Macaroni Kid Danbury-Bethel-Ridgefield has selected Family and Children’s Aid (FCA) -- a child-focused non-profit community organization that offers mental health care for local children and their families in Danbury -- as the beneficiary to receive 100% of admission proceeds from its upcoming Birthday Bash event on November 15th from 1PM-4PM at the Danbury Sports Dome. The event will offer families ideas for planning their next party by showcasing kids’ entertainment and activities provided by local businesses, venues and entertainers. Event attendees are asked to come to the birthday-themed event with a “gift” – a new, unwrapped toy, game, book or piece of sporting equipment (or $10 cash donation/family) to be donated to FCA. How will those items be used? Read on to learn more!
You may have seen the FCA building with the “colorful hands” on West Street on your way to/from I-84 or the Danbury Fair Mall. Have you ever wondered what this organization does? FCA offers programs and services to heal and support children and families in crisis. Its mission: “Improving children’s emotional and behavioral health.” The organization operates under the belief that children are society’s most valuable assets. Founded in 1809, the agency has been a refuge for abused and neglected children who are without protection, without parental support and even without hope. More than just offering food, clothing and shelter, FCA strives to heal and support Connecticut's children and families by meeting a higher level of need and teaching them about respect, compassion and trust. FCA currently operates neighborhood-style group home programs serving Connecticut's most disadvantaged children. In addition, FCA offers outpatient programs, in-home services and a summer camp. FCA believes that seeking help is a sign of strength, and believes that excellent care should be available to individuals and families in all walks of life, whenever needed and without discrimination.
I recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with Nick Hoffman, Director of Development at FCA in Danbury who provided a tour of the facility at 80 West Street. As you step foot in the door, you get an immediate sense of how child-focused FCA is. From the bright and cheery waiting area with a projection screen TV to the reception desk window that Nick told me had been intentionally designed to be at a child’s height. Nick and I spent most of our time chatting in the Playmaker Village. Stepping into this space, one would guess that he/she has just walked into an interactive children’s museum. Nick explained how the FCA staff is trained as Life is Good Playmakers™. “We strongly believe that play is the antidote to trauma. Here kids can choose an activity like rock climbing or LEGO building while talking with their therapist.” The playmaker philosophy of harnessing the intuitive power of playfulness in children to help them heal from psychiatric trauma is used across all treatment methods offered at FCA.
During Playmaker sessions, kids ages 3-19 are placed in groups of 10-12 (by maturity level vs. by age). Playmakers sessions are intentional therapeutic play designed to help children recover from trauma. Children in individual treatment can explore one of the many activity areas set up behind the building façade that runs along the perimeter of the Playmaker Village. Since the opening of the new building on West Street, FCA has gone from providing approximately 7,500 sessions for about 800 children per year to over 30,000 sessions for about 2,800 children per year!
Playmaker Village.
Inside the “Surf Shop” (which has a real tile pool for a ceiling!), kids can “surf”, exploring the texture of a pool full of corn kernels. In “Leo’s Building Blocks”, kids can build with LEGOs - even on the walls!
Kids can also climb the walls in the “rock-climbing” room.
In the "Turning Point Inn", individually designed hands hang in honor of over 1,100 children who have spent at least one night in a Family & Children’s Aid group home.
Our tour ended in the lower level of the building where contractors were in the middle of building “Harmony Station”, a brand new resource room for the children to use for “Free Play” time with friends. The themed décor is reminiscent of a city subway complete with true-to-life signage and a subway car façade. Here is where the donations from the Macaroni Kid Birthday Bash will be put to use, so take a peek at the photos and descriptions below to help you decide what to donate!
The Pick & Play Room will house toys and board games while the Good Sport room will have sporting equipment (baseball gloves, basketballs, etc.). The “Newsstand” will provide kids with new books. In the “Cozy Ski Chalet” (not pictured) kids will have access to and take home brand new warm coats, hats and gloves for the upcoming winter season. Donated items should be in new condition and appropriate for ages 3-19.
Sowhat do you say? Can we fill up these rooms? Let’s see what the power of the Macaroni Kid community can do! There’s nothing better than to see local families helping other local families. Come down to the Danbury Sports Dome for the Macaroni Kid Birthday Bash on Saturday, November 15th from 1PM-4PM. Bring your new, unwrapped gift for FCA and let’s all have a wonderful, fun afternoon with the family!
For more information on the Macaroni Kid Birthday Bash, see article here.
For more information on Family & Children’s Aid or to donate online, visit www.facweb.org or call (203) 748-5689. You can also follow Family and Children’s Aid on Facebook. The Danbury Campus of Family and Children’s Aid consists of 12 buildings, with the main campus building located at 80 West Street.
