Mission
Covenant to Care for Children mobilizes and channels the generosity of caring and faithful people to advocate for, mentor and provide direct assistance to Connecticut's children and youth who are abused, neglected or at-risk.

Covenant to Care for Children is

• Connecticut's only statewide agency that encourages and empowers congregations to meet the critical needs of children in their local area.
• A unique interfaith endeavor that welcomes people and communities of faith from all denominations and faith traditions, and invites them to live out their faith in service to vulnerable children.
• A commitment to the belief that all children deserve to be cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.

And so much more! Find out how much more here.

Adopt a Social Worker    
Our Adopt a Social Worker program works with over 200 faith communities to benefit thousands of Connecticut children by providing the critical material needs that help stabilize their living situations. Without the efforts of over 1,000 volunteers and donors, this initiative would not be a success.

Critical Goods Distribution
Our Critical Goods Distribution program assists social workers who are attempting to reunify and preserve families by providing them with goods such as furniture and clothing. During any fiscal year, we deliver an average of $115,000 worth of usable goods to families in need. On a yearly basis, around 500 children are provided with beds, dressers, a table to eat at (and do homework on), and other goods that they too often go without.

Reach One Youth
Our Reach One Youth mentoring program matches the power of infinite love to youth with infinite potential by assisting highly at-risk teens, teen parents and their children. This program creates partnerships between youth, mentors, congregations and the broader community by providing opportunities to nurture and cultivate the resilient spirit found in all youth.

Mom, Mentor and Me
Our new mentoring program Mom, Mentor and Me (M3) was established with a Federal Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, to mentor children in the New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain and Greater Bridgeport areas whose mothers are incarcerated. M3 creates and supports relationships between youth, mentors and faith communities to provide the support needs for these at-risk youth.

Food Pantry Support    
We assist in operating and supporting emergency food pantries housed in Hartford and New Haven DCF offices. Families who experience a food crisis receive a stop-gap three day supply of non-perishable foods.

We also collaborate with the Asylum Hill Congregational Church Crisis Food Support Program, assisting DCF clients in Hartford and West Hartford through home delivery of a two week supply of non-perishable foods as well as client selected foods purchased from local grocers with AHCC funds. Through this collaboration, every year an average of 600 children and 250 adults receive emergency food assistance alleviating the serious problem of hunger.

Want to Help?    

Here are some ways in which you can help...Participate in any of the above programs. Or... consider the following:

Back to School Backpacks: Receiving a new backpack and school supplies is a great way for children to start a new year. A list of suggested items is available. Age-appropriate backpacks are most needed by mid-August, but some are needed year round. Organize a drive for new backpacks and school supplies.

Emergency Placement Packs: Placement packs contain essential personal items and a few "goodies" to comfort an abused child through the trauma of entering a new and unfamiliar environment. A list of specific items is available to complete packs for a specific age and gender. Quality is preferred over quantity. These are welcome at any time of the year.

Holiday Gifts: You can share the joy of giving with a child who may go without a gift during the holidays. Provide a new unwrapped gift, or organize a collection of gifts to be distributed through a local social worker to a child on her / his case load. Please check with us in September to receive a gift wish-list.

Other Projects: Here is a list of other projects our faith community helps with:

• Personal Care Packs
• Movie or Museum Passes
• Camping Equipment
• Summer Play / Family Play Packs
• Spring Cleaning Buckets
• Spring Baskets
• Baby Showers
• Birthday Gifts and Party Supplies
• Car Seats

If you are able to help with any of these, please call Diane Prall, our Covenant to Care liaison, at (203) 268-1041, or via email at abcdcp@aol.com.