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GENNEWS

Agency Assists

Residents' Needs

The town's human services department can now call upon an outside agency to

assist residents in their time of need.

The Board of Selectmen earlier this week approved a deal that will allow human

services to refer clients to the Family Counseling Center, formerly known as

the Family Life Center, for psychiatric services and consultation.

The state-licensed outpatient psychiatric clinic will provide the town's human

services department with medical social work evaluations for selected

individuals, mental health counseling and psychiatric assessment for

individuals, couples or families identified by the director. The center's

staff will also be available for consultation and crisis calls.

Karen Hoyt took over the town's director of human services position this past

spring. She is not a licensed social worker, unlike former director Sheila

Knox, and can not provide the same kind of service. Mrs Knox earned $40,968

prior to leaving. Mrs Hoyt, who has been the town's municipal agent for the

past eight years, earns $37,500.

"Every once in a while we have someone come in who doesn't qualify for (state

reimbursed) general assistance and doesn't have health insurance. They really

need to talk to someone on a short-term basis. I can now refer them to the

Family Life Center," she said.

The center has offered its services at a "cost effective" price, which allows

the town to help cover the expense for the resident in need.

Mrs Hoyt said she expects only a few situations where she'll have to call on

the Family Life Center, but "it's nice to know it's there."

Last month the center announced that it would be moving from its current

location on Glen Road in Sandy Hook to new offices on Mt Pleasant Road in

Newtown this fall and changing its name from Family Life Center to Family

Counseling Center to better reflect the services that it offers.

South Main St Crash

Police report a two-car accident occurred at 4:40 pm July 23 near the Friendly

Service Station at 151 South Main Street. Police said they issued an

infractions ticket for following too closely to Anthony Jackson, 32, of

Bridgeport, who was driving a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. The other motorist

in the crash was Donna J. Gulyas, 42, of Monroe, who was driving a 1991

Chrysler New Yorker LHS. -Bee Photo, Bigham