Adult and Family Services

Below are links to a few websites that can be useful for obtaining employment, accessing unemployment information, career fairs and tools for putting together a resume. 

West Hartford Library
West Hartford Leisure Services
Town of West Hartford
CT Works
CT Department of Labor

CT Department of Social Services -  The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) administers and delivers a wide variety of services to children, families, adults, people with disabilities and elders, including health care coverage, child support, long-term care and supports, energy assistance, food and nutrition aid, and program grants.

For more information, click on one of the links above or call DSS directly, 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632).

Energy Assistance - Through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), households meeting income-eligibility guidelinescan receive grants to help with heating expenses during the winter season.

Community Renewal Team (CRT) partners with our department to offer a CRT Case Manager here in our Human Services office.  The CRT Case Manager is available by appointment only to process CEAP applications.

Click here for a list of paperwork needed for your appointment.  The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program officially begins on November 1st and ends at the end of April.  Appointments can be made as early as September.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 860-560-5800.

Renter's Rebate - Residents who are receiving financial assistance from Social Security Disability or who are over 65 years of age, may be eligible for a rebate on their rent and utility expenses. The rebate program runs from May 1 through September 30 and is available to residents meeting state-specified income requirements.

Click here for more information regarding the program and to see the income guidelines.

For a list of paperwork needed for your appointment, please click here

To schedule an appointment call 860-561-7563.

The Town That Cares Fund - The Town of West Hartford’s Department of Human Services established the Town That Cares Fund in the early 1980’s. Since that time it has served as a unique resource to residents having emergency needs in paying for utility bills, food, clothing, shelter costs, medical expenses, including medical equipment and a variety of other needs. Each day there are town residents who find themselves needing financial support following a crisis or hardship. The cause might be the loss of a job, a serious illness, an untimely death, a disability or another type of unanticipated financial setback. All eligibility decisions are based on an application process that includes an interview between the resident and a Town social worker. Formal policies and procedures are in place to guide the social workers in making their decisions. During monthly meetings, designed for the purpose of program monitoring and quality control assurance, each case in which a payment has been made is reviewed by a committee of Human Services staff persons.

Bridge STAR (Short-term Assessment and Respite) – A 24-hour temporary shelter providing a safe, caring, and nurturing environment for 11- to 19-year-old adolescent girls in crisis.

For more information on Bridge programs, please call the Bridge at 860-521-8035 or visit their website at www.bridgefamilycenter.org.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN), which consist of community providers across the state who work together to streamline and standardize the process for individuals and families to access assistance. 

To begin this process, persons experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness should call 2-1-1 and dial #3 and #1 to speak to a contact specialist trained to assess housing needs. 

• Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Connecticut. If you are hearing impaired, use the TTY number: 1-800-671-0737.
• If you are outside of Connecticut or have difficulties using the 2-1-1 number, dial 1-800-203-1234.

You may also contact Liz Buczynski, Assistant Director of Social Services, at 860-561-7561.

Additional Resources

• Housing and Homeless Services 
• 2-1-1 Infoline

Mobile Crisis - Mental health crisis intervention services are provided by teams of mental health workers (psychiatrists, RN's, MSW's, psychologists, psychiatric technicians) who intervene in situations where an individual's mental or emotional condition results in behavior which constitutes an imminent danger to him or herself or to another. Mobile crisis teams visit people in their homes or community sites, and others meet clients in clinics or hospital emergency rooms. Psychiatric emergency rooms and mental health facilities can provide crisis services to people in crisis who can travel or get help with transportation to a facility.  Contact 2-1-1 for more information by dialing 211 from a landline phone or 1-800-203-1234.

Chrysalis -Chrysalis Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Hartford, CT that provides social services and develops affordable housing. It helps people living in poverty who struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, release from incarceration and homelessness.  Click on the link above for more information or call 860-263-4400.

Food Pantry - Social Services maintains a large food pantry. It depends on donations of food from our community - individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools and businesses - and provides nutritious food in times of need.  For information regarding the use of our food pantry, please call our office at 860-561-7561 or visit the West Hartford Food Pantry website.  

Foodshare Mobile Van - The West Hartford Food Pantry also partners with Foodshare to provide residents with fresh produce once a month.  Please click here for more information on the mobile Foodshare van, including locations and schedules.

SNAP Food Stamps - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, is a Connecticut Department of Social Services program that helps low-income individuals and families afford the cost of food at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.  

