Family Centers announced that effective November 1, Deirdre Lewin will assume the role of program director and oversee the operation of the Center for Hope. Reporting to Bob Arnold, Family Centers' president, Lewin will supervise the Center for Hope's counseling staff and all programs and services for people affected by critical illness or loss.
Lewin, who will be based at the Center for Hope's facility at 590 Post Road in Darien, will continue to direct The Den For Grieving Kids, Family Centers' bereavement program for children and their families. The Den's professional staff will also be based at the Center for Hope. Together, The Center for Hope and Family Centers intend to create a comprehensive continuum of counseling and supportive services for children, teens and adults experiencing critical illness or grieving a loss.
Lewin joined Family Centers as its director of The Den For Grieving Kids in the spring of 2003. She was previously the director of behavioral health services at the Westchester Medical Group. Lewin has a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from her many years of working closely with children and families, as well as educating and supervising graduate students and other professionals. Educated at Rhodes University and licensed as a clinical psychologist in South Africa and certified as a school psychologist in New York State, Lewin holds a Masters degree in psychology from Smith College and is on the adjunct faculty at Manhattanville College.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a professional with Deirdre's experience and credentials to direct The Den For Grieving Kids and to now assume the leadership of the Center for Hope,” said Bob Arnold, President of Family Centers. “Her compassion for the well-being of others is only equaled by her outstanding skills as a manager and creative, responsive program developer,” said Arnold
The Center for Hope remains committed to its mission to assist individuals experiencing critical illness or the death of a loved one. Specialized counseling and supportive services assist women with breast cancer, individuals living with cancer or other serious illnesses. The Center's new program “Hearts of Hope” serves people diagnosed with or at risk of developing heart disease and includes an educational component on lifestyle counseling, stress management and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Now in its thirteenth year, The Den will continue to offer its biweekly evening support groups to children, teens and their families at Family Centers' Greenwich office. The Center for Hope will also continue to offer its children's program in Darien. The program provides individual counseling for children, adolescents and their parents; issue and age specific support groups; and play therapy for children too young to express themselves verbally. New families requesting support or counseling for their children will be referred to the programs that best suit their needs after an initial consultation with a member of the professional staff.
In addition to the evening support program, The Den provides school-based bereavement support groups to children between the ages of 5 and 18 in ten schools across Fairfield County. The school-based bereavement support group model has proven to be a successful and practical one and continues to gain popularity in school districts and among students. The Den also provides a mentoring program for bereaved children in partnership with the Stamford Boys and Girls Club. The mentoring program trains high school youth on how to develop weekly group mentoring sessions that help bereaved youngsters build confidence, friendships and homework habits. Finally, The Den provides professional development and educational workshops to schools and organizations on topics related to grief and loss.
Founded in 1982, the Center for Hope helps adults and children living with an illness or grieving a loss and coping with the related trauma by providing professional counseling, support and education in an atmosphere of hope and renewal. Last year the Center for Hope served nearly 1,000 families and individuals in this area. The agency is licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. Visit www.centerforhope.org for additional information.
With a history dating back to 1891, Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 600 professionals and trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs. A United Way partner agency, Family Centers is a member of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies and the Alliance for Children and Families and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The agency is licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health.
