Jorge Cabrera

Sen. Cabrera, Rep. Rochelle Welcome State Funding
for Local Community Organizations and Nonprofits

HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) and state Representative Kara Rochelle (D-Ansonia, Derby) welcomed $350,000 in state funding over the next two years for local community organizations and nonprofits to support youth development, prevent youth violence and assist fathers in the region. These funds, secured by Sen. Cabrera and authorized under the biennial state budget passed earlier this month, are an important investment in the well-being of the Valley community according to the senator.

“Nonprofits are vital to our communities and I am proud to secure these funds for organizations doing great work across the Valley,” said Sen. Cabrera. “From Valley Save Our Youth providing our young people with safe opportunities to engage with their peers, to TEAM offering many crucial human services people rely on, to Hamden Fixing Fathers, an exciting new nonprofit helping fathers, specializing in supporting dads and keeping families strong and connected, these nonprofits and community organizations will be able to continue to benefit those they serve in ways they have come to expect and appreciate thanks to these additional funds. I am deeply grateful for all these organizations do for our community.”

Rep. Rochelle added these funds will help secure positive futures for the Valley’s next generation.

“This new funding will touch lives and shape futures. Fostering a strong future begins with building up our children and ensuring they have enriching programming and the supports necessary to set them up for success,” said Rep. Rochelle. “TEAM and Valley Save Our Youth both have strong track records of meeting the needs of our residents, families, and children. I am so grateful for all these organizations do for the Valley and to be able to assist them in our common mission to support our children.”

Valley Save Our Youth will receive $75,000 in the 2022 and the 2023 fiscal years for Youth Services Prevention. TEAM, based in Derby, will receive $50,000 in both the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years. Hamden Fixing Fathers will receive $50,000 in both the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years. The 2022 fiscal year starts on July 1, 2021. Throughout the summer and fall, the state will begin releasing funding for these youth development and youth violent prevention programs.

Valley Save Our Youth is a nonprofit organization that provides programs to keep children active and involved in their communities, meanwhile TEAM is a human services agency that seeks to strengthen the Valley community through education, support and empowerment. They provide economically disadvantaged residents with basic needs and case management, employment and training support, elderly services and Meals on Wheels, Early Childhood and Head Start and more. Hamden Fixing Fathers, which will receive a total of $100,000 over the next two years, specializes in helping fathers strengthen their bond with their children and their families while educating them on the importance of their role in their family. They provide programs to assist fathers in breaking through past personal trauma, navigating parenthood and staying involved while co-parenting.