Dear friends of BGV,
I hope this message finds you and your family well and healthy.
As most of you are aware this is a time of great anger, frustration, and hurting in our country. We are more divided then we have been for decades. The COVID 19 pandemic began highlighting the systematic and institutional racial disparities, and the most recent senseless and needless killings of Black men including Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have brought us to the breaking point.
BGV supports the efforts of those speaking out for change in their communities and participating in peaceful protests. George Floyd’s brother called for people to bring about change not through violence but through voting. Voting not only at the national level but in local elections as well. This message was consistent with former President Obama’s who called on people to bring about change by voting as well. 2020 is an election year and this is your opportunity to have your voice heard.
It will take hard work, dedication, and patience from all of us to heal the wounds. BGV has and will continue to work with underserved populations in Connecticut, providing meaningful care and assisting families in accessing fair and equitable services.
Sincerely,
Kim Shaunesey, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Dear Friends of BGV,
I hope this update finds you safe and well. In the few short months since I took on the role of CEO, things have changed in unprecedented ways. We all have been affected by the COVID-19 virus and we find ourselves working toward the same goals; remaining healthy, practicing social distancing to stop the spread, and remaining hopeful that the following months will bring healing to all who are affected by this.
Our important work of serving some of Connecticut’s most at-risk and vulnerable youth continues. Our priority has always been to deliver the highest quality behavioral health and educational services to our clients. Our work continues as we continually address and consider the health and safety of our staff and caregivers and those who receive our services. Our clients rely on our consistency and we are now delivering those services in some new and non-traditional ways.
Our school staff and administrators are providing distance learning to our students. We have supplied them with the necessary tools, including Chromebooks and laptops to ensure seamless transition of this new way of learning. Our social work staff continue to deliver services via tele-medicine. Our healthcare staff are doing in-person wellness checks for our students and their families, and our school professionals are delivering 12 meals to their homes each week.
We continue to have clients reside in our 3 residency programs. These clients continue to receive educational and behavioral health services both in person with our dedicated staff and on-line. While it is difficult for the boys as they are unable to have outside visitors, we are doing our best to provide increased contact with their families via both online and telephone.
Our in-home services continue, and most programs have now moved to tele-medicine. Our qualified staff have embraced and adapted to the changes quickly and continue to deliver services in the safest way possible.
We have made the decision to postpone our annual fundraiser for the safety and wellness of our staff, donors and sponsors. We look forward to October 15, 2020 when we can gather together as a community to celebrate the resiliency of BGV, the important work we do and how we continue to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing climate and needs of our youth. We are more than 70 years strong and continue the important work of strengthening our clients’ ability to succeed in life.
Stay safe and thank you for your ongoing support of BGV!
Sincerely,
Kim Shaunesey, Ph.D.
President & CEO
