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Kids in Crisis - Insight Issue 39
Insight Issue 39 - Fall 2007

Mandating Internet Safety

When the school year kicked off this fall, Virginia students found another class on their schedules: Internet safety. Thanks to a state law passed in 2006, Virginia public schools are now required to teach students about safety on the Web. Currently, Virginia is the only state that requires schools teach the dangers of Internet safety; the growing awareness of online dangers means other states may not be far behind. “We teach our kids not to talk to strangers. We teach our kids not to take candy. But in today’s world on the Internet, not only can you be talking to strangers without supervision, but you can be talking to someone you think is not a stranger, but who is one,” says the Virginia bill’s sponsor, William H. Fralin, Jr.

While schools are beginning to formally integrate online safety into their curriculum, many educational systems have been incorporating Internet safety into parent meetings and information sessions held throughout the year. Kids in Crisis staff is often asked to participate in these programs, an extension of the Agency’s expertise in teaching the SafeTalk program on stranger danger and bullying. Now, Kids in Crisis TeenTalk Counselors in area middle and high schools are participating in community outreach designed to teach parents and children the new rules of the Internet road. “Sometimes kids and parents think that dangerous things can’t happen on computers used at home,” says Ed Milton, TeenTalk Counselor at New Canaan High School. There’s an inherent – and dangerous – comfort level. As a TeenTalk Counselor, one of our responsibilities is to be proactive in addressing areas of concern between adolescents and their parents. This is a hot topic for them.”

The advice TeenTalk Counselors provide to area kids and their families mirrors the new curriculum in Virginia. “Most people have heard the ‘keep computers in an open area’ recommendation, but today’s suggestions reach much deeper than that,” says Milton. Among safety recommendations TeenTalk Counselors and others recommend are:

• Make sure there is no Webcam attached to your camera. If there is, disable it. 
• Insist your children NEVER give out personal information—not just their name, but also the school they attend, the month or date of their birth or their email address
• Set whatever parental controls you can through your browser and/or purchase a separate software package to maximize parent control levels.
• Remind children to refrain from opening up emails, files, web pages or URLs that they do not know or that look suspicious.
• Acquaint yourself with social networking sites your children may be using (Facebook, My Space, etc.). Visit these sites on your own, type in your child’s name or school to see how the site is being accessed by your children and the community at large.
• Make sure you know your child’s user name, email address and password. Make this non-negotiable for computer access. Better yet, set up Internet accounts in a parent’s name in order to control passwords and use filtering devices.

Forget Singing for your Supper

Thanks to the generosity of Julia and Peter Deane and Kitchens by Deane, the 2007 Kids in Crisis Annual Meeting was a hot event. That night, members of the Board of Directors, staff and children in residence came together for a night of cooking and feasting. Under the direction of Julia Deane, Chef, with CulinaryWorks, the group of 60 learned to prepare several different appetizers, soup and even cookies for dessert. Working in groups, the event provided a chance to get to know each other better and reminded all why Kids in Crisis is such a special place for families and children. Everyone in the Kids in Crisis “family” left wearing a specially created apron and clutching new recipes to dazzle ‘em at home. Many thanks to Julia and Peter and their team for helping us create a special evening for all.

Meet... Robert
Six year old Robert, the apple of everyone’s eye at Kids in Crisis. He came to stay at the Children’s Nursery in the spring, when his mother was admitted to a psychiatric facility for treatment. When Robert arrived, he spoke only a limited amount of Spanish; communicating was hard for even the most dedicated, bi-lingual staffers. With love, attention and support, Robert has bloomed and grown into a wonderful boy with a funny sense of humor and a distinctive personality.

Because of the intensive, therapeutic care at Kids in Crisis, today Robert has an advocate supervising his educational growth at an area elementary school, regular psychological counseling to help him deal with his mother’s substance and physical abuse, and medical care to help bring him up-to-date on his immunizations and routine pediatric care. Of course, he also has the love and dedication of the professional Kids in Crisis staff that creates a loving home atmosphere for him. After school ends today, they will decorate pumpkins together and bake a birthday cake for another resident.

Several family placement options for Robert have, sadly, fallen through. Despite his great progress at Kids in Crisis, Robert is growing sad as he sees other children come and go; he gets nervous when staff leaves for the night or when other children move on from the Crisis Nursery. Thanks to Kids in Crisis supporters, we continue to search for the best future placement option for Robert and advocate on his behalf among family and state officials.

