The Vita Health & Wellness District Community Collaborative

The Vita Health & Wellness District Community Collaborative is a network of affiliated agencies working together to improve the health of our community. The Community Collaborative is a joint initiative of Charter Oak Communities, Stamford Hospital and the City of Stamford.

“Fairgate Farm hosted 30 of our amazing Family Childcare Providers for one of our monthly network meeting. Peter was so helpful and generous when sharing all his knowledge and giving us a tour. We were even able to get our hands dirty and help clean up the farm. Our providers were so amazed to get to know this amazing and HEALTHY community resource. THANK YOU!”

– Yazmin Iglesias, Site Director, All Our Kin

Member Organizations

All Our Kin: Trains, supports, and sustains community child care providers to ensure that children and families have the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life. Through our programs, child care professionals succeed as business owners; working parents find stable, high-quality care for their children; and children gain an educational foundation that lays the groundwork for achievement in school and beyond. Learn more at http://www.allourkin.org

AmeriCares Free Clinic: Focused on providing primary care and diagnostic services for the uninsured in a mobile unit, this division of the global relief organization provides no-cost medical care to the uninsured. Learn more at https://www.americares.org

Boys & Girls Club of Stamford: This local chapter of the national organization provides after-school programs, recreation and support for school-aged children. The Boys & Girls Club supports working families with childcare, providing nutrition education, tutoring, mentor programs and opportunities for education and social enrichment. B & G Club also operates the Yerwood Center in Stamford’s West Side. Learn more at http://www.bgcastamford.org

Building One Community: The Center for Immigrant Opportunity whose mission is to advance the successful integration of immigrants and their families. Learn more at http://building1community.org

Cardinale Associates, LLC: Accomplished public affairs executive with more than three decades of public relations, government affairs and community relations experience, including strategic communications, program development, planning management and project execution. Learn more at http://cardinaleassociates.com

Charter Oak Communities: Formerly the Stamford Housing Authority, COC provides attractive, affordable homes and housing support for thousands of Stamford residents, comprising a wide range of demographics and needs. COC is a leading advocate and champion for innovative, creative partnerships that are redefining public housing communities in CT and across America. As a co-backbone organization, COC provides financial and human resource support. Learn more at https://www.charteroakcommunities.org

Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut: Serving more than 3,300 children in 2015, CGC is dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral health of children and teens through treatment, education, and community support. Learn more at https://childguidancect.org

Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County: Providing child care and preschool education, CLC has seven locations throughout the city and is the largest pre-kindergarten program in Fairfield County. Learn more at http://www.clcfc.org

City of Stamford: The City’s Health & Social Services department has been a member of our Community Collaborative since inception. Learn more at https://www.stamfordct.gov

Communities4Action:  This organization is a regional resource supporting local initiatives on substance misuse by providing speakers, trainings, evidence-based programs, legislative efforts, funding sources, coalition-building, evaluation tools, and community-based programs, with services offered in both English and Spanish. Learn more at http://www.communities4action.org

Community Health Center, Inc.: With a large office downtown on Franklin Street (also the location for Inspirica), this organization is a Federally Qualified Health Center that offers comprehensive dental care; primary medical for adults and children; school-based health services; behavioral health services, and gynecological care including family planning. Learn more at https://www.chc1.com

DomusKids:  Domus builds loving relationships with young people facing adversity, empowering them to pursue their path to self-sufficiency. Supporting young people, 12-25, through our school engagement and workforce development programs, Domus removes obstacles to long-term success. Nearly 1,000 young people are involved in our programs and services.

Fairgate Farm: Fully supported by Charter Oak Communities, Fairgate Farm provides seed-to-table produce, nutrition education and volunteer opportunities. With hundreds of volunteers and a schedule of classes, festivals and educational opportunities, Fairgate Farm builds community cohesion. Learn more at http://fairgatefarm.com

Family Centers, Inc.: The health, human service and educational organization served 22,500 residents last year. Family Centers provides social support to residents of our mixed-income housing communities and is a partner in the new Parents as Co-Educators program that supports immigrant families in helping children succeed in school. Learn more at http://www.familycenters.org

Kids in Crisis: For more than 39 years, Kids in Crisis, located in Cos Cob, Connecticut, has been touching lives and changing the futures of Southern Connecticut children and families by developing successful solutions to an increasingly complex and growing list of family crises in the community. Its mission is to help children to find the necessary tools and resiliency to be healthy, happy and productive. Learn more at http://www.kidsincrisis.org

Liberation Programs: One of Fairfield County’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants and stimulants. Our mission is to help individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Learn more at http://liberationprograms.org

New Covenant Center: One of 30 programs of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, this organization serves lunch and dinner every day of the year and provides 10 days of groceries per month to over 1,100 people in Stamford and nearby communities. New Covenant Center offers job skills’ programs, medical and immigration services, quarterly clothing drives, and access to a shower, laundry, barber and personal hygiene items. Learn more at http://www.newcovenantcenter.org

Optimus Health Center:  Optimus operates a Federally Qualified Health Center providing services for low-income individuals and families, including adult medicine, pediatrics, mental health, family and pediatric preventive care, dental and behavioral health (including substance abuse) services. Learn more at https://optimushealthcare.org/opthc

Person to Person: Focused on helping people in times of need, whether in the form of financial assistance, food and clothing, or household necessities The non-profit also provides camperships, scholarships and mentorships to students. Learn more at https://p2phelps.org/services/

Saint Joseph Parenting Center: A parenting community center whose mission is to strengthen families that are at risk of child abuse and neglect by providing education and support. Learn more at https://www.sjpcenter.org

Sarner Health & Fitness Institute at (Tully) Stamford Hospital: With a focus on reducing health risks, symptoms and effects, this medically-based fitness center helps members achieve weight loss and fitness goals that bring about positive changes in their appearance, health and well-being; located at the Tully Health Center. Learn more at https://www.stamfordhealth.org/hfi

Stamford Health: The City’s only acute care hospital offers a comprehensive array of programs and services to improve the health and wellbeing of residents throughout the hospital’s service area. As a co-backbone organization, SH provides ongoing financial and human resources support to the collaborative. Learn more at https://www.stamfordhealth.org

United Way of Western CT and Stamford Cradle to Career:  United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWCT) serves as the central coordinating entity for Stamford Cradle to Career (SC2C), a city-wide collective impact initiative focused on aligning community resources to ensure equity and excellence in education for every child, from cradle to career. SC2C is a member of the national StriveTogether nationwide network. SC2C works in close coordination with the Stamford Public Schools and more than 50 community partners to achieve its vision that all Stamford youth will succeed in education, career, and life.  As its backbone, UWWCT provides management, strategic oversight and fiscal support for the SC2C. UWWCT strives to improve the lives of struggling households across Northern Fairfield County, Southern Litchfield County and the City of Stamford with a particular focus on the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).  By leveraging the collective power of the Stamford community, UWWCT is committed to an environment where individuals and families are self-sufficient and can achieve financial independence. Learn more at https://www.uwwesternct.org/