Minks to Sinks is the ultimate treasure hunt where you can discover amazing deals on pre-loved items for your home, wardrobe, and more! From chic clothing to stylish home decor, you'll find it all under one roof. All proceeds benefit FCA and help neighbors right here in our community.
Do you have gently used items that could use a new home? Don't toss them! Donate or consign them with us, and let someone else fall in love with your stuff!
Let's make this the most memorable Minks to Sinks yet! Join us for a day of shopping, laughter, and awesome finds. Who knows, you might just stumble upon your next favorite thing!
FCA’s Mother’s Day Tea returns on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at Woodway Country Club in Darien! We look forward to gathering with friends to celebrate extraordinary women and to raising important funds for FCA and welcome you to join us.
Proceeds from the Mother’s Day Tea will support FCA and memorial funds honoring Allison Barton Haupt and Charlotte Taverna, two special volunteers who left a lasting impression on the Agency. We are fortunate to have had Allison and Charlotte in our FCA family, honored that we were so important to them, and especially grateful for all the roles they played over the years.
Join us for light bites, refreshments, a program presentation, and an incredible shopping boutique with local vendors! Find that special someone a gift just in time for Mother’s Day and 10% of your purchase will benefit Family & Children’s Agency.
Committee Julene Greenshields & Brigitte Mansourian, Co-Hosts Ann Barton Kathleen P. Murphy Jennifer B. Toll
Thanks to the incredible support from compassionate and caring people like you, critical services were delivered to thousands of children, families, adults, and seniors through Family & Children's Agency (FCA) in 2025.
This past year we:
• Teamed our Behavioral Health department and our ASPIRE after-school program to provide a new social-emotional group for students • Began a new pilot program helping underserved young adults pursue careers in healthcare • Expanded our Multisystemic Therapy program, which serves youth with behavioral and emotional needs, by adding a substance use disorder component. • Partnered with the Latinx Integrated Care (LINC) program to better serve Spanish-speaking immigrant students in Norwalk Public Schools • Launched a prom closet to provide no-cost formalwear to students • Joined Norwalk's Crisis Response Team which supports families following a suicide or unexpected death and provides outreach, therapy, grief support groups, and more • Developed new partnerships with Laurel House and Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project to provide counseling to their clients with mental health issues • Were designated a Community Focal Point by the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging, affirming FCA's role as Norwalk's trusted access point for senior services • Served more than 104 children in FCA's Foster Care program • Began a series of playgroups for adoptive families to help them build community
In the coming year, we look forward to:
• Expanding mental health services for youth and their families • Broadening our case management services for seniors • Providing even more case management services for adults and families seeking stable and affordable housing • Continuing to highlight staff expertise by attending speaking engagements and providing trainings at schools, community events, and other gatherings • Offering college and career readiness support to all youth served by FCA • Continuing and expanding our English classes for clients with limited English proficiency
Click here to learn more about our services and accomplishments this year. To donate to FCA and help us reach these goals, please click here.
Thank you for all you do to support our work and our community. We wish you all the best in the new year.
With your help, together we change lives!
This Thanksgiving, a Reunion 41 Years in the Making
For 41 years, every Thanksgiving, every birthday, and every quiet moment in between, Kim wondered about the baby boy she placed for adoption at 17. She hoped he was safe, loved, healthy, and happy.
“I always prayed he would come looking for me,” she said.
In 1983, adoptions were often closed, birth parents had little voice, and very few details were shared. Kim held her baby briefly and was told almost nothing—no updates, no letters, no photos. Just years of wondering and hoping.
This year, everything is different.
When Kim became pregnant in 1983, she was 17, in Catholic school, and living at home. When her mother discovered the pregnancy, Kim delivered her baby boy at Stamford Hospital two weeks later.
Her mother contacted Family & Children’s Aid, now Family & Children’s Agency (FCA), and arranged a closed adoption. Kim briefly held her son, then he was taken to the nursery. She did not choose his adoptive family and was given very little information.
“At 17, I had no choice,” Kim said. “I always prayed he would come looking for me.”
For 41 years, Kim wondered if he was safe, loved, and okay. She thought about him every August 29, his birthday, and told her two younger children about their older brother so they would never be surprised by his existence.
“I have been worried for 41 years that he was in a good home, that he wasn’t abused, that he wasn’t locked in jail,” she said.
Reaching back to the agency that placed her son
As the years went on, Kim built a life. She served in the Navy, raised two children, and built a long career as a nurse at Stamford Hospital, the same place where she gave birth to her first child.
