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Support Groups
CAFAF maintains a list of groups which provide support for foster and adoptive families across the state. These groups include foster parents, children and families, adoptive children and parents and families, relative kinship, grandparents and other relatives. Support groups also include adoptive book clubs, complex medical needs, foster care alumni and core. Please note that we cannot control the accuracy of information regarding the groups submitted by others. Please confirm dates, times, and locations with the contact person listed.
CAFAF Regional/Office Groups
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| Town | Day | Time | Support for | Language | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | Third Thursday | 6:00-7:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Sheree Breeden 860.882.9923 |
| Bridgeport | Third Thursday | 6:00-7:30 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | Spanish | Leslie Reyes 860.882.2164 |
| Danbury | Second Wednesday | 7:30-8:30 pm | Licensed Caregivers | English | Dora Poma 860.882.8470 |
| Hartford | Third Thursday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers | Spanish | Lisa Ortiz 860.882.9031 |
| Hartford | Fourth Thursday | 6:00-7:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Lisa Ortiz 860.882.9031 |
| Manchester | Third Thursday | 6:00-7:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Kyle Ohlund 860.882.2940 |
| Meriden | Second Monday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Debra Candelora 860.882.8226 |
| Milford | Third Wednesday | 6:30-8:00 pm | Adoptive licensed (Virtual) | English | Marian Russo 860.882.9075 |
| Milford | Third Tuesday | 6:30-8:00 pm | Relative/Special Study (Virtual) | English | Marian Russo 860.882.9075 |
| New Britain | First Tuesday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English/Spanish | Sheyla Ortiz-Caraballo 860.882.3103 |
| New Haven | Third Saturday | 10:00-11:30 am | Licensed Caregivers/Special Study (Virtual) | English | Samantha Heltke 860.882.2511 |
| Region 3 | Every Other Thursday | 2:00-3:00 pm | Region 3 Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Brian Candelora (Middletown) 860.882.2011 Deanna Martinez (Norwich) 860.882.9202 Emily Churchill (Willimantic) 860.882.7107 |
| Region 3 | Every Other Thursday | 7:00-8:00 pm | Region 3 Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Brian Candelora (Middletown) 860.882.2011 Deanna Martinez (Norwich) 860.882.9202 Emily Churchill (Willimantic) 860.882.7107 |
| Torrington | Last Tuesday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers | English | Jennifer Bellamy 860.882.7814 |
| Waterbury | First Tuesday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | English | Emilio Vargas 860.882.2412 |
| Waterbury | Second Tuesday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Licensed Caregivers (Virtual) | Spanish | Emilio Vargas 860.882.2412 |
CAFAF Statewide Groups
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| Town | Day | Time | Support for | Language | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Second Tuesday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Relative (Virtual) | English | Jennifer Bellamy 860.882.7814 |
| Statewide | Third Wednesday | 7:30-9:00 pm | Caregivers who identify as LGBTQ+ (Virtual) | English | Samantha Heltke 860.882.2511 Emily Churchill 860.882.7107 |
| Statewide | Second Wednesday | 6:00-7:30 pm | Fatherhood Chat (Virtual) | English | Brian Candelora 860.882.2011 Kyle Ohlund 860.882.2940 |
| Statewide | Second Thursday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Español Grupo de Apoyo / Padres de Crianza (Virtual) | Spanish | Emilio Vargas 860.882.2412 Sheyla Ortiz-Caraballo 860.883.3103 |
| Statewide | Quarterly | Contact Debra | Adoptive (Virtual) | English | Debra Candelora 860.882.8226 |
| Statewide (Waterbury) | Third Thursday | 6:00-8:00 pm | Complex Medical Needs (Precious Hands) | English | Emilio Vargas 860.882.2412 |
Community Partner Groups
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| Town | Day | Time | Support for | Language | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromwell | Monthly please contact | TBD | Kin Care Connection | English | Sarah Maffiolini SMaffiolini@cromwellct.gov |
| Enfield | First Monday | 5:00-6:00 p.m. | Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – In person | English | Heather Benyak 860.253.5214 hbenyak@enfield.org |
| New Haven | Second Tuesday | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | Grandparents raising grandchildren – In person | English | Christian Tabernacle 203.264.3028 |
| Norwich | Last Tuesday | 9:00-11:00 a.m. | Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | English | Sally Huck 860.887.3561 ext. 126 |
| Plainfield | Second Tuesday | 5:00-6:30 p.m. | Kinship | English | Rebecca Teczar 860.412.8663 RTeczar@usmhs.org |
| Plainville | Third Tuesday | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Grandparents/Relatives – In person | English | Plainville Senior Center 860.747.5728 |
| Putnam | First Wednesday | 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | English | Lori Rygielski, Senior Resources, 860.887.3561 ext. 12 | lrygielski@seniorresourcesEC.org |
| Torrington | Monthly please call | Luncheon meeting | Relatives as Parents | English | Jeff Geddes 860.489.1328 ext,130 jgeddes@brookermemorial.org |
| Wauregan | Second Tuesday | 5:00-6:30 p.m | Foster/Adoptive/Kinship | English | United Services, 303 Putnam Road, Wauregan |