TeenTalk Program Makes the Grade in New Schools This Fall

Sweaty palms, first day jitters, worries about where they’ll sit at lunch. Think it was kids facing the first few days in a new school? Not quite. This time it was four new Kids in Crisis TeenTalk Counselors new to schools in Fairfield County, as the TeenTalk program dramatically expanded across the area with the advent of a new school year.

This Fall, Kids in Crisis TeenTalk Counselors, who help teens navigate the difficulties of adolescence, are in attendance at significantly more Fairfield County middle and high schools this Fall, with new positions added in Greenwich, Stamford and Weston (joining existing positions in New Canaan and Ridgefield) schools.

The strong expansion of TeenTalk stems from the fact that school administrators and parents increasingly understand the mounting and varied concerns of adolescents. Issues about school, friends, relationships, drugs, family conflicts and more change constantly; at the same time, physical and hormonal changes take kids by storm. Having a confidential resource or a support system means adolescents have a place to go (right where they spend the most time) to talk things through. TeenTalk Counselors also serve as an adjunct to school staff, directing education sessions for parents and students that address substance abuse, depression, stress, divorce and more.

Funding for the new position in Stamford has been generously provided by the Camulos Foundation, based in Stamford; a private donor, “The Former Owners of Putnam Green and Weaver’s Hill” have provided funds for the creation of the TeenTalk position in Greenwich. Funding for other TeenTalk positions is provided through a combination of individual Town funding, private donations or a partnership between the two. 

Joining the Kids in Crisis TeenTalk team this academic year are: Kimberly Lisack, the new TeenTalk Counselor at Western Middle School in Greenwich. A licensed clinical social worker, Kim joins Kids in Crisis from Westchester Jewish Community Services, where she was a project coordinator and clinical social worker. She has extensive experience in school settings and great insight into working with families and children. An MSW, Kim is fluent in Spanish, a skill honed during her graduate work at Arizona State University.

Chante Moreno, TeenTalk Counselor at Stamford’s AITE school. A Crisis Services Counselor at Kids in Crisis for the past two years, Chante began at Kids in Crisis as a Counselor on our residential campus in 2003. Last year, Chante piloted a program at AITE, providing a TeenTalk Counselor one afternoon a week. It was so successful it became a full-time position this school year. She is a graduate of the University of New Haven.

Lisa Perry, TeenTalk Counselor at East Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, joins Kids in Crisis with in-depth experience in high school and middle school environments. Previously, Lisa has held positions at H.C. Crittenden Middle School, Byram Hills High School and Warwick High School. A graduate of Fordham University, Lisa has as Masters of Science degree in Counseling Psychology.

Wilton resident Bonnie Rumilly has been named TeenTalk Counselor at Weston High School, another new position this year. Bonnie brings a wealth of experience to her new Kids in Crisis role, through previous work with Hall- Brooke Behavioral Health Services and the American Red Cross, as well as work at Davenport Elementary School in Stamford and Family Services Woodfield in Bridgeport. A graduate of the Columbia University School of Social Work, Bonnie, an MSW, is also a prominent local volunteer in New Canaan, where she was raised.

These four new TeenTalk Counselors join Ed Milton, TeenTalk Counselor at New Canaan High School and Leslie Brown, TeenTalk Counselor at Ridgefield High School. Together, and with the roundthe- clock support provided by Kids in Crisis professionals, this amazing team of clinicians is helping manage issues before they become too much to handle for teens and their families.

Down on The Farm

New Directors Come On Board at Kids in Crisis

At the recent Kids in Crisis annual meeting of the Board of Directors, hosted by Culinary Works and Kitchens by Deane in Stamford, six area residents were named to the Agency’s Board of Directors. Each of the new Board members is committed to helping and advocating for children in need throughout the area. Joining the Kids in Crisis Board of Directors is:

Harry Day, Representative of the 13th district, City of Stamford, the new Chairman of the Board, a twoyear position. Harry brings a wealth of legal and political experience to Kids in Crisis. A graduate of Yale University and Cornell Law School, Representative Day has worked with Kids in Crisis since 1999, as part of the committee overseeing the annual Kids Challenge Golf Tournament committee. Representative Day has been a longtime advocate for children in the Greater Stamford area and a member of the Board of Directors of Kids in Crisis since 2005.

