February 12, 2012
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Children and Teens – New Canaan Answer Book
What day care facilities are in New Canaan?
The Day Care Center of New Canaan (966-9247) is at 156 South Avenue. It offers a preschool program and afterschool program for kindergarten through sixth grade. The Tot’s Spot Early Childhood Center and Preschool (972-3161), 87 Old Stamford Road, serves children from 18 months to five years of age with full- and part-time programs available.
Offered by the YMCA is Rainbow Station, a year-round, full-day program for infants through five-year-olds, at the Y’s Child Development Center on South Avenue. Call 966-4528, ext. 113. Kids Unlimited is an afterschool program for kindergarten through sixth grade at the YMCA. For information, call 966-4528, ext.163.
To find licensed home day care providers, call the state’s daycare licensing office at 800-282-6063 or call Infoline at 211, which maintains current listings of all state-licensed facilities in Connecticut. Childcare counselors will help parents assess the quality of different programs. Both the phone call and service are free.
Where can I find a nanny?
The following services offer live-in, live-out, full-time, part-time, or summer nannies:
Family Extensions, Inc., 45 Grove Street (966-9944/familyextensions.com)
Absolute Best Care, 280 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich (340-9970/absolutebestcare.com)
Amazing Placements, P.O. Box 2480, Darien, CT 06820 (979-9770/amazingplacements.com)
Wee Care Nanny Agency & Sitting Service, 880 Canal St., Stamford (359-8410/weecarenanny.com).
Who is the town’s youth director?
The director of youth services is Anthony Phillips, and he may be reached at 594-3080 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . His office is in Vine Cottage on Main Street.
What is the role of New Canaan Youth Services?
This department offers free and confidential services to young people in New Canaan, up to age 21, and their families. It evaluates and coordinates existing community programs and develops new programs to meet changing needs.
Youth Services offers programs to foster self-esteem, teamwork, peer support and conflict resolution in coordination with other local agencies. The department also offers crisis intervention for young people with an emphasis on family therapy. It also offers short-term counseling for parents.
For information on any of these programs or services, call 594-3081. A list of area social services for children and teens is on the department’s Web site at newcanaan.info.
Who helps troubled children?
New Canaan Youth Services can offer counseling and referrals to young people and their families. Call 594-3081.
Kids in Crisis is an organization that offers preventive services and immediate intervention for children in crisis. It is a United Way agency, licensed by the Department of Children and Families, that provides both crisis counseling and a short-term residential shelter for children of all ages. Support and counseling is available free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information, call 327-KIDS or visit online at kidsincrisis.org.
The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, 196 Greyrock Place, Stamford(324-6127/childguidancect.org) is a nonprofit mental health resource for area children and families, receiving referrals from schools, courts, human service agencies, and private physicians. Self-referrals are also encouraged.
The center also offers an Emergency Mobile Crisis Service, providing immediate mental health assessments and stabilization services for children and adolescents experiencing serious psychiatric symptoms or severe reactions to a recent traumatic event. The service is available 24/7. Call the hotline at 323-9797 or 888-825-6777.
What is the drinking age in Connecticut?
It is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess alcohol anywhere in the state, including on private property. It is also illegal for anyone to knowingly allow minors to possess alcohol.
Does anyone focus on underage drinking?
In addition to the organizations mentioned above, The New Canaan Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking is made up of parents, educators, counselors and members of a number of town agencies and local organizations. The coalition offers panel discussions for young peole and their families on the dangers of drinking and drugs. For information contact the Department of Youth Services at 594-3076.
New Canaan CARES, (966-7862/newcanaancares.org) also offers preventative programming, referrals and a resource library for youth and parents, and are expanding their collaboration with the New Canaan Coalition.
For substance abuse information, see the Health section.
Where can I report a case of child abuse?
If it is an emergency, call 911. The state hotline for reporting child abuse or neglect is 1-800-842-2288 (state.ct.us/dcf). You may also call New Canaan Youth Services at 594-3081 for free and confidential guidance. Staff members are mandated reporters and must call DCF if they suspect a case of abuse or neglect.
Does anyone help bereaved children?
The Den for Grieving Kids — a program of Family Centers, Inc. — offers peer support programs helping children and families cope with their loss and begin the healing process. Call 655-4693.
What is there for teenagers to do in town?
The Outback Teen Center (594-3075/ncoutbacktc.com) behind Town Hall, offers a safe, well-supervised, alcohol-, tobacco-, and drug-free environment for middle school (seventh and eighth graders) and high school students to socialize. In 2009, the Outback announced a partnership with the New Canaan YMCA which means the teen center can offer more extensive programs and activites for New Canaan's teens. Activities include band nights, dances, movies, a pool league, yoga, mother-daughter and father-son nights, Xbox and wii tournaments, and open recreation. There is also a cafe.
The Outback is open Monday through Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (MS) and 5 p.m. -7 p.m. (HS); Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (MS) and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (HS); Saturday, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (MS) and 5 p.m. to 11: p.m. (HS). The building is also available for rent for team parties, birthday parties, meetings, etc.
The Recreation department (594-3600) offers a variety of summer programs for children and teens, including sports leagues, programs, and summer camps. New Canaan’s parks offer baseball diamonds, tennis courts, as well as swimming or jogging.
The New Canaan YMCA (966-4528) also holds many programs and events, including frequent teen nights and filmmaking and cooking classes just for teens. The Y’s wellness facilities and group exercise classes are open to members 15 and older.
The New Canaan Library (594-5000) at the corner of Main and Cherry Streets, has activities and volunteer opportunities for young people.
Is there an outreach program for teenagers?
New Canaan CARES is a non-profit agency celebrating its 30th year of service to the community. Its mission is to reduce the incidence of substance abuse and promote community wellness through preventive education and supportive programming. The agency has a confidential Helpline (966-7862), maintains a specialized library and offers numerous educational programs, including a speaker/seminar series in all New Canaan schools with topics ranging from bullying to the teen party scene, and healthy competition to body image. Call 966-7862/newcanaancares.org
Does anyone offer job opportunities to young people?
Other than local businesses and merchants, the Career Resource Center at New Canaan High School, next to the cafeteria, offers employment information and can help a teen over 14 get working papers.
Another source of employment possibility is through the New Canaan Recreation Department, which has year-round and seasonal part-time job openings. Job descriptions and applications are at the recreation office. For details, call 594-3600.
Who looks out for the interests of disabled children?
New Canaan Parents of Special Needs Children is a group of parents dedicated to ensuring New Canaan activities and services are accessible to their special needs children. Call 966-9518.
Are there any Websites offering local resources and events for parents/families?
Kid-and family-friendly events, programs, and resource listings in and around New Canaan and Fairfield County may be found at:
What playgrounds are available for children?
There are playgrounds at Mead Park, Kiwanis Park, and Ed Dixon Memorial Park as well as at South, East and West schools.
Are there scouting programs in town?
Boys in first through fifth grade may participate in Cub Scouts. Get in touch with Chip Ressel at 966-3046, Bob Eason at 203-219-5042/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lars Andersson at 966-7509/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Boy Scouts are open to boys in grades six through 12. Call the Yankee Council at 876-6868.
For Girl Scouts, there’s the Brownies (grades 1-3), Juniors (grades 4-6), Cadets (grades 7-9) and seniors (grades 10-12). Call Suzanne Jonker at 966-6927.
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