Cooperative Extension System
Cooperative Extension System
Several New England states are represented in this compilation of service agencies which provide support in addressing poverty issues.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Mentor Mom Program
People Empowering People Program
Cooperative Extension System in Connecticut (that work with poverty
programs)
Other Connecticut Extension Locations
Compiled with the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Initiative on Pathways from Poverty and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development 104 Weaver Building The Pennsylvania State University
A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR VERMONT: describes and lists programs in Vermont that address issues of poverty.
A DIRECTORY OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM IN THE NORTHEAST REGION: lists Cooperative Extension System offices that work with poverty programs.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
1800 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 241-4940
contact: Sherry Gray MPH, RD
EFNEP, a federal program, has been established for over 25 years. In EFNEP, Homeless shelters, Head Start, WIC, Foodshare (food distribution agency), Hispanic Health Council, Connecticut Children's Medical Center,schools, and neighborhood centers are collaborated with in order to educate limited resource families with young children on food shopping, nutrition, planning, preparation, storage, etc. The success of the program is measured by the dietary changes of clients, the length of clients' involvement in the program, the amount of referral of clients to other agencies and CES programs, and by individual case study monitoring. Approximately 500 clients have been served in Connecticut through the EFNEP.
Mentor Mom Program
at
Young Parent School Program
Windham High School
355 High Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
ph: 465-2525
contact: Midge Lenihan
or
University of Connecticut
Cooperative Extension System
1066 Saybrook Road. P.O. Box 70
Haddam, CT 06438
ph: (860) 345-4511
contact: Cheryl E. Czuba, 4-H/Youth Development Educator
The locally funded Mentor Mom Program, which was developed by Windham High School and
the UCONN Cooperative Extension System, "exists to encourage a strong self-awareness
of young teenage mothers by providing positive adult female role models". Volunteer
mentors work with teenage mothers in the Windham High School and provide encouragement,
information, a role model, etc. The success of the program is measured by the number of
new teenage pregnancies, the quality of decisions made by the teenage mother for herself
and her child, by the friendship that develops between the mentor and the mother, and by
the amount of positive parenting skills the mother acquires. A notable result of the
success of the program is that two of the ten teenage mothers who participated in the
program thus far (since 1995) made the honor roll. A Mentor Mom Manual that is useful for
any type of mentoring program is available at the following address for $35.00 plus $4.00
postage: The University of Connecticut
Office of Communications & Information Technology
1376 Storrs Road, Box U-35
Storrs, CT 06269-4035
People Empowering People Program
University of Connecticut
Cooperative Extension System
1066 Saybrook Road. P.O. Box 70
Haddam, CT 06438-0070
ph: (860) 345-4511
contact: Cheryl E. Czuba, Community Development, Families
The People Empowering People Program (PEP) teaches natural leaders in limited resource
communities to guide positive change in their neighborhoods. Three Connecticut communities
have implemented the program: Vernon, Danielson, and Windham. Other towns are in various
stages of developing PEP. People receiving welfare and lower incomes are eligible for
participation. PEP focuses on building strengths inside communities, creating linkages
between natural leaders in neighborhoods with helpers in society, and developing
independence and the ability to change one's own situation. To address the needs of people
facing barriers in their lives, PEP uses a train-the-trainer model to fine-tune skills and
extend individual education. The PEP program is modeled after the UMASS CES Master Teacher
Program. UCONN CES has taken the lead to work with communities to implement the program.
Family Resource Centers, VISTA, the Housing Authority, neighborhood associations, town
government, and youth service bureaus are collaborated with in PEP. The Housing Authority
(Drug Elimination and Youth Sports), Housing and Urban Development, USDA Strengthening The
Capacity To Care Grant funds, VISTA, and the University of Connecticut President's Office
contribute to funding PEP. Success of the program is measured by completion of the
one-year program, by the projects which are completed as a result, by the information
shared, and by the families and individuals helped. For example, one participant was
trained in parenting and went on to train eight other parents. Another was selected for a
substance abuse certification program. Five participants organized a block party, and
seven participants received recognition from the Town Council and the Connecticut General
Assembly.
To receive mailings contact: LaShawn Dennis and Darrin McCalla
Middletown Housing Authority
40 Broad Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-8671
Cooperative Extension System in Connecticut (that work with poverty programs)
Sherry Gray
W. Hartford CES
University of Connecticut
1800 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
programs: EFNEP (Hartford), Child Health Initiatives geared to low income audiences
(immunization, special needs, etc.)
Deane Argenta
W. Hartford CES
University of Connecticut
1800 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
program: JOBS Training Program
Diane Wright Hirsch
Hamden Extension Center
43 Marne Street
Hamden, CT 06514
program: Community Food Service (safe food handling for community agencies, i.e. soup
kitchens, shelters)
Cheryl Czuba
Haddam CES, Box 70
1066 Saybrook Road
Haddam, CT 06432
programs: People Empowering People (UMASS Master Teacher), Mentor Mom Program (adults
mentoring teen mothers)
Linda Drake
Dept. of Nutritional Science
University of Connecticut
3624 Horsebarn Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4017
programs: EFNEP (State Coordinator), Family Nutrition Program - Food Stamp Nutrition
Education (Co-Principal Investigators: Linda Drake & Ann Ferris)
Nancy Fey-Yensan
Cooperative Extension Educator
562 New London Turnpike
Norwich, CT 06360
programs: EFNEP, Family Nutrition Program - Food Stamp Nutrition Education (Project
Directors: Nancy Fey-Yensan & Rafael Perez-Escamilla)
Umekia Taylor
Hamden Extension Center
43 Marne Road
Hamden, CT 06514
program: EFNEP
Ann Ferris
Department of Nutritional Science
University of Connecticut
3624 Horsebarn Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4017
program: Family Nutrition Program - Food Stamp Nutrition Education (Co-Principal
Investigators: Linda Drake & Ann Ferris)
Rafael Peraz-Escamilla
Dept. Of Nutritional Science
University of Connecticut
3624 Horsebarn Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4017
program: Family Nutrition Program - Food Stamp Nutrition Education (Project Directors:
Nancy Fey-Yensan & Rafael Perez-Escamilla)
Other Connecticut Extension Locations:
Bethel Cooperative Extension Center
67 Stony Hill Road
Bethel, CT 06801-3056
ph: 203-797-4176
Bridgeport Cooperative Extension Center
368 Newfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06607-2217
ph: 203-579-6744
Brooklyn Cooperative Extension Center
139 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, CT 06234-1729
ph: 860-774-9600
Norwich Cooperative Extension Center
562 New London Turnpike
Norwich, CT 06360-6599
ph: 860-887-1608
Torrington Cooperative Extension Center
1304 Winsted Road
Torrington, CT 06790-2940
ph: 860-626-6240
Vernon Cooperative Extension Center
24 Hyde Avenue
Vernon, CT 06066-4599
ph: 860-875-3331
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Comments to: crs@uvm.edu Reviewed on 4/10/97