Youth And Family Services Director Sees ‘Wonderful Possibilities’ At FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

“Everyone saw the wonderful possibilities” in the duplexes at Fairfield Hills, said Newtown Youth & Family Services Director Beth Agen following a walk through the buildings this week. She and NYFS staff and board directors looked at the duplexes for that agencies possible use just as a rainstorm washed across Newtown on Tuesday, July 13.

An email promptly following the visit stated: “NYFS is going to formally notify Pat Llodra of our interest in her idea of creating a social services center,” Ms Agen wrote. “It’s a beautiful location with so much potential to really create a safety net for the many community members who need our services and the services of other Newtown nonprofits.”

Since First Selectman Pat Llodra earlier this month had informally expressed thoughts that the duplexes’ secluded corner of Fairfield Hills — already eyed by Kevin’s Community Center — offers a private and confidential location for social service agencies, Ms Agen had accepted an invitation to walk the grounds.

Her agency’s next steps, “in addition to evaluating the square footage we might need in 2012,” will be an approach to state departments that license NYFS, to determine if the location “complies with their statues,” Ms Agen wrote.

 Ms Agen explained that her staff and board of directors “take very seriously” licensing with the Department of Public Health, Department of Children and Families, and a designation as Newtown’s youth service bureau, and accreditation by the Council on Accreditation. “The steps going forward must be done in specific ways to maintain all of those credentials,” she said.

 Ms Agen will keep watch for potential future funding. “NYFS is going to have to work smart and work hard at getting government, corporate, and private dollars to make something like this work,” she said in an additional email. “We’ll have to keep an eye out for opportunities as they come open as well as work to create our own opportunities.”

The NYFS director said she would like to speak to any Newtown nonprofits who would like to partner in this initiative to discuss how they could all move forward together. She asked, “Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could all be in the same place?”

Mrs Llodra also enjoyed yesterday’s walk, despite the heavy rain. “It was torrential, and we didn’t have the experience I wanted — to get the sense of potential …” However, the NYFS and several Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee member joined the visit. “I think the impression was positive,” she said. Looking past the buildings’ disuse and disrepair, she feels guests looked toward “what it could be.” She is also encouraged that Ms Agen senses potential for her agency’s programming.

Like others, Mrs Llodra is particularly concerned about funding. She is looking at grants for various purposes, including a newer grant that focuses on social service agencies that might “partner in their endeavors.”

She also glances again toward the campus master plan review process, noting, “I don’t want to get ahead of the review.” While she is looking at the duplexes as a potential service hub, she said, “Others will need to weigh in on the realities” of such a proposal.