Campaign Underscores Need for Foster Families in Greater Waterbury

A digital campaign to recruit foster families for youth in Waterbury and eight surrounding towns is designed to educate prospective parents about opportunities to foster youth—many times for shorter durations—right in their own communities. Find out more about Wheeler Foster Care by clicking here.

Learn more about our innovative foster care model by watching the video below. 

The campaign comprises video, online advertising, and other web elements in English and Spanish with messages that raise awareness about the need for families, the joys of being a foster parent, and the ability to make a measurable difference in a young person’s life.

“We are actively and urgently recruiting foster families who can provide stable, safe, caring environments for youth, ages 6 to 17, for shorter periods of time or potentially longer,” said Sharon Pendleton-Ponzani, director, Wheeler Foster Care program. “The goal of this program is to get youth either back to their family, or when this is not possible, to an adoptive family.”

Wheeler’s Foster Care program uses the evidence-based Functional Therapy in Foster Care Model (FFT Partners) and includes a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals who provide weekly in-home sessions with youth and families as well as 24/7 on-call coverage support for the foster family. Support groups, ongoing training, and coordination of services for youth also are provided.

Wheeler’s Foster Care program serves youth and families in: Beacon Falls, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury, Wolcott, and Woodbury. There is a great need for new foster homes in this region to help local children, particularly teenagers.

For information about Wheeler Foster Care opportunities, call 860.793.7277, or send an email to Fostercareprograms@wheelerclinic.org, or click here.