Children graduate from PCRC after-school program in Derby

A Valley Kids Belong Program participant graduates at Bradley School in Derby. /Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Kids Belong Program held its graduation Dec. 10 at Bradley Elementary School, where participants were awarded certificates of completion for the 15-session After School Program, a grant-funded early identification and prevention initiative.

The Valley Kids Belong After School Program is a fun and free activity that provides ways for children to build confidence. Students meet new friends and learn about making good choices that will have a positive impact in their lives. 
Participants are given the opportunity to try a new activity, involving concepts such as health, wellness, art, and music.

“I notice my child comes home a lot happier. We’ve been here for a year in town and this was something very positive that he could participate in,” said Tara Todd, mother of 7-year-old graduate Jeremiah Miller, who recently moved to Derby from Stamford. 
“I hope they offer the program again,” she said.

The program is broken up into three different categories: Self-esteem, emotional awareness and bullying. Within each category, there is a focus on problem solving, effective communication, and appropriate interpersonal interactions. 
In addition to social and emotional skills, three different activities, aimed to increase self-esteem and confidence, were part of the weekly program. Once a week, the students participated in Zumba, Judo, and team-building games.

This program is different from past Valley Kids Belong Programs, now allowing 30-40 minutes of homework and quiet reading time, prior to the beginning of the formal programming.  “We received positive feedback from parents, students, and school staff regarding their experience,” said Program Director, Desirée Caporaso.

PCRC was awarded a Connecticut Health Foundation Children’s Mental Health Grant for the purpose of implementing a community-based system of early identification and intervention over five years. 
Now in its final year of funding, Valley Kids Belong continues to seek resources to continue its renowned variety of programs.

“Over the past four years, Valley Kids Belong has had an excellent record of helping children develop social and emotional skills that will help them for a lifetime, at home, in school and at work,” said Michael J. Wynne, Chief Executive Officer at PCRC.

Positive feedback from parents
VKB works closely with the school systems to determine qualifications of prospective student participants in the program, involving all who are connected with the students, including parents, teachers and counselors.

“We could not have a better partner than Valley Kids Belong. They always go above and beyond,” said Mario Ciccarini, Bradley School Principal. 
“We hear nothing but positive feedback from our parents.”

VKB aims to increase awareness of mental health on a larger scale. Through programming, students are able to address problem-solving issues before they progress. “Students can learn coping skills and build confidence to be able to handle social skills and decision making better.

The other part is to reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system.  While it cannot be predetermined that a child may get involved with the court system, we do know that if children are resilient, have confidence in themselves and are able to effectively problem solve, the chances of court involvement is reduced,” said Caporaso. “There’s nothing like VKB in the area – our program is all free to families.”

Valley Kids Belong offers after-school programs, summer programs, Families & Schools Together (FAST), and Triple P Positive Parenting Programs.

Valley Kids Belong is a grant-funded, collaborative project. The goal is to create change in the community that helps foster resilience in kids and families. The concept behind VKB is that kids, their families and organizations that support them can work together to promote healthier kids – mentally, emotionally, socially, and educationally. 

The program works directly with children, parents, and families to provide support in order to build social and emotional skills and to improve family and community relationships


This is a press release from PCRC, the leading provider of behavioral health services to children and families in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 
Programs, including the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Enrichment Service, Therapeutic Mentoring Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, and the Prevention through Early Intervention Program, help children and their families so that they may develop to their fullest potential.