New Haven Non-Profits Awarded Casey Foundation Grants

On May 18, The Annie E. Casey Foundation and its direct service agency, Casey Family Services, today announced the award of $246,000 to 15 New Haven agencies. The grants program annually funds a wide range of 501(c) (3), not-for-profit or community-serving organizations working directly with disadvantaged children, youth and families in New Haven.

Grant amounts in 2006 ranged from $2,000 to $20,000 annually for a maximum of two consecutive years. This year for the first time the program also awarded one $50,000 collaboration grant to two organizations working together to help low-income families achieve economic success.

“Through this grant program the Annie E. Casey Foundation contributes to New Haven’s efforts to build a stronger community – one that enriches the lives of all children and families,” said Douglas W. Nelson, Foundation president. “In the program’s first two years, more than 31 organizations received grants for activities benefiting more than 1,944 residents, including 1,156 adults, 524 children, and 181 teen and single parents.”

Raymond L. Torres, executive director of Casey Family Services, added that in 2004 and 2005, grant funds helped to provide activities ranging from food assistance for HIV-positive adults and families and programs that support an increase in the number of college-bound girls, to home visitation for new mothers and support for grandparents and other kin caregivers.

“In the grant program’s third year, we want to continue supporting innovative, community-based programs that help to ensure that children can grow up in strong healthy families within a supportive community,” Torres added.

The first-time $50,000 collaboration grant went to Christian Community Action (CCA) and the Clifford Beers Child Guidance Clinic to develop a resource center for families. Clifford Beers will provide clinical services and support groups to assist families with issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence and parenting. CCA will hire a part time staff person to be responsible for employment-related work such as: vocational assessments, job readiness, employment counseling, financial literacy, and connection to CCA's employment program.

Other awards were made as follows:

• Dwight Hall at Yale: $7,500 for services to school-age children provided by Yale students
   

• Girl Scouts, CT Trails Council: $15,000 to support and increase the number of college-bound Hispanic girls
   

• ALSO-Cornerstone: $7,500 to provide life skills for youth
   

• Empower New Haven: $20,000 to provide financial literacy training and to support an Individual Development Account program for Spanish speaking adults
   

• Best Buddies Connecticut: $6,600 to promote positive peer relationships between high school students
   

• Fair Haven Health Center: $18,000 to provide a home visitation program for new mothers
   

• The Consultation Center: $20,000 to provide support for grandparents and kinship caregivers
   

• Casa Otonal: $20,000 to provide bilingual case management
   
  

• The New Haven Diaper Bank: $10,000 to provide diapers to low-income families
   

• Community Action Agency: $20,000 to provide Individual Development Accounts and training in financial literacy
   

• The Children's Community Program of Connecticut: $20,000 to provide job and college readiness skills training for 20 youth in therapeutic and foster homes
   

• Center for Children's Advocacy: $12,000 to develop advocacy skills for youth in child welfare or juvenile justice placements
   

• Workforce Alliance: $20,000 to operate an employment and work readiness program for youth

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation devoted exclusively to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families. It was established in 1948 by Jim Casey, one of the co-founders of UPS. In 1976, the Foundation established its direct service agency, Casey Family Services, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to offer quality, long-term foster care. Today, with headquarters in New Haven, Casey Family Services offers foster care for children as well as post-adoption, family preservation and family reunification services for parents and children throughout New England and in Baltimore, Maryland.

For more information, contact Casey Family Services at 203.401.6900.