FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Frances Chamberlain (860) 868-7377 ext. 221

July, 2000

Washington, CT... Devereux Glenholme in Washington, Conn. hosted a grand opening celebration on Friday, July 21st at 1:00 PM to commemorate the significant growth of its Tender Learning Care Program. Lt. Gov. Jodi Rell, Senator M. Adela Eads, Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and Kristine Ragaglia, Commissioner of the CT Department of Children and Families will all be honored guests at this celebration.

Senator Eads also received an award given "In recognition of lifetime achievement and commitment to education and care of Connecticut's children." She has been instrumental in her senatorial career in helping organizations like Devereux to improve the care and treatment of children within the state.

In recent months, Devereux Glenholme has built and remodeled cottages, specifically designed for the 5 to 9 age group, remodeled classrooms, and implemented new curriculum and programs for this age group. This is a quickly growing population of children in need, within Connecticut, and TLC is a response to serve this age group. The program provides residential facilities for 20 boys, plus additional classroom space for another 10 girls.

TLC allows Devereux Glenholme to provide completely separate academic, dining and living programs for the young age group, completely separate from The Glenholme School, which focuses on older children. Another important component of TLC is Tender Living Care, a therapeutic foster care program that connects needy children with therapeutic parents in the area. This gives some children, who have adapted well to life at the school, the opportunity to live with a family in the area.

They continue to attend classes and programs at Devereux Glenholme, but also learn the appropriate life and relationship skills that come from being with a family. The parents receive thorough training, respite care, transition planning and financial compensation if they elect to become foster parents. The children are eventually transitioned into permanent foster homes in their own communities, adoptive families, or back into their own families if circumstances permit.

For more information about the TLC Grand Opening, the school, or therapeutic parent program, please call (860) 868-7377.