BOYS & GIRLS VILLAGE Board of Directors

Carol Smith Harker

Chair

Carmina Hirsch, Esq,

Vice-Chair

James Kane

Treasurer

Dr. Ellen Russell Beatty

Secretary

Portia Bonner
Richard Epstein
David Femi
Brent French, Ph.D.*
Gina Carloni Hart
Chris Hickmann*
Etan Hirsch*
Tom Kuser
Kerry Linden
Leah Smith
Chris Taft*
Joseph Tramuta, Esq.

Kim Shaunesey, Ph.D. President & CEO

The Village Foundation, Inc.

Kevin Hart President

President

Dave Marro

Vice President

Dan Cusack

Treasurer

Karen Monteith-Flynn

Secretary

*NEW TO BOARD IN FY2026

Dear Friends,

I’m often reminded that life is full of moments when everything could have gone another way. One story that has stayed with me is that of Pilgrim John Howland, who was swept overboard during a storm on the Mayflower. Against all odds, he managed to catch hold of the ship’s rigging and was pulled back to safety. Because of that literal second chance at life, he went on to build a life and a family, which many generations later included me.

That idea of a second chance feels especially meaningful in the context of our work at Boys & Girls Village. Every day, we meet children and families at pivotal moments when the path forward is uncertain and the next steps are critical. With the right support, guidance, and care, those moments can become positive turning points. Like John Howland, the young people we serve are not defined by the storm, but by what happens next.

At BGV, we are committed to supporting those steps forward. Whether it’s a family learning to regain trust and learn healthier ways to communicate, a young person building confidence and emotional intelligence on our ropes course, or a teenager discovering confidence and purpose through vocational skills, each experience represents forward progress. These are not just programs, they are pathways toward healthier, more independent futures.

None of this is possible without you. Your generosity, partnership, and belief in our mission make it possible for us to continue offering innovative, compassionate care to some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children and families. Together, we are not only offering second chances, we are helping to build stronger futures, one step at a time.

Thank you for being part of this work.

With gratitude,

Kimberly Shaunesey, PhD

President & CEO

Behavioral Health

Boys & Girls Village provides behavioral health services that help children build better futures, including in-home therapy, after-school support, trauma-focused care, a 24/7 alternative to hospitalization, and specialized residential programs.

Permanency Planning

BGV works with families to help them relate to each other in a safe and constructive manner so the child can stay with his or her family. When this isn’t possible, BGV offers therapeutic foster care. BGV ensures that every child has someone looking out for them and wanting them to succeed.

Substance Use Treatment

Boys & Girls Village provides in-home substance use treatment for families, combining evidence-based care, trauma services, psychiatric support, medication management, and personalized plans to help parents achieve recovery and maintain stable homes.

Juvenile Justice

BGV leverages its expertise with at-risk youth in juvenile justice, partnering with the State’s Judicial Branch to run ASBTEP, a program that educates and treats adolescents with problem sexual behavior.

LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Services

The Youth Link Mentoring Program supports LGBTQIA+, cisgender, gender non-conforming, and transgender youth ages 13–21 by fostering long-term, affirming relationships with adult mentors to help them reach their potential and live authentically.

Charles F. Hayden School

Charles F. Hayden School, a K-12 special education school, welcomes children who are having trouble finding the support they need in their home school. Our teachers and therapists are skillfully trained and ready to help any child in need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Vocational Programming

BGV’s vocational and transitional programs help youth ages 16–21 build life and job skills, including financial literacy and career training in culinary, automotive, and technology, supporting independence and long-term self-sufficiency.

Launch