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Darien, CT

Kids In Crisis Hosts Annual TeenTalk Summit on July 22 in Darien

Kids In Crisis (KIC) is hosting the annual TeenTalk Summit, bringing together leading voices in teen mental health to evaluate and review the past year's progress and learnings to direct the coming year. The summit is a crucial gathering of government, private sector, non-profit, and education leaders to discuss the growing issues of teen mental health in Fairfield County.

KIC TeenTalk is the only program in Fairfield County that is both in schools and offers 24-hour support via the KIC Helpline. TeenTalk operates in 19 locations, with more than 1,500 Fairfield County students participating in TeenTalk counseling and groups this past year.

Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of Kids In Crisis, along with US Representatives Jim Himes from Connecticut and Robin Kelly from Illinois, will be attending the summit. Other notable attendees include Michael Chambers from the Heidenreich Foundation, Matt Remson, a TeenTalk Student Ambassador, Alicia Dadd, Director of Mental Health for Darien Schools, Demetria Nelson, Commissioner of Human Services Greenwich, Dr. Tamu Lucero, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools, and Janet King, Executive Director of the Community Fund of Darien. Invited guests include Governor Lamont and US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The event will take place on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am ET at Ox Ridge Elementary School, located at 395 Mansfield Avenue, Darien, CT.

TeenTalk, an exclusively designed program by Kids In Crisis, places Master’s-level mental health counselors in Fairfield County middle and high schools. These specially trained, compassionate counselors help students navigate difficult personal, family, and school-related issues. TeenTalk Counselors augment school staff by providing confidential individual, group, and family counseling, as well as preventive education on issues crucial to the health and well-being of young people. They are trained to identify at-risk students and those flying under the radar, reaching out to students experiencing depression, anxiety, substance use struggles, trauma, and conflict-related stresses.

Kids In Crisis, located in Cos Cob, Connecticut, provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis. Issues addressed include domestic violence, mental health concerns, homelessness, substance abuse, economic difficulties, and other critical challenges. The Kids In Crisis Helpline is staffed 24 hours a day with trained Crisis Counselors, providing free, confidential phone and face-to-face intervention, counseling, and referrals. Since its founding in 1978, Kids In Crisis has provided vital 24-hour services to almost 170,000 children, teens, and their families. Providers, educators, community members, and family members are encouraged to call the 24-hour helpline at 203-661-1911 for support.

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Submitted by Erica Bates

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