Branford Manor residents and children of all ages in Groton crowded into the Groton City Police Substation located on Mather Avenue on April 16 as they learned about a new program called HES: Health, Education, and Safety Satellite.
Sherry Bassi, faculty member of the UConn School of Nursing and wellness coordinator for the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut, said she had heard that the space at the police substation at Branford Manor was under-utilized and that there was space for programs. After approaching Groton City Police Chief Bruno Giulini, she said he was very receptive and helpful with putting the program together.
“Before you know it, we all started meeting and it all just snowballed,” she said.
The City of Groton Police, in conjunction with the Catherine Kolnaski School staff, the owner of Branford Manor Bay Management Corporation, the UConn School of Nursing faculty and students, the VNA of Southeastern Connecticut, and Groton Human Services, are now providing programs and activities for the local residents.
“It’s to build a sense of community for the residents so that they have a place that can be like a center. That’s why we call it the satellite,” Bassi said. “What that means is that it’s a satellite…where we all will promote health, education, and safety.”
Bassi said the women’s group is one of the programs they’re focused on promoting.
“This women’s group will be dealing with women’s issues,” she explained. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be recovery from substance abuse. They could be recovering from an illness, recovering from a domestic violence situation …We’re looking for not only women who have problems, but women where ‘life is good’ so we can support each other.”
UConn nursing students, Bassi added, will be presenting a wellness series and every Tuesday they’ll offer programs on general wellness.
Bassi’s husband, Dominick Bassi, principal of the Catherine Kolnaski school, said the school has been trying to get more involved in the community and believes HES will able to achieve that. He plans to provide a toddler group program once a week, and begin a parent support group and an educational reading program in future weeks. He thanked Eastern Point School for their donation of most of the furniture now at the satellite.
Alison Robinson, spokesperson and school psychologist of the Catherine Kolnaski school, agreed with the program Principal Bassi mentioned and added the idea of a math program.
“When we moved to the new school, it was farther away from the parents and where they live,” Robinson said. “So when we offered a parent training program, we wouldn’t get a good turnout. We figured we can hold the trainings here [at the substation] closer to them. It’s helping the children because of the after school [programs] and I think it’s really neat and really important.”
She said the different organizations are figuring out what hours they can cover to keep the satellite open for visiting local residents as well as writing a grant to a local organization to gain more materials such as computers.
“I’m glad there are so many families here and it’s great to collaborate with everyone,” Robinson said. “It’s been a really good experience.”
Sharon Burbelo of the VNA of Southeastern Connecticut in Waterford said she’s fortunate to be the visiting nurse for several mothers of newborns who are in Branford Manor and participate in a program called Nurse Family Program.
“I begin to see them during their first trimester of pregnancy and I get to follow them all the way until the kids are 2,” she said. “Moms want to take care of their families…they want to know how to keep their kids safe. No matter what, that’s what mothers want to do.”
She said she was asked by the different organizations to come on board with everyone and she has agreed to come to the satellite twice a month on Wednesdays to help out. She plans to come armed with topics and suggestions for mothers but will tailor what she discusses based on who comes to the program.
“So if I only have pregnant women, we’ll talk about how to have a healthy pregnancy,” she said. “If I only get mothers with 2-year-olds who keep sticking their fingers in outlets, we can talk about how to keep their kids safe…Moms are looking for support and this is another opportunity to help.”
Kari Corveno, Branford Manor’s new property manager, said she’s new to Connecticut, has been in the business for 19 years, and began her current position March 3.
“It has been great to meet everyone in the community right off the bat,” she said. “It’s been wonderful how warm and open everyone in Groton has been for me.” She added that property owners Bay Management are thrilled to have the new program in Branford.
“It was out of their good will that we were able to come in,” Dominick said of Corveno and Bay Management.
Tom Forbes, who has been lieutenant of the Groton City Police Department for 26 years, agreed that the collaboration of the different organizations and agencies has been a success.
“It’s really about delivering the services to the public and to the community,” Forbes said. “The police department has been having community policing services in this community for some time and we really look to strengthen that with the partners that we have here today.”
He explained that the substation will still be a source for direct help from the local Groton City police and the programs provided through HES are an extension of their current services.
“It’s when there’s time of need…we have this resource that can really make a difference,” Forbes said.