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Gail Smith Awards Celebrates Progress In Services, Community Connections

Newtown Bee By Larissa Lytwyn


Parent Connection co-founder Dorrie Carolan was congratulated by NYS Program Services coordinator Roseanne Loring and Director Anthony Tozzi after Parent Connection was honored as a Gail Smith Award recipient.

Parent Connection co-founder Dorrie Carolan was congratulated by NYS Program Services coordinator Roseanne Loring and Director Anthony Tozzi after Parent Connection was honored as a Gail Smith Award recipient. – Bee Photo, Lytwyn


Parent Connection co-founder Dorrie Carolan was congratulated by NYS Program Services coordinator Roseanne Loring and Director Anthony Tozzi after Parent Connection was honored as a Gail Smith Award recipient.

Humanity was what Newtown Youth Services’ co-founder Gail Smith stood for, according to current Director Anthony Tozzi.

It is also, he said, what Newtown Youth Services stands for today.

The Gail Smith Awards, created in honor of Ms Smith shortly after she lost her battle with cancer in the early 1990s, each year recognizes a youth, adult, and business that exemplifies the humanity Newtown Youth Services champions.

After a round of applause “recognizing,” Mr Tozzi said, “past Gail Smith Awards recipients and those yet to be honored,” NYS Board member Kathleen Burns Hart introduced the nominators for each of the 2004 honorees.

Program Services coordinator Roseanne Loring began her nomination of Parent Connection founders Dorrie Carolan and Donna DeLuca with a quote from the book Simple Abundance.

“In order to hear your calling and answer it,” she quoted, “you must generously give yourself the gift of time. It’s not how fast you make your dream come true, but how steadily your pursue it.”

Ms Carolan and Ms DeLuca reestablished Newtown’s Parent Connection, a grassroots organization dedicated to preventing and raising awareness of substance use and abuse, last summer.

Over the past six months, they have held a number of community forums on subjects including alcohol and prescription drug abuse that drew audiences of up to 300.

“They successfully brought many different factions into the discussions,” Ms Loring said, “town officials, education personnel, law enforcement, and social service agencies.”

They also began a Monday night “Hope and Support” group in conjunction with Newtown Youth Services.

“We are absolutely humbled and honored by this recognition,” said Ms Carolan, accepting the award on behalf of Parent Connection. “What began as a crusade 11 years ago, in an effort to save my oldest son and many other young people who were struggling with addiction, has finally come to fruition.”

She continued, “Through the generosity of Newtown Youth Services, we were afforded the opportunity to fulfill the first part of our mission, which is to educate and empower our community in the prevention of substance abuse.”

She thanked First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, “who has had the courage to address Newtown’s drug problem, although, at times, this is not a popular stance,” as well as the support of the Newtown Police Department, Health District Director Judy Blanchard, school psychologist Pam Crowcroft, and Board of Education Chair Elaine McClure, as well as John Hamilton of LMG Services, a Fairfield County-based agency dedicated to substance abuse education and treatment.

“The biggest thank you goes to our families, especially our husbands, who support us when we go way out there on the limb, and to our children who continue to challenge and inspire us,” said Ms Carolan.

“And last, but certainly not least,” she said, “the community, who has supported us in this effort by attending our forums and participating in the discussions of this tough topics.”

She continued, “We have communicated with more than 500 families over the last year.”

The heartfelt speech drew thunderous applause and even visible emotion from many of the attendees.

Used with permission Copyright © 1999-2004 Bee Publishing Company

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Phone 

203-270-1600

 

Email 

Info@NewtownParentConnection.org

Address
2 Washington Square
Fairfield Hills
Newtown, CT 06470

Mission Statement

The mission of the Newtown Parent Connection is to educate and empower the community in the prevention of substance use and to embrace families in crisis.

Narcotics Anonymous- 1-800-627-3543

Alcoholics Anonymous-866-783-7712

www.ct-aa.org

AL-Anon/Alateen 888-425-2666

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Nicole Hampton.jpg

Nicole Hampton

Executive Director

Nicole Hampton, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, brings years of experience and dedication to addiction recovery. Her journey began with volunteer work at CCAR, leading to a successful career across multiple treatment settings and active involvement in state and local boards.

A woman in recovery, Nicole is a dynamic leader known for fostering collaboration, inspiring change, and implementing effective solutions. Under her leadership, Parent Connection will expand its reach, providing vital support and hope to individuals and families affected by addiction.

Our Board of Directors is a committed body of volunteers who support our mission to keep our community safe and substance free.

Nicole Hampton - Executive Director

Gene Vetrano-President 

Ken Rodbell- Vice President

Frank Crudo- Treasurer

Kevin Carolan -Secretary

Maggie Conway

David Cooper

Kathleen Moonan

Matt Briand

Lil Martensen
Dan Rosenthal

Support Groups

Hope & Support

A weekly gathering for parents and caregivers with children or loved one's affected by substance use.  This group provides a confidential venue to receive information and support concerning how to handle their child's or loved one's suspected or confirmed use of substances. Facilitated by an experienced drug & alcohol counselor.

Meeting Information Here

Bereavement
A compassionate venue for those

who have lost a child or other loved one due to catastrophic circumstances. The group is facilitated by a licensed therapist.
Meeting Information Here


First Wednesday of month
7:00 to 8:30 pm

Dorrie Carolan Founder

Dorrie Carolan and her husband raised their four children in Newtown, CT. Starting the Parent Connection was never part of her plan. The issue of substance use became personal when her eldest son, Brian, became addicted and subsequently died at age 28 of a prescription drug overdose. Through the struggles caused by Brian's addiction, Dorrie became aware that this was an issue that affected many others in the community. She founded the Parent Connection in 1993 in an attempt to network with other concerned Newtown parents. It was the impetus behind many policy changes in town and within the schools.

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