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Free, round-the-clock help for children, teens and parents
Since its founding in 1978, Kids in Crisis has helped more than 80,000 Connecticut children and families; in
2007 more than 8,100 children and families received assistance from the organization.
Based in Cos Cob, Kids in Crisis provides services to children of all socio- economic conditions in
Fairfield County, including those in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford,
Weston, Westport and Wilton.
For community programs call 203-622-6556
For Help call
203-327-KIDS
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Our Story
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1975
A teenage runaway from Greenwich is sent to New York City for shelter because there is no safe place locally to go. This prompts the United Way, Hotline and the Junior League to research and secure start-up funds for a residential shelter in town for up to ten adolescents.
1978
The Greenwich Youth Shelter opens as a pilot program, serving runaway adolescents. The Youth Shelter is one of the first emergency shelters licensed by the Department of Children and Families. Within one year, service expands beyond Greenwich to include Darien, New Canaan and Stamford.
1981
The Youth Shelter is incorporated as a non-profit agency. Norwalk and Wilton are included in the service area. A 24-Hour Helpline is added to provide phone counseling and immediate crisis intervention.
1986
Services now also provided to Westport and Weston. The increasing complexity of issues facing youth results in additional clinical staff and expanded counseling services.
1990
Based on growing awareness of the needs of younger children, the Junior League of Greenwich once again assists with the research and development of a shelter program for children under twelve. The Youth Shelter is awarded one of thirteen grants nationwide to open a Crisis Nursery.
1993
The Youth Shelter opens the first Connecticut Crisis Nursery in a historic home in Cos Cob, donated by Walter and Lucienne Driskill, with capacity for up to ten young children.
1995
Agency name officially changed to Kids in Crisis.
1996
Teens for Kids (originally Young Women for Kids) work-study program established for adolescents to enhance their education and career prospects. Teens are mentored by counseling staff and assist with the care of younger children at the Crisis Nursery.
1997
Children in residence are found to have medical conditions that have gone undiagnosed or untreated and many have serious physical or emotional conditions as a result of neglect. Kids suffer lead poisoning, asthma, allergies, developmental delays, malnutrition, anemia, fetal alcohol syndrome, and emotional trauma. Many have never had proper medical care or have received the necessary inoculations. Some wear the scars of abuse on their bodies.
TLC, a licensed on-site Health Center, a collaboration with Stamford-based Health Care Connection, opens to provide immediate quality medical and psychiatric care to children in shelter.
Many of the children in shelter cannot continue at their home school because of distance, emotional or learning difficulties, or potential violence. A full-time educator is added to the Kids in Crisis staff to ensure that children receive age-appropriate schooling while in our care.
1998
Youth Corps launched. High school students from throughout Fairfield County come together to plan programs and activities to advocate for Kids in Crisis. Members of the Youth Corps also participate in the summer volunteer program for adolescents.
1999
SafeTalk child abuse prevention workshops are launched in Stamford elementary schools. Programs based on the curriculum of the National Child Assault Prevention Program to keep kids "safe, strong and free." Implemented by Kids in Crisis staff and trained volunteers, workshops include presentation, role-playing and an opportunity to meet privately with a Kids in Crisis counselor. Parent/teacher seminars held separately to teach how to recognize the signs of abuse and advocate for kids, and to reinforce the workshop curriculum at home.
TeenTalk program piloted in Westport. A Kids in Crisis Student Outreach Counselor helps adolescents deal with personal pressures and family conflicts. Our TeenTalk counselor augments the school staff by providing confidential short-term individual counseling on matters of importance to the health and well-being of teens. Issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, stress management, health and personal safety are addressed in support groups. Referrals are provided as needed and our 24-hour Outreach staff is available for emergency assistance. The program has been operating part-time or full-time in Greenwich, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Stamford and Weston.
2000
The education program is expanded into STEP - The School for Transitional Education and Placement - in collaboration with the Greenwich Board of Education. The program provides all school-age children in shelter with an educational assessment and identification of special needs, transitional schooling, placement into an appropriate public school classroom and advocacy.
The assessment becomes part of the student's permanent record to facilitate their educational needs when they move out of shelter care.
2002
All programs established at one site - the Campus for Kids - on Salem Street, Cos Cob. A new Teen House and renovated Crisis Nursery enhance shelter services. Capital campaign supports better utilization of space, state-of-the-art facilities and improved operating efficiency.
2003
Kids in Crisis celebrates its 25th anniversary.
2004
Kids in Crisis creates its first comprehensive summer recreation program for children. Unlike other children, Kids in Crisis residents don’t go away on summer vacation or head off to camp. With school out for summer, professional staff creates an age-appropriate summer program where children enjoy educational day trips, learning experiences, and therapeutic recreation opportunities, as well as a summer reading program and the teamwork and joys of planting and caring for a garden.
2005
Kids in Crisis presents its first “Conference to Keep Kids Safe,” a day-long program hosted by UCONN Stamford that gathers more than 100 adolescents from area public and private high schools to discuss the issues affecting the safety and well-being of kids throughout Fairfield County. This groundbreaking teen summit attracts a far-reaching group of students, social service professionals, media advisors, corporate sponsors and political and entertainment personalities.
2006
Kids in Crisis significantly expands its noteworthy therapeutic programs for children temporarily staying at the Teen House and Crisis Nursery. Today, children in residence receive individual and group counseling, as well as broad-based therapeutic services, including regular Art Therapy, Dance Therapy and Pet Therapy opportunities designed to help heal the emotional and physical scars of each child.
2007
TeenTalk program expands to new communities, including Greenwich, Stamford and Weston.
2008
Kids in Crisis introduces the Safe Place program in Fairfield County, designating more than three dozen locations in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton as safe havens for children who need immediate help in a crisis situation. Project Safe Place is a national program, first established in 1973 in Louisville, Kentucky, which reaches out to youth who find themselves in crisis situations – everything from family problems to abuse – that require immediate help.
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