Stuart Aronson, an Officer of the General Electric Company and President of GE Commercial Finance’s Global Sponsor Finance business. Mr. Aronson has been a long-standing supporter of Kids in Crisis, most notably as a key leader in the agency’s annual Hoedown fundraising event. Mr. Aronson, a resident of Wilton, has served as the Chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” effort and participated on several fundraising committees for Autism Speaks and Building with Books.

Running a major fundraising initiative for Kids in Crisis has given Alexandra Bergstein an inside look at the agency and the desire to get even more involved. Ms. Bergstein, a Greenwich resident, has most recently demonstrated her commitment to Kids in Crisis as the co-chair for the 2007 Hoedown fundraiser, a record-setting event. An active member of many area organizations, Ms. Bergstein has worked with the United Way of Greenwich and the Boys and Girls Club. She is an avid volunteer at the Brunswick School and is a member of the Advisory board for the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. Ms. Bergstein, a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, is a former corporate attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom.

An attorney with Cacace, Tusch & Santagata in Stamford, Katherine T. Blakeslee specializes in family law. A resident of New Canaan, Ms. Blakeslee has been active in several of that town’s volunteer opportunities, as well as a number of posts in Wilton, where she was a resident until 2000. She is currently a member of the New Canaan Historical Society and the Congregational Church of New Canaan and serves as a Hospice volunteer.

David N. Elders of Darien has re-joined the Board of Kids in Crisis after a two-year hiatus. A committed volunteer since 1998, Mr. Elders has served on the Agency’s nominating committee, its marketing committee, the building committee overseeing the construction and renovation of the Kids in Crisis campus in Cos Cob and as the Agency’s Vice Chair and Chairman of the Board of Directors. His tireless commitment to Kids in Crisis is well-known among and admired by staff, volunteers and Board members. His passion for community involvement in Darien is equally wellknown; he has served as a leader with the Darien Youth Commission, as well as Darien Youth Hockey.

Greenwich resident J. Alice Ruf is a sales and marketing professional with more than 20 years of corporate experience. Ms. Ruf, who currently works with IBM, was the co-chair of the record-setting 2007 Kids in Crisis Hoedown fundraiser. She has been actively involved in the Hoedown event for several years and has brought numerous volunteers and supporters to the Agency during her association with Kids in Crisis. In addition to her work with Kids in Crisis, Ms. Ruf has worked with the Junior League, Young Traveling Artists Program, the Historical Society of Baltimore and the Greenwich Public Schools.

In Memoriam

Kids in Crisis recently lost a beloved member of the Agency’s family, Nelaura “Rusty” Lewis, one of the founders of the Greenwich Youth Shelter—the forerunner of today’s Kids in Crisis. For more than 30 years, Rusty was a dedicated, roll-up-your-sleeves volunteer. A Riverside resident since 1962, she recognized the need for services that supported community children; in addition to Kids in Crisis, Rusty served on the Greenwich Association of Public Schools to establish programs for the learning disabled, and helped develop and manage the volunteers of the Career Center of Greenwich High School. Kids in Crisis benefited greatly from Rusty’s leadership; we enjoyed her wonderful sense of humor. “Rusty was one of the community’s true leaders and one of the most compassionate individuals I have ever met,” said Shari Shapiro. “We will miss her. Everyday, we will celebrate her ongoing commitment to bettering the lives of children throughout our area.”

Did You Know?

Child abuse and neglect rates in Connecticut are high compared to the national rates for all age groups. Nearly 20 out of every 1,000 Connecticut children from Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families birth to age 3 are victims of maltreatment, compared to an average of 16 children per 1,000 nationwide. Most recent figures find there were nearly 5,000 abused/neglected children under age 6 in Connecticut (39% of all victims under 18). Over 1,100 of these children were less than one year old.

Local Residents Raise Funds for Fairfield County Kids and Families

Gathering to celebrate the end of a successful Kids Challenge Golf Tournament are committee members and players from throughout the area, including (l to r) John Cox, Darien, Harry Day (City representative of 13th district, Stamford), Mark Begor (Wilton), Jean-Paul Musicco (New Canaan), former New York Giant Howard Cross, event Chairman Denis La Police (New Canaan) and Briggs Forelli (Rowayton). The 11th annual event, held at Woodway Country Club, raised a record-setting $120,000 this year. Winners of this year’s Kids Challenge included Precision Gear (winning corporate team) and Woodway Country Club (winning club team). Congratulations to all involved on another successful Kids Challenge event!