Wheeler’s Foster Care Program Serves Youth and Families in Greater Waterbury

Did you know that Wheeler provides Foster Care services to youth and their families in Waterbury and eight surrounding towns? Funded by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Wheeler’s program matches children and youth with loving foster homes and provides training, support, and a stipend for foster families. Bilingual support and services are available.

“We are committed to serving youth and families in the Greater Waterbury community and collaborating with the many individuals and organizations in this region who work tirelessly on behalf of children,” said Sharon Pendleton-Ponzani, LCSW, director, Wheeler Foster Care Services. “Our greatest need is to find stable, nurturing homes for youth ages 8 through 17.”

Wheeler’s foster families come from all walks of life. They provide a safe, supportive home environment for children in need. Foster parents may be married or single and rent or own their own home. They must have a stable income and transportation. Many foster parents have children, or have raised children, or others may work with children.

Wheeler foster families are trained by a team of professionals throughout the placement process. Monthly support groups, workshops, and 24/7 support are offered. A team is assigned to each youth to assist in ensuring that the child’s and family’s needs are met. The child’s medical, dental, and therapeutic services are covered; and an enhanced monthly stipend is paid to the family to cover the youth’s routine expenses.

Wheeler’s Foster Care program serves youth and families in: Beacon Falls, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

In Connecticut on any given day, there are more than 3,400 children in foster care and hundreds more who need loving homes, most over the age of 13.

For more information, call 860.793.7277 or email: FosterCarePrograms@WheelerClinic.org or click here.