Youth & Social Services

Location

David Doherty Municipal Building
6 Fairfield Boulevard

Office Hours

Mon thru Fri, 9 am - 5 pm

Contact

Tel: (203) 294-2175
Fax: (203) 294-2703

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Town of Wallingford Youth & Social Services

Instagram: ysswallingford

Staff

Director: Amanda Miranda
Program Coordinator: Gary Redman

Clinician:
Counselor: Marion Gracey
Drug and Alcohol Counselor: Maria Quiles
(bi-lingual: English/Spanish)
Social Services Caseworker: Kimberly Stein
Intervention Coordinator:

Program Assistant:
Clerk: Keller Schaffer

Department Responsibilities

The Wallingford Department of Youth and Social Services provides programs, activities and services that promote both a positive, healthy community and develop healthy, capable young people and families. We also provide services to families and individuals in need during times of crisis.

Our programs and activities include:

Assistance Programs

Emergency Assistance
Food Assistance (Referral Source)
Energy Assistance
Information and Referral Services
Assist Clients with Assistance Applications
Generation Power CT intake site (formerly Operation Fuel)
Thanksgiving Assistance
Youth Program and Sports Scholarship Program

Community-Wide Activities/Programs

Celebrate Wallingford
Holiday For Giving & Holiday Assistance Program
Red Ribbon Week (October - substance abuse education and prevention)
Wallingford Project Graduation Celebration (high school seniors)

Counseling

Drug and Alcohol Counseling and Education for youth, families and adults
Counseling for Children & Youth under the age of 18 & their families
Individual, Family and Group sessions available
Support Groups
- Hope and Support Group (First and Third Monday each month 7-8:30p in person at 8 New Place Street, Wallingford)
- Bereavement Group (First Monday each month, 7-8p on Zoom)
- Parental Support Groups
**Referrals provided to additional counselors in the area or other local/state programs

Youth Services

Alternative to Suspension Program
Babysitting Course
Wallingford Juvenile Diversion Program (for children under the age of 18 involved in criminal/non-criminal matters)
Project Graduation Celebration (high school seniors)
Safety/Prevention Programming
Summer Youth Employment Program
Youth Awards
- Presidential Student Service Awards
- Local Community Recognition
Volunteer Opportunities
Bike Safety Information/Town Wide Bike Rodeos
Youth Job Bank (helping your neighbor!)
Wallingford Youth Fire Prevention and Intervention Program
Wallingford Youth Leadership Program
Parent/Child Playgroups (English & Spanish)
- Playful Cruisers (located at Youth & Social Services, 6 Fairfield Blvd, Wallingford)
- Bebe Activos (located at Spanish Community of Wallingford, 284 Washington St, Wallingford)
- Note: The Town of Wallingford is not licensed with the Office of Early Childhood and is not required to do so.
- **Referrals provided to additional counselors and local/state programs in the area.

Educational Programs

Includes the following topics, but are not limited to:

Multi-Media Safety (includes education on Social Media use, Cell phone use, Internet use)

Bullying and Cyberbullying

Anger Management

Conflict Resolution

Legal Consequence Education

Coping Skills/Self-Care

Substance Use Prevention Education (for adults and youth)

Bike Safety/Road Safety Education

YSS Committee Involvement

Wallingford Resource Alliance

Wallingford Works for Housing

Coalition for a Better Wallingford (Sector Representative)

Wallingford Community Led Suicide Prevention Team

Mayor's Council for Substance Use Prevention

CT State Youth Fire Steering Committee (Harm Reduction)

Wallingford Social Justice Team

WECARE (Wallingford Early Childhood Alliance, Resource and Education)