New Location Accommodates Growth At NYFS

By Nancy K. Crevier

Offices at Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) at 17 Church Hill Road will be closed at 5 pm, Thursday, April 12. The agency will reopen at 9 am, Monday, April 16, in more spacious quarters at 15 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook. The 24/7 hotline will remain open during those hours, however, with emergency assistance from NYFS accessible by calling 203-270-4335 or 203-426-8103.

NYFS is a licensed, nonprofit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families through after-school, evening, and weekend programs; activities; counseling and substance abuse treatment services for individuals, couples, and families; support groups; and education. The services and programs are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.

The move to the 4,000-square-foot space will allow the agency to reach out to more clients in the community, said NYFS Executive Director Candice Foster, Tuesday, April 10. “We are very lucky we ran into a great space,” said Ms Foster. “We have simply outgrown the space at 17 Church Hill,” she said, “and economics came into play, with being able to find an affordable larger space.”

A growing waiting list for services can be better accommodated at the larger facility, she said. Needs and program participation have grown substantially since the agency moved to17 Church Hill Road in November 2007, where 3,000 square-feet of usable space allowed the agency then to double that which it had at its former Glen Road location.

“A waiting list is not always a negative thing, though,” stressed Ms Foster. “It can reflect that we are doing a good job,” she said. As an example, she said that sometimes clients give good references to a friend for a particular therapist or program. If it is not a crisis situation, the new client may prefer to be placed on a waiting list until that particular therapist has an opening. “Or,” she said, “a patient may opt to wait for an appointment at a certain time of day.”

For clients waiting to take part in programs, the new space will ease some of those restrictions.

One of the components that sold the agency on the Berkshire Road location, said Ms Foster, is its proximity to Newtown High School. “We can actually see the playing fields from our new place. Kids can walk over [to NYFS] now, and a lot of them do community service through us, so this is great,” she said.

In addition to enabling NYFS to continue growing and easier access by high school students, 15 Berkshire Road has other advantages, Ms Foster said.

“The new location is all on one floor, so that makes us more handicapped accessible. The layout is better for us, too. Two large conference rooms allow for two meetings to go on at the same time,” she said.

Parking behind the building and a back entrance into one of the conference rooms increases the level of confidentiality, as well, said Ms Foster, adding, “We’re hoping to see an increase in our support programs.”

Serving its clients and the community remain a top priority, Ms Foster said.

A grand opening for the relocated office at 15 Berkshire Road is planned for September. Phone numbers 203-270-4335 and 203-426-8103, and the fax number for the agency, 203-270-4338, will not change.