation-inc.