About CARES

New Canaan CARES is an independent, non-profit agency with over 30 years of service to the New Canaan community. CARES annually provides over 100 health and wellness programs to youth, parents and the community. The agency operates on a meager annual budget funded by grants, private donations and fundraising events such as the annual CARES Kitchen Tour. CARES’ dedicated team of professionals and volunteers strives to advance the health and well-being of youth and families in the community through the development and delivery of focused programs, services and resources.

Dedicated Youth Focus

Provides direct classroom instruction and service to more than 2,200 youth.

Award-winning programs include: Leadership Challenge (intensive 35 hour program for high school), Assertiveness Training (middle school program), KidPOWER (elementary school program), and Mentoring Through Drama (program where high school youth work with children of all ages).

After-school programs provide noncompetitive, unstructured opportunities on a short term basis

Provides follow-up programs and educational training to support more than 600 youth in community-related organizations (National Charity League, Scouts, etc.)

Committed to Enhancing Parenting Skills

Provides at least two health programs/seminars/workshops to each public and private school in New Canaan, including the preschool community. These programs address current issues and have an average attendance of 50-100 parents

Parallel parenting series supports team parenting while providing a forum for families and fathers to network

Parent Networking programs provide multiple opportunities for parents to network with experts and one another on health topics

21 CARES Parent Representatives from each of the public and private schools meet monthly to guide program direction for parents, families and neighborhood schools

Strong Community Presence

Provides nationally-recognized speakers and authors at community events with an average of 200+ attendees

Provides in-service training and curriculum development to school faculty on current health topics

Maintains most extensive (health) lending library in the tri-state area

Collaborates with multiple community organizations, institutions and businesses

Over 200 youth and adult volunteers contribute more than 3,000 hours per year to support diverse community needs

Active Board of Directors and Executive Committee meet monthly with Executive Director to guide and offer input in day-to-day operations

Advisory Board, made up of local health professionals, legal experts, educators and other community leaders, provides input essential to the long range vision of CARES