FOCUS Matters WINTER 2022 - Fresh Starts - FOCUS Center for Autism
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FOCUS
Matters WINTER 2022
Fresh Starts
The FOCUS Fresh Start School is now in its 5th year as a state approved special education program. In 2021, we were
re-approved for five more years, the maximum allowed. A huge shout-out to our school staff!
The Fresh Start School has had quite the journey! We started in our Extended Day Treatment program over 10 years
ago where we developed a school for children that were not attending any school at all. Without that program many
students were without any educational programs or were being home-schooled. These were the kids that were fall-
ing through the cracks.
The evolution of that school program became the Fresh Start School. We still take those students ages 10 through
21, both male and female, who are currently having trouble fitting in traditional school settings. By creating a com-
munity where all can belong, weaving our clinical supports throughout the program, and creating individualized
learning and transition programs, we are able to offer a unique educational experience to this special population.
Our staff are incredible! We have certified special education teachers, licensed clinicians, a school psychologist, a
BCBA consultant and related services including OT and speech. We also have creative minds that teach art, music,
social thinking and mindfulness. Our transition program is putting our older kids into the community and on job sites
where they gain valuable work experience. We also offer an Extended School Year program in the summer. We do
our best to offer a complete educational program and to
Pull-apart
help prepare these students for life after Fresh Start. cupcakes
for cooking
As the program continues to grow and evolve, we will class
always remember our roots of helping to ensure that every
child has an education. Even those who don’t always fit in,
deserve a Fresh Start!
Cozy Day during Holiday
Spirit Week Working on
fractions
Transition Program visits
Liberty Bank
FOCUS MATTERS WINTER 2022
Japanese New Year Celebration
FOCUS has enjoyed many years of friendship with Heart International from Japan. We were lucky to have our friends
Yuri and Alan visit this winter. During this visit, they taught our Fresh Start students how to make origami paper
cranes. We also got to learn about Japanese new year celebrations and customs.
We are always learning something new from our special international friendship and treasure their time with us!
Showing of their origami with
Yuri and Alan
Congratulations Nate
Fresh Start School celebrated one of our alumni,
Nate, before joining the United States Marine Corps.
After a few years of attending Fresh Start School,
Nate returned to public school in 2019 and earned his
diploma in 2021. He is now off to become a Marine!
Staff and students made special appearances to cel-
ebrate Nate’s accomplishments and wish him luck. It
is so inspiring to see what a mature and responsible
man Nate is becoming.
Nate visits Fresh Start School
Congratulations, Nate! We wish you the best of luck! before leaving for boot camp
Job Placements
Fresh Start School transition program thrives with unique
job placements for our students in our community. Our
transition students are matched with experiences to help
create opportunities to learn social and vocational skills.
Recent opportunities include landscaping with Ameri-
can Pride Lawn Care, restaurant experience at Flatbread,
blacksmithing at Faith and Fire Forge, and pet care at Mack
and Molly’s Pet Parlor. These experiences allow hands on
and realistic lessons in career development and vocational Learning landscaping and
skills. Fresh Start students demonstrate growth and confi- job skills with American
dence in their capabilities. Pride Lawn Care
FOCUS MATTERS WINTER 2022
Friendsgiving
Our Fresh Start students enjoyed a special Friendsgiving hosted by Creative Development. Our students prepared
pie and dip to share with friends from Create Independence and enjoyed each other’s company sharing meals and
playing games. Fresh Start School is grateful for our connections with our community and the opportunity to create
meaningful social opportunities and friendships!
Energy Efficiency Upgrades Giving Back
FOCUS Center for Autism, through the Energize Con- In December, Fresh Start School held a food drive for Gifts
necticut initiative, is working to improve the energy of Love, a non-profit in Avon that helps provide basic
efficiency at several of the buildings. Fresh Start needs to individuals and families in the Farmington Val-
School recently converted all the lights to LED which ley. Several boxes of nonperishable food and water were
will reduce energy consumption and also provide collected and the Fresh Start Transition Program delivered
much better lighting compared to the old fluorescent it in time for the holidays. Giving back and community
bulbs. In February, the residential program, Shannon involvement are lessons built into the Fresh Start School
House will be having an energy audit completed. curriculum and throughout FOCUS. We are grateful for the
This will include converting lights to LED, improved work Gifts of Love does to fight food insecurities in our
aerators at each faucet, and sealing around door, communities!
windows, and ducts. All of these improvements are a
win-win that will help to reduce FOCUS’ carbon foot-
print and help to save money on the electric bill.
Out with the old
fluorescent bulbs
In with the new Delivering food to
LED bulbs Gifts of Love
FOCUS MATTERS WINTER 2022
Staying Connected
Adult Support Services continues to facilitate lively Zoom sessions
daily. Thanks to funding from the American Saving Foundation,
we were able to purchase fitness trackers for our participants to
help us be more active during this challenging time. We’ve com-
peted individually and as groups to increase our weekly steps.
FOCUS mentors are working individually with our folks to help
them lead activities such as game show night and the making of
healthy snacks. As the weather gets warmer, we will return to
outdoor walks and other in-person activities. We are very grateful Putting their new fitness trackers
to use on a walk with friends
for our community support!
Amazon Wish List
We are always updating our wishlist on Amazon with input from our residents, students, and staff.
Scan the QR code to the right or visit tinyurl.com/FOCUSwishlist to check out the latest wishes and
gift us program essentials!
Shannon House - Now Hiring
Shannon House, our DCF funded Level ll Therapeutic Group Home, is looking to hire some
good people! Positions are available full-time, part-time and per diem, both weekdays and
weekends at our Barkhamsted location. Since 2007, the program has provided a home
for adolescent boys ages 14-21 diagnosed with autism and who have histories of trauma
and abuse. These are complex children who require a strong team approach to treatment.
If you’re interested in becoming a part of our team, please contact Yvonne in Human
Resources at 860-693-6127 or email employment@focuscenterforautism.org.
The Golden
Girls
Thank you for being a
friend! We bet it would
warm Betty White’s heart
to know these three gold- Monday, June 20, 2022
en retrievers, affectionately
known as The Golden Girls, Torrington Country Club
make routine visits to our
supportive housing pro- Fore Autism has a new venue! This year, our golf tournament
gram, Washington House. to benefit FOCUS and Fresh Start School will take place at Tor-
Cam loves his visits with rington Country Club in Goshen! Support FOCUS and play at
The Golden Girls and has a the beautiful private golf course with a day featuring drinks,
Cam and the goal to have a Golden Re- food and raffle prizes. This event is expected to sell out quickly.
Golden Girls triever of his own one day. Sponsorship opportunities available at www.foreautism.com
www.focuscenterforautism.org Facebook @FOCUSautism
860-693-8809 Instagram @FOCUSautism
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