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UNITED WAY OF CONNECTICUT

Helping You Thrive.

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‘Tis the season for gatherings with family, however you choose to define “family.” As we reflect upon the common threads that bind us together, it is our collective work to help Connecticut families thrive that unites us.  



This newsletter celebrates our commitment to supporting you and your family and unpacks the many ways United Way of Connecticut is dedicated to that effort.  

SPOTLIGHT

Motherhood is a time of change. It looks and feels different for everyone. A family care plan can help you build a network of support and access resources for you and your baby. Sign up for my 211 account for information and resources to help you build YOUR family care plan. We’re here to help. 

Learn More

IN HIS OWN WORDS...

RAFAEL CRUZ


Participant, Dads Are The Difference Program

Saint Joseph Parenting Center 

Rafael and his daughter Naraliah live in Danbury. During his divorce, he was eager to learn how to co-parent effectively, so he proactively looked for resources and found Saint Joseph Parenting Center’s Dads Are the Difference Program (DAD) – the National Fatherhood Initiative’s evidence-based 12-class curriculum that emphasizes the importance of the father in a child’s life.  


Rafael shares his story and what he learned in the parenting program: 

Naraliah is nine years old, and I’ve been there since day one, since the day that she was born prematurely at four pounds and seven ounces. It’s been an amazing adventure. 


Going through the divorce process, I found that CT focuses the best interest of the child more in favor of the mom than the dad. I understand that. But when there are two parents involved there’s always different opinions about what’s in the child’s best interest.  


The court tends to suggest a minimum parenting requirement in a divorce agreement, but for me, I wanted more. The most important thing to me is that our daughter can see that both her parents are communicating and that both spend equal time with her: pickups, drop offs, emergency situations, school, her education, when she gets sick, her activities.  


As a father, I’m trying to enjoy every little moment possible. The obstacle I’m facing right now is having equal time with Naraliah. I’ve learned through the DAD program that if both parents have equal time with their child, it will benefit the child’s growth and development and is in the best interest of the child.  


So, my focus is to change and grow and better myself for the people around me and to be an exemplary dad for my daughter. My daughter’s mom perceives me in a certain way, and I can’t change her reality. She believes that equal time could negatively impact our daughter’s stability, so I’m in the process of filing a modification to our court orders. 


I have to present evidence, and I need to continue to show consistency, do everything I can to communicate effectively and respectfully and suggest alternative solutions. For me, this means finding ways to spend more time with my daughter. What I learned from DAD is to keep my eye on the prize, which for me is my daughter, her well-being and her happiness. 

At the end of the day, no one can take away the growth and progress that I’ve made. Regardless of how I may be perceived, I know the truth and the progress I’ve made to get to where I need to be today. My goal is to continue to be the best person I can be for myself, the best family member for the people I love and the best dad for my little girl, so that I can positively contribute to her growth. 

My parents are still together. My dad was mostly the worker, and my mom was the one who pushed and challenged me. When I had my daughter, I committed to going above and beyond in challenging and appreciating her and in communicating with her about what’s right and what’s wrong.  

 I want other single dads with kids to know they should never give up. Always focus on growth and when there’s a challenge that doesn’t land in your favor, learn from your mistakes and try to come up with a better solution next time. If it doesn’t go your way, it’s okay – focus on and enjoy the moments you have with your child. There’s a positive way to fight for what you believe in, regardless of anyone else’s opinion. As a dad, fight to be a better person, to spend more time with your children, because time is very valuable. I don’t want to wait until my daughter is 16 or 17 to spend time with her when these moments, right now, are the most precious moments in her life. 

I’ve learned so much from my counselor at DAD; I don’t know where I would be without him and our one-on-one sessions. In the class I learn so much from other dads who are also on this co-parenting journey. Even though I finished the program, there are other co-parenting classes to attend, and I am currently taking those classes so I can learn more. I highly recommend participating in a fatherhood program and to seek out other resources, like family counseling, a therapist, etc.  

READ MORE OF RAFAEL’S STORY HERE

For fatherhood resources and programs like DAD, visit 211ct.org. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

We advocate for families and work to unlock policy solutions that will make their lives more affordable and help them thrive – like establishing a fully refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit, strengthening 211 CT to meet increasing demand and reducing the cost of housing, childcare and food.  


