New Canaan is in need of a divorce support group, human services officials say.
The town had such a group years ago that met in St. Aloysius Church, and there also had been one at the Congregational Church, “but these things have kind of dried up,” according to Jackie D’Louhy, Youth and Family Services Coordinator in the New Canaan Department of Human Services.
“I am interfacing more with moms in this situation but I’m sure there are dads out there, as well,” D’Louhy said during the Feb. 3 meeting of the Health & Human Services Commission.
“I did find a resource that just started in Darien, which is great, it started at Noroton Presbyterian and I just referred three people in the last few weeks, but I’d love to see one here in New Canaan,” D’Louhy said during the meeting, held via videoconference.
“The Domestic Violence Crisis Center is looking to bring someone on there, they need a social work position and they would offer this, as well,” she said. “They are working day-in and day-out with these clients, but they are having trouble finding people to hire. So we are going to see if we can get a resume on Facebook Moms, to see if there maybe is someone that hasn’t been working—a mom maybe has that degree, and would want to do this, so hopefully we can do that.”
D’Louhy added, “I’d love for a local church to offer something like that. I know that those positions are volunteer-based.”
The comments came during D’Louhy’s regular monthly update to the Commission. In it, she noted that she’d had two domestic violence reports in January and one more already in February.
Commissioner Russ Barksdale Jr. said he would pass the information along to a group of local clergy that has been meeting regularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner Alicia Meyer said the need for such a group has come up in the past on New Canaan Moms, and that she could connect D’Louhy with one member of the Facebook group who’s a financial expert that works with divorced women.
Hello – I run a support/empowerment group for divorce women in the Darien/New Canaan/Ridgefield area that draws women from all over Fairfield County! I have been getting the word out on New Canaan Facebook groups and would love any additional help letting women know about us. Our group is called Strong Savvy Women (https://freedomwarrior.info/strong-savvy-women/) and, as a divorced single mom, I started it for precisely the reason you mentioned: I didn’t want divorced women to feel alone and wanted to provide them with the education/resources/community they need for support. I can be reached at amy@freedomwarrior.info – we have educational events all the time and our March 9 meeting is called “Insider Tips from Divorce Attorneys” held nearby at Hayvn in Darien. Here is the link to register ($20 fee covers room rental/refreshments): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/271254719167
I tried to get a group going when I was going through my divorce a few years ago. I’ve connected with many moms (and a couple of dads) through Facebook posts on NC Moms. It was a huge emotional support to myself and I think I’ve helped others through the process. Those of us who were divorced awhile ago could also benefit from a co-parenting discussion group as well, as we struggle with that new normal.
There is a divorce support group in New Canaan. We’ve been in place for about 4 years. Although we have met virtually for the last 2 years, we will be starting a new 13 week series on March 8. We use the curriculum from a national organization, Divorce Care. Anyone interested can access information at DivorceCare.org and register if they’d like to be a part of the group.