West Hartford is a Screening Site for SNAP. We periodically host Foodshare Volunteers to screen and help process SNAP applications.  Eligibility into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is determined by income (click here for details on the program and required documents). A family’s gross monthly income must be below 185% of the FPL in order to be found eligible for the program (click here for eligibility guidelines). Expenses such as rent/mortgage and utilities are taken into consideration only after eligibility is determined. Expenses will help establish the monthly allotment for the benefit.

Call 860-561-7561 for a SNAP appointment at Bishops Corner Senior Center or Elmwood Community Center. Call FoodShare SNAP Outreach Team at 860-286-9999 x104 for information on other SNAP locations.

• Therapy for children, couples, adults, and families through licensed counseling centers in West Hartford, Avon, and Rockville. Medicaid and private insurance accepted, as well as a sliding fee scale for those without insurance. 

• Medication evaluations by a Board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist. 

• Family Resource Center at Charter Oak School and satellite schools.

• Various parenting workshops.

• Grandparents' Wisdom Circle - for grandparents raising grandchildren. 

Through its association with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the statewide association of towns and cities, the Town of West Hartford introduced the program in 2014 and now wants to share the information once again. As of December 31, 2018, Connecticut residents have saved almost $12 million on their prescription drug costs with this program.

The Prescription Savings Program helps residents save money on their prescription medications any time their prescription is not covered by insurance. Items such as contact lens and hearing aid batteries are good examples.

This prescription discount card provides immediate fiscal relief at the pharmacy counter and offers the following features and benefits:

• Anyone can participate regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage;
• All prescription medications are covered, including pet prescriptions that are human-based and can be filled by a pharmacy;
• Cost savings are on brand name and generic medications.Generic prescriptions offer 20-70% savings and brand drugs see a 10-20% savings;
• There are over 63,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. In West Hartford, participating pharmacies include CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Suburban Pharmacy, and The Medicine Shoppe.
• Vision discounts of 20% off usual/customary fee for eye exams; 50 percent off frames/lenses; everyday low pricing and free shipping on online lenses
• LASIK discounts of 40-50% off the national average cost (accepted at 600+ locations nationwide from credentialed physicians)
• 35-65% savings on hearing services from a national network of local ear physicians and audiologists and on brand-name hearing aids/products

Even if you are currently enrolled in an insurance plan, you can use the discount card for items that may be not covered, such as contact lens, hearing aid batteries, and more.

There are no enrollment forms, membership fees, restrictions or limits on frequency of use for residents.There is no cost to the municipality. Cardholders and their family members are encouraged to use the cards any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

Cards can be printed by visiting https://www.proactmedsavings.com/proact/rx-savings-card or www.CTRxDiscountCard.com and complete the short online form that asks for your name and town.

The website also contains a “Learn the Perks of the Card” (http://proactrxsavings.com/member-benefits/) where residents can locate a participating pharmacy, do their own price comparison of a drug, search WebMD, and learn about the program’s discounts on vision, hearing and dental.

CCM is pleased to offer this valuable community service to the Town of West Hartford. This program will help residents save money on their medications and much more. 

-Alison Geisler, CRM & Member Services Associate.

If you have any questions or concerns, call toll-free ProAct helpline: 877-776-2285.

Initial assessment and education provided by Social Workers and referrals to local treatment facilities available.  Local meeting schedules for various self-help groups also available for all residents.  Please call 860-561-7561 for more information.

The North Central Regional Mental Health Board (NCRMHB) By partnering with people with behavioral health needs, families, and our communities in evaluating, educating and advocating, NCRMHB informs and influences best practices, local and state policy, and access to resources that leads to the success of people in recovery and to the growth of healthy and inclusive communities.

Additional Resources

• Emergency and Non-Emergency Telephone Directory for Mental Health, Substance Abuse and other services
• West Hartford Cares (Resource Card)
• Medication Safety Brochure (click here for Spanish)
• 2-1-1 Infoline
• Addiction Resource
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Al-Anon / Alateen
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Alcohol Rehab
• Wheeler Guide to Behavioral Health
• West Hartford Prevention Council
• Naloxone Training

The serves as the Youth Service Bureau for the Town of West Hartford and offers the following prevention and intervention services for children, youth, and families:

Youth Programs

• School based counseling.

• School based mentoring for middle and high school students.

• Positive youth development groups.

• Support groups.

• Summer programming.

• West Hartford Teen Center for high school students.