CFA Newsletter 2025, ISSUE 3

CFA CELEBRATES WESTBROOK!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday, March 9^th for “Shining A Light On Mental Health.” We had a full house! Guests toured our Westbrook office and then our amazing mental health clinicians led an interactive discussion about what mental health looks like, and how each of us can help to reduce stigma and support our neighbors in need. Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Centerbrook Architects & Planners, our host and neighbor Coastline Brewing, sponsors Shore Appliance and Safe Harbor Pilots Point Marina, and the many local businesses who donated to our silent auction. Below is a sample from our presentation and audience feedback.

CONGRATULATIONS, VERA BORKOWSKI, Ph.D.!

Please join us in congratulating our own Vera Borkowski, Senior Nurse Practitioner from CFA’s School-based Health Center at Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School in New London. Earlier this month, Vera successfully defended her dissertation titled “Informatics Resources for Social Determinants of Health in School-Based Health Centers.” She now holds a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Vanderbilt University!

CFA INTERN MAGGIE SPADARO PUBLISHES CHILDREN'S BOOK

CFA intern and Mystic resident Maggie Spadaro has published a book, My Friend Doesn’t Have a House (Cove Publishing, 2024). She’s been featured in several publications, including an article in the Westerly Sun. Simmons University, where Spadaro is pursuing an online Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, also featured her story, where she stated “My goal is to help parents and educators start to discuss the topic of housing insecurity with their kids in an approachable, age-appropriate way that is easy for them to understand.”

Maggie will begin graduate studies in social work at Columbia University in the fall. Read the full article here: Social Work Student Destigmatizes Homelessness In New Book

YEP! GAMING DAY

YEP! - Youth Engagement Partnership – held its first Gaming Day for New London youth to bring together New London youth and adult mentors in friendly competition and skills building. CFA clinicians were on hand to work with and cheer on YEP! gamers, who all modeled camaraderie and sportsmanship throughout the day. 10 CFA staff and 11 folks from the community volunteered. 35 youth were in attendance.

Special thanks to the many local businesses including Breezeline, Prowess Gaming, Best Buy, Woodfellas Wood Fired Pizza, and Cultura Antojitos Puertorriquenos who provided equipment, food, and people power to make the day a success.

CFA’s Youth Engagement Partnership (YEP!) envisions a thriving New London community where every youth is empowered, connected and supported. This program aims to connect individual youth with organizations and resources within the New London community.

YEP! is a collaborative effort of Child and Family Agency, Reel E Media, and Garde Arts Center developed thanks to Jeanne Milstein, Director of Human Services for the City of New London under the Leadership of Mayor Michael Passero.

GAMING DAY RECAP VIDEO

by Opulent Multimedia, Brian Johnson

BECOME A MENTOR!

Fill out our mentorship survey to learn more!

SUPPORT CFA! 2025 MYSTIC HALF MARATHON & 10K

CFA is teaming up with the Hartford Marathon Foundation for the 2025 Mystic Half Marathon & 10K on May 18th! Run, walk, volunteer, or donate, and you'll support our mission to advance individual and community health.

Join Team CFA!

Support Team CFA!

Visit CFA Mystic Half Marathon & 10K Donations

Volunteer with Team CFA!

Email advancement@ctcfa.org with “Team CFA Volunteer” in the subject line.

CALENDAR