The longing to know her son never went away. She considered searching earlier, but family pressure and uncertainty about her rights held her back.
In 2023 Kim decided it was finally time. She contacted FCA’s adoption program, where she connected with Devon, a social worker who supports adult adoptees and birth parents exploring searches.
Together, they reviewed Kim’s options. FCA provided a non-identifying summary of the adoption file so she could learn more about where her son had been placed. Kim then requested a formal search.
Using archived records and a secure search database, FCA located Adam and sent a letter to his home. A short time later, Devon called Kim with the news she had been waiting decades to hear: Adam had received the letter and wanted contact.
“I was over the moon,” Kim said. “My biggest fear was that he would not want anything to do with me.”
In a remarkable twist, two weeks before that call, Adam’s birth father, Terry, also reached out to Kim for the first time since they were teenagers, asking if he could be included if their son was found. Today, both birth parents are in Adam’s life.
“We just embraced each other”
Devon helped arrange their first meeting at a restaurant halfway between their homes.
“I made sure I got there early,” Kim said. “When he walked in, I recognized him from the picture. I said, ‘Can I hug you?’ and he said yes. We just embraced each other for a while.”
Kim describes their time together as peaceful and natural. They swapped phone numbers that day and have been in frequent contact ever since.
Their families have begun to blend as well. Kim has met Adam’s two children, and he has met his siblings and their children. The cousins play together and are already talking about longer visits, planning to spend New Years together this year.
“My other two kids welcomed him with open arms,” Kim said. “We are just having a great time.”
Adam, who grew up as an only child in a loving family in New Haven, had always known he was adopted. He is now planning to introduce Kim to his adoptive parents, and Kim is grateful for the care they gave her son.
“I am so indebted to them for taking my son and raising him as their own,” she said.
Adoption then and now
Kim’s experience reflects what adoption looked like in the 1980s when closed adoptions were common and minor birth parents had little control over the process. Today, FCA’s adoption program focuses on informed choice, options counseling, openness when possible, and support for everyone involved, including those who placed or were adopted decades ago.
For Kim, that support changed everything.
“I am so, so happy,” she said. “My life is now complete.”
Kim said, “March 4th changed our lives forever. How blessed are we to have a second chance to be parents to our son, and we get to be grandparents to two boys. A 41-year journey that ends with no more wondering, worries, tears or sleepless nights, just love!”
During National Adoption Month and especially during this season of gratitude, FCA honors stories like Kim and Adam’s, which show that adoption is not a single event but a lifelong journey.
If you are a birth parent, adoptee, or adoptive parent who would like to learn more about FCA’s adoption and search services, our team is here to listen, provide information, and help you explore your options.
IMAGINE 2026
Hyatt Regency Greenwich 1800 East Putnam Ave., Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Join us for our signature fundraising event!
This year, we again welcome author, speaker, and record-breaking auctioneer Lydia Fenet with us as our auctioneer. This year we are excited to welcome Next Generation DJ Group, so bring your dancing shoes!
There is so much need in our community, but FCA has been here for more than 80 years to embrace, empower, and support our neighbors. Whether it’s providing parenting education and after-school programming, offering mental health care to clients of all ages, delivering foster care and adoption services, helping adults struggling with substance use disorder or homelessness, or supporting seniors maintain their dignity and quality of life, FCA is here for our neighbors at every age.
Virtual Conversation – The Cost of Home: Exploring local housing challenges and community solutions
Housing stability plays a vital role in the strength and well-being of our communities. Fairfield County faces rising housing costs, limited availability, and long waitlists, creating challenges for residents at every stage of life.
Our conversation about the current housing landscape in our region and what each of us can do to support a stable, inclusive community discussed the local factors driving housing pressure, explore policy and community solutions, and share meaningful ways neighbors, advocates, and partners can get involved. Participants left with a deeper understanding of the issues and practical ideas for supporting housing stability in Fairfield County.
Speakers were:
Helen McAlinden President & CEO Homes with Hope
Zabrina Román, MPA Fair Housing Officer City of Norwalk
Alexandra Sollazzo, LMSW Program Director, Supportive Housing Family & Children’s Agency
Moderated by Robert F. Cashel, LCSW President & CEO Family & Children’s Agency
FCA Virtual Conversation - The Cost of Home: Exploring local housing challenges and community solutions
Housing stability plays a vital role in the strength and well-being of our communities. Fairfield County faces rising housing costs, limited availability, and long waitlists, creating challenges for residents at every stage of life.
