The Community Fund of Darien has announced partnership with the Darien Public Schools and Darien’s Health Department to fund a TeenTalk mental health counselor at Middlesex Middle School.
The Community Fund hopes to raise $30,000 for a grant to the school district in response to Darien’s Youth Survey results, which indicated the need for mental health support for the town’s youth, the organization said in a news release.
— This article is based on an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien.
The Community Fund seeks to raise the money from individual donations by May 31. The mental health counselor is expected to be in place at the start of the the 2024-2025 school year in September.
You can contribute here.
The Darien Health Department has committed $40,000 for the TeenTalk program.
Image from The Community Fund of Darien website
“This partnership underscores the commitment of The Community Fund of Darien, Darien Public Schools, and the Darien Health Department to prioritize the mental health and well-being of our youth,” a Community Fund news release said.
“The Darien Youth Survey was a call to action for The Community Fund of Darien to secure funding to support Darien’s youth,” said Janet King, executive director of The Community Fund. “This partnership aligns with our mission to support initiatives that promote the well-being of all members of our community,” she said
Shari Shapiro, longtime executive director of Kids in Crisis, said: “In Darien’s schools, our students are sending us a message. They aren’t asking for more recess; they’re pleading for help with their mental health.”
How the TeenTalk Program Works
TeenTalk, a program with a proven track record spanning more than 25 years, was designed by Kids In Crisis. The program now places master’s-degree-level mental health counselors in 18 middle and high schools across Fairfield County, including Darien High School.
“These counselors are specially trained to identify and assist students facing various personal, familial, and academic challenges. “By offering confidential individual, group, and family counseling, as well as preventive education on crucial issues affecting youth well-being, TeenTalk counselors play a vital role in supporting students’ mental health,” the Community Fund news release said.
“Their services are available to students and families 24/7 and all shared information is confidential and is not reflected in the students’ school records.”
Dr. Alycia Dadd, mental health director for Darien Public Schools, said:
“Middle school is a unique time in child development with the onset of increasing and nuanced social and academic demands. A relationship with a trusted adult is one of the most significant factors in building a child’s resilience.
“TeenTalk counselors are able to make connections with students and serve as an important conduit to additional supports outside of school hours and over school breaks.”
More Support for the Program
David Genovese, a Darien resident and founder of Baywater Properties, has supported introducing the TeenTalk program to the middle school.
Middlesex Middle School
Middlesex Middle School
“Our family has experienced firsthand the mental health crisis before us today, having lost several friends and our nephew, Sean Vogel, to death by suicide over the last few years,” Genovese said.
“We have made a commitment to help wherever we can, through our actions, outreach and financial support to organizations like The Community Fund of Darien who step up to have an impact, he said. “For this reason, we are pleased to take a leadership position in this much-needed initiative.”