Madeline Gardner, FCSSP
Email Madeline Gardner

We are very grateful to have Mrs. Gardner as our Family Community Student Support Provider! Some of ways that she supports our students and families include:

• Monitoring student attendance and calling families

• Identifying community-based agencies to support families

• Conducting home visits as necessary

• Creating a family/community space that provides access and information/resources

• Serving as a resource to school staff to develop family engagement strategies

• Connecting school staff to resources available in the community

• Communicating with all stakeholders regarding school activities

• Creating a family and community action plan that aligns to the School Improvement Plan.

• Helping create family workshops and events

• Assisting with Early Start (summer school)

DCF Careline – 800-842-2288
The DCF Careline is open 24 hrs/7 days a week to receive calls from people with questions, concerns, and reports of child abuse and neglect. Care line staff is available to provide information to the community and professionals.

Emergency Mobile Crisis Service – 2-1-1
EMPS Mobile Crisis Intervention Services for children and adolescents experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis that is accessed by calling 2-1-1, then hitting 1. A team of nearly 150 trained mental health professionals across the state that can respond immediately by phone or face to face within 45 minutes when a child is experiencing an emotional or behavioral crisis, serving children in their homes and communities.

Connections to Resources – 2-1-1
By dialing 2-1-1 from anywhere in Connecticut, you will reach a highly-trained contact specialist who will assess your needs and provide referrals to the resources in your community. This resource helps callers find assistance for financial problems, substance abuse, suicide prevention, utility assistance, food, housing, child care, after school programs, crisis intervention and much more. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day every day of the year. Multilingual assistance and TDD access is also available.

Wheeler Clinic HelpLine – 860-747-3434
HelpLine staff and volunteers will provide telephone support and crisis phone counseling, suicide intervention, and referrals to sources of help, 24 hours/7 days.

Domestic Violence – Interval House 24 Hour Crisis Line 860-527- 0550 or Linea de crisis (Spanish hotline) 1-844-831-9200
On-site counselor/advocates are available to help victims of domestic violence, their friends and family 24-hours-a-day. Counselor/advocates assist with safety planning, information and referrals and offer support. Spanish-speaking counselors and multi lingual translation services are available. The 24-Hour Hotline is answered by an Interval House crisis counselor. All services are free and confidential.

Sexual Abuse Crisis Service – Local Hartford 860-547-1022, En Español para Todo el Estado – 1-888-568-8332
YWCA’s Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) offers assistance to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones. These services are critical after such trauma, helping victims and their families regain feelings of independence, optimism and hope. The advocates on staff are trained to work with hospital staff, the court system, public safety officers and other counselors assisting their clients.

Greater Hartford Legal Aid – 860-541-5000
Provides core essential representation on legal problems related to people’s ability to meet their basic human needs.