Join us for a conversation about the current housing landscape in our region and what each of us can do to support a stable, inclusive community. We’ll discuss the local factors driving housing pressure, explore policy and community solutions, and share meaningful ways neighbors, advocates, and partners can get involved. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of the issues and practical ideas for supporting housing stability in Fairfield County.
Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) is a leader in providing social services to our community and is proud to host this virtual conversation with:
Helen McAlinden President & CEO Homes with Hope
Since taking the helm in 2020, Helen has expanded Homes with Hope by 25 supportive housing apartments and transformed its focus to now serving over 80% prevention-based clients, compared to its previous near-exclusive focus on the chronically homeless.
Helen is a recognized leader in her field, having presented at top conferences including the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. She also co-chairs Opening Doors Fairfield County and its Advocacy Committee. Helen is a board member of the Westport Downtown Association and an active member of the Westport Rotary Club. She holds a Master of Social Work from Fordham University and a BS in Leadership Management from Manhattan College.
Zabrina Román, MPA Fair Housing Officer City of Norwalk
Zabrina serves as the Fair Housing Officer for the City of Norwalk, where she investigates housing discrimination concerns, provides rights and responsibilities education to renters and housing providers, and partners with community organizations to expand access to safe, affordable housing. She has almost a decade of experience across fair housing, affordable housing programs, and community development, including previous roles in grants management, and tenant education.
Zabrina trains property managers and community groups on compliance and reasonable accommodations, often focusing on removing barriers for at-risk populations. She’s pursuing an EdD in community engagement and equity in education, work that reflects her commitment to inclusion.
Alexandra Sollazzo, LMSW Program Director, Supportive Housing Family & Children’s Agency
Alexandra is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over a decade of experience in supportive housing, clinical counseling, and family services. In her current role, Alexandra leads a multidisciplinary team of case managers, social workers, and interns ensuring the well-being and basic needs of clients in the community. Alex’s therapeutic work is grounded in a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes client-centered care and long-term wellness.
Alexandra’s experience expands into providing intensive in-home support to foster/kinship and pre-adoptive families, with a focus addressing intergenerational trauma. A graduate of Fordham University with a Master’s in Social Work, she holds a B.S. in Social Work from Western Connecticut State University. She is certified in SIFI supervision, a certified parent education instructor, and serves as The City of Norwalk Fair Housing Commissioner.
Moderated by Robert F. Cashel, LCSW President & CEO Family & Children's Agency
For 20 years, Rob has been President & CEO of FCA, where he is responsible for the multi-service human service organization with more than 200 staff. Rob has developed key partnerships in the community while also establishing formal relationships with numerous private and corporate foundations.
Rob, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is currently on the Board and Executive Committee of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA) and is also on the Board of Norwalk ACTS.
Rob has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University. He is also a certified marriage and family therapist and a certified alcoholism counselor.
Simple Ways to Self-Regulate and Find Calm
When emotions start to feel overwhelming or anxiety takes over, having a few reliable self-regulation tools can make all the difference. These quick, evidence-based techniques can help you slow down, reconnect with your body, and bring your mind back to the present moment. Try a few to see what works best for you.
Rollercoaster Breathing
This child-friendly technique works for people of all ages. Hold out one hand with fingers spread wide, and use your other pointer finger to slowly trace the outline of your hand. As you trace up a finger, breathe in. As you trace down, breathe out. Continue until you’ve traced all five fingers, focusing on the rhythm of your breath and the calming motion of your hand.
Square (Box) Breathing
Square breathing is a powerful tool for managing stress and anxiety. Picture a square in your mind. As you breathe in for four counts, trace one side of the square. Hold your breath for four counts along the next side, exhale for four counts along the third, and hold again for four counts to complete the square. Repeat several times to steady your breathing and heart rate.
Cooling Down with Temperature
Temperature can play a surprising role in calming your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve. Try holding an ice cube, pressing a cold pack to the back of your neck or under your arm, or even taking a brief cold shower. The physical shock of the temperature change helps interrupt spiraling thoughts and brings your focus back to your body and the present moment.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
This grounding exercise helps you reconnect to your surroundings through your senses. Take a deep breath, then name:
5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Finish with another deep breath. This simple sensory check-in can stop racing thoughts and remind your brain that you’re safe in the moment.
