Date: Fri 15-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Family-Life-Center-health

Full Text:

Family Life Center of Newtown--

Encouraging and Enriching Life In A Complex World

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The Family Life Center's mission is simple - to encourage and enrich area

families, couples, children, and individuals of all ages. And, in this

instance, simplicity of purpose is a strength that allows the professional

staff at the center flexibility in serving those who live in a complex world.

"You don't necessarily need a mental illness disease to need counselling. Loss

of family, loss of job, loss of anything can precipitate depression, or the

need to adjust to change," said Interim Clinical Director Vickie Santore, who

has been at the agency since 1988. "It's something you just can't predict. And

if Family Life Center wasn't here, then the alternatives are travelling to

Danbury or Waterbury, or paying higher prices."

Family Life Center is a state licensed and nationally accredited outpatient

psychiatric clinic serving individuals living or working in the Greater

Danbury and Southbury area. The primary focus of the center is to provide

mental health treatment services at an affordable cost. Counseling services

include: individual, couple, family, children's play therapy, group therapy,

support groups, 24-hour crisis intervention, and psychiatric assessment.

As resources permit, the staff also offers educational, and prevention and

awareness programs.

Statistics for 1995 showed that half of the clients served by the agency had a

family income of $13,000 or less; another 16 percent had incomes between

$13,001 and $20,000. Of the 548 clients who came to the agency that year, 72

percent were adults and 28 percent were children, ranging in age from 4 to

more than 80. Fifty-nine percent were from Newtown. The most common presenting

problem of clients was depression.

Founded in 1983, it is no coincidence that the agency is located in a large

white house. "People are comfortable coming here. It's not all chrome and

glitz - not in this house. Most of our furniture is donated stuff - `Early

Attic and Cellar,'" laughed Ms Santore. "If people are comfortable, it's

easier to do the therapy, easier to do the hard stuff."

The staff doesn't wear three-piece suits, either, she said. It's all designed

to be less intimidating, less medical in appearance.

Judy Benson is executive director of the agency. The clinical staff includes

consulting psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Greenfield, licensed clinical social

workers Vickie Santore, Marion Cooksley, Elise Cooper, Peggy Grimes, Charles

Lange, and Cynthia Nielsen, as well as Carol Dieringer, PhD, and Nancy

Dagostino, MSW.

The specialties of the clinical staff range from anxiety disorders, chemical

dependency, anger management, and brief therapy, to chronic mental illness,

psychotic disorders, eating disorders, hypnotherapy, survivors of sexual

abuse, grief and bereavement, affective/mood disorders, ADD/ADHD, and gender

identity problems. Having Dr Greenfield as consulting psychiatrist allows

better coordination of that dimension of therapy services in-house, said Ms

Santore.

The staff will help clients obtain other needed services, such as fuel

assistance, so they will be able to focus on the mental health work.

"Generally, when we're doing therapy with people, we give them tasks to do, so

they can accomplish tasks and feel better," said Ms Santore. "If they are

worrying about fuel, they're not going to function really well and therapy is

not going to work. If we can lessen the anxiety, the therapy will work."

Family Life Center, a non-profit agency, receives partial funding from the

United Way of Northern Fairfield County and the Town of Newtown. Additional

funds are raised through grants, fees, contributions, and special events such

as the Holiday Festival (December 8) and Pizza Night (held in the spring).

The agency participates with MD Health Plans, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and

accepts Title XIX and third-party payments. Family Life also has a sliding

scale for counseling fees, and scholarships for most educational programs

offered.

"The continued shift to managed care significantly impacted the organization

during this year," wrote Executive Director Judy Benson in the 1996 Annual

Report. "In February, 1996, Fairfield County's AFDC recipients were enrolled

in the state's managed care program... Contracts were negotiated and we are

able to continue to provide mental health services to this population."

But no one will be denied services due to inability to pay. One client who

responded to the agency's 1996 survey, said it was reassuring to know he could

continue with his therapy even though, at one point, he didn't have the money

to pay for services. "It showed me that my therapy was very important not just

to me, but to my therapist," he wrote. "...my therapy at the Family Life

Center in conjuntion with the medication I am taking has literally saved my

life."

Family Life Center, Inc., a state licensed, nationally acredited clinic, is

located at 10 Glen Road, Sandy Hook. Daily operating hours are 9 am to 4 pm.

Telephone: 426-8103.