Leonard Duffus of Valley Save Our Youth.
DERBY — Gov. Ned Lamont held a press conference on the Derby Green on Wednesday to highlight state money flowing to two groups that help families and young people — TEAM Inc., the Valley’s trusted community action agency, and; “Valley Save Our Youth,” an Ansonia-based community group that strives to help young people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
TEAM, Inc., a social service agency that has been a lifeline for thousands of Valley residents during the pandemic, does everything from operate Meals on Wheels to providing heating assistance to people in need. It is receiving $100,000 in the latest state budget over two fiscal years, according to information previously released by state Sen. Jorge Cabrera and state Rep. Kara Rochelle.
“Valley Save Our Youth” is receiving $75,000 in the 2022 fiscal year (which began July 1) and another $75,000 in fiscal year 2023.
During a talk that lasted about five minutes, Lamont acknowledged how tough COVID-19 has been on kids. He said isolation contributed, in part, to youth crime such as car thefts, and visits to hospitals by kids struggling with mental health issues.
The money going to TEAM and “Valley Save Our Youth” is worthwhile because the agencies are on the front lines of such issues in the Valley, the governor said.
Gov. Ned Lamont talks to Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan and state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria.
“Now we rally together as a community to make sure each and every one of these kids and their older brothers and sisters get the very best opportunities going forward,” Lamont said. “That’s what these resources are about. That’s what TEAM is about. That’s what “Valley Save Our Youth” is about.”
Ansonia’s Leonard Duffus, of Valley Save Our Youth, said the state funds are a game changer for the organization.
For a decade the grassroots group has been organizing annual events such as back-to-school backpack giveaways and basketball tournaments.
The group started raising money in true grassroots fashion — standing outside businesses, shaking cans looking for donations.
Now, thanks to careful planning and the influx of state money, a “bridges” program is being created. It’ll be based in Ansonia but open to all Valley youth. It’s being created in conjunction with school leaders and others. The program will help adolescents, especially kids from families with financial troubles, make the transition into adulthood. “Valley Save Our Youth” wants to make sure those young people don’t fall through the cracks.
“This money will help us help kids,” Duffus said. “We already had a focus group with kids, we have ideas, we know where we want to go with the program and this will make it happen.”
David Morgan, TEAM’s president and CEO, said that while TEAM has been called a “lifeline” during the pandemic for people in need, TEAM’s lifeline has been leaders like Lamont and the Valley’s delegation in Hartford, along with Griffin Health Services of Derby.
“TEAM is not just another nonprofit. There are so many supporters and community partners and leaders here today, and they are just as much TEAM as any of our 18 board members or myself. The bedrock to our achievement is the collaborative achievement,” Morgan said.
Speakers during Wednesday’s press conference included Duffus, Lamont, Morgan, Cabrera, Rochelle, state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan and state Rep. Mary Welander.