Count Backwards by 7s
Starting at 100, count backward by sevens. It’s harder than it sounds! The mental effort redirects your focus and can stop anxious or intrusive thought loops in their tracks.
Bilateral Stimulation
Lightly tapping your legs, shoulders, or rubbing your palms along your thighs activates both sides of the brain, which can reduce the intensity of stress and anxiety. It’s a discreet, physical way to help your body calm down and re-center.
Guided Meditation or Body Scan
If you have a few minutes, guided meditations and body scans are available on YouTube and mindfulness apps. These gentle practices lead you through noticing each part of your body, relaxing muscles, and grounding your thoughts.
Sour or Spicy Distraction
A small piece of sour candy or something spicy can interrupt intrusive thoughts much like cold temperature changes do. The strong sensory experience pulls your attention back to the moment.
Grounding Item
Carrying a small item like a stone, keychain, or token can serve as a reminder to practice your self-regulation skills. When you hold it, focus on how it feels in your hand, its texture and temperature. This small act can help bring you back to the present.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Family & Children’s Agency at http://www.familyandchildrensagency.org or 203-855-8765. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available for 24/7 confidential assistance.
FCA Creates Virginia C. Martin Legacy Award
Tonight, we are proud to introduce the Virginia C. Martin Legacy Award, created in honor of Ginny Martin whose life and service left an immeasurable impact on Family & Children’s Agency.
Ginny joined the FCA Board of Directors in 1985 and dedicated more than 30 years to leadership roles at the Agency. Throughout her decades of service she lent her time and expertise to nearly every aspect of our work including the Fund Development, Board Governance, Friends of FCA, and Maternal Child Program committees. She also represented the Board on statewide committees and served numerous times on the IMAGINE benefit Committee, helping ensure the success of one of our most important events.
But Ginny was far more than a Board member. She was a tireless volunteer, showing up wherever help was needed. She served food to clients at holiday parties, manned a game at our Community Block Party, and brought warmth and joy to our Holiday Bazaar. She was honored in 2020 as the recipient of the Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award in recognition of her extraordinary service and devotion to FCA.
Ginny was admired and beloved by all who knew her. She had an extraordinary ability to connect with all people, and she treated our employees with genuine respect and appreciation. She truly understood how hard their work was, and she supported them with encouragement, friendship, and heartfelt gratitude.
That is why this new award, which will be given each year to an outstanding employee, bears her name. It celebrates not only her decades of leadership and volunteerism but also her remarkable spirit of kindness, her belief in the mission, and her unwavering support for the people who make FCA’s work possible.
In its inaugural year, we are honored to present the Virginia C. Martin Legacy Award to her husband, Bob Martin, as a tribute to Ginny’s extraordinary service and the enduring inspiration that she will continue to bring to our Agency.
Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award Presented to Brian H. Vendig
The Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of volunteerism on behalf of Family & Children’s Agency. The award is named in honor of Anne C. Cary, who was involved in nearly every aspect of volunteerism at the Agency for over 25 years. Anne volunteered in FCA’s Maternal Child programs and provided clients with literacy education and support. She was also a Board member and worked on a variety of fundraising initiatives, including hosting a fashion show and a Mother’s Day Tea in Darien.
This year’s Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award is presented to Brian H. Vendig.
Brian has been a dedicated supporter of FCA for more than a decade, contributing both his time and resources to strengthen the Agency’s mission. He first joined FCA’s Junior Board of Advisors in 2013, quickly stepping into a leadership role as co-chair. In 2014, he was elected to the Board of Directors, where he continues to serve today as Vice Chair. Over the years, Brian has lent his expertise and leadership to many committees, including Communications, Board Governance, Finance, Investment, Executive, the Golf Classic committee and as Chair of the Board Endowment committee.
Beyond his governance roles, Brian and his wife, Michele, have shown remarkable generosity through both personal contributions and their company, MJP Wealth Advisors. Michele has also been a member of our IMAGINE committee and has even co-chaired the event multiple times. Their children have volunteered their time sorting food donations and school supplies, and the family has consistently sponsored and attended FCA events such as the IMAGINE benefit and the annual Golf Classic.
Brian’s involvement reflects the very spirit of this award, demonstrating leadership, service, and an enduring commitment to FCA’s programs and clients. We are deeply grateful for his generosity, his thoughtful guidance, and the example he sets for his family and community. We are proud to present the 2025 Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award to Brian H. Vendig in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Family & Children’s Agency and the lives we serve.
