The Southside Family Center works to provide a “family-centered and strength-based” environment in which both children and parents have access to a comprehensive array of programs and services committed to strengthening and promoting healthy family relationships, as well as encouraging economic security through education and employment.

Southside’s highly capable staff works in partnership with ethnically diverse families from the City of Hartford in need of services, support, leadership development, early childhood education, adult education and training, and crisis intervention. Southside’s’ efforts have been recognized by the United Way and other area organizations as a model program strengthening neighborhood families.

Southside is one of three such centers in the Greater Hartford Area but has differentiated itself through its attention to the family as a whole. By providing a safe and nurturing environment for young children, Southside enables parents to take the classes and receive the support necessary to strengthen their families. Such programs include early childhood education, case management, GED and ESL instruction, basic computer classes, money management workshops, parent support groups, and parenting classes.

“The center not only offers parents a place to improve their skills, but it also gives them peace of mind that their children are in a safe nurturing environment while they are taking these classes,” said Rose Alma Senatore, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Hartford.

Over the years, the Southside Family Center has also built strong collaborative relationships with many local service providers to ensure that families have access to the services that they need to succeed. For example, program staff have partnerships with the Hartford Board of Education, Early Childhood Collaborative, Charter Oak Health Center, Hartford Libraries, Hartford Area Rallies Together, and other groups.

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