Want to help? Here are some action steps you can take NOW

Child Tax Credit

Contact Governor Lamont! Tell the Governor that you agree: CT families are feeling squeezed. That's why we need a state Child Tax Credit NOW! 

ACT NOW

Opportunity Youth

Get involved and learn more about the 119,000 youth ages 14 to 26 who are disconnected from either school or work at https://www.ctunitedway.org/opportunity-youth/ 

MEET + GREET

FANNY RODRIGUEZ


Owner, Fanny Rodriguez Nina Sweet Home Family Day Care 

Fanny and her husband live in Bethel and are parents to three children. Fanny had always thought about owning her own family child care center. She worked for twelve years as a full time CNA in a nursing home. It was a secure job and the thought of leaving it felt too risky, until she was forced to leave for medical reasons.  


She began looking for other work, but with three young children, she and her husband quickly realized that the cost of child care would far outweigh the benefits of her potential income. “At the time, my youngest was 10 months old, the middle child was three and the oldest was seven. All three of them needed care, but everywhere I went it was so expensive.” Her husband suggested she stay home with the kids, and he would work two jobs to make up the difference financially. But Fanny soon became restless and bored and knew it was time to make her dream a reality. 


She first reached out to her family and recruited her cousin’s child as her first client – offering him a significant discount. Word of mouth spread, more of her family’s children joined as clients, and the rest, as they say, is history. 


With five kids in her care, Fanny decided to formalize her business and pursue her family child care license. While her husband was skeptical about rocking the boat, Fanny was referred to All Our Kin, a national nonprofit based in Connecticut that trains, supports and sustains family child care educators. Once she successfully received her license, she reached out to 211 Child Care to be trained to accept clients who participate in Care 4 Kids, a program sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood that helps low-to-moderate income families pay for child care costs. 


Fanny receives a lot of support from other child care providers in the community, as well as from United Way of Coastal Western Connecticut’s Cora’s Kids program for continuing education and professional development – and from participating in our Staffed Family Child Care Network (SFCCN) through the hub at Team Inc. Through Team Inc., Fanny earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. And within that hub of 126 community providers, Fanny leads a committee of 85 Spanish-speaking child care providers.  

Being in this community of support with providers who experience the same things I do is so important. They understand what I do and what I’m going through. We’re there for each other as sounding boards, and we’ve become like family. And having the availability of local training is critical.

Fanny’s own children are now 10, 13 and the oldest, 18, is in college. She has been a family child care provider for almost 10 years. What advice does she have for folks interested in child care? 


  • Don’t do it for the money. You must be invested in this business. 
  • Taking care of kids this age isn’t passive – it’s not about them sitting around and coloring – it’s a lot more than that. 
  • Be sure you have the passion, patience and vision to do this work. 
READ MORE OF FANNY’S STORY HERE

For more information about becoming a licensed child care provider and/or receiving assistance growing a child care business, reach out to 211 Child Care

DID YOU KNOW?

We connect you to resources to: 


  • help pregnant moms and new families starting out  
  • identify child development milestones, and offer children the extra support they may need 
  • connect families to appropriate and affordable child care  
  • train child care providers with the tools they need to lovingly steward your children, and  
  • connect families to thousands of programs and services to make their lives better and a bit easier.  


Want to learn more?  

Sparkler is a mobile app supported by 211 Child Development that helps parents check in on how their child is doing with meeting key milestones — and it provides activities to spark early learning:

211 Child Care helps families find quality care arrangements using a database of every licensed child care program in Connecticut. Our child care specialists also provide information and business assistance to child care providers:

Care 4 Kids helps low-to-moderate income families in Connecticut pay for child care costs. This program is sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood:

211 Connecticut is your one-stop connection to the local services you need -- including help securing utility assistance, food, housing, child care, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention, 988 services and much more. 211 is always here, ready to assist you. Call 2-1-1 or search online at 211ct.org:

United Way / 211 / Care 4 Kids Making Childcare Affordable / Alice

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United Way of Connecticut

55 Capital Boulevard, Rocky Hill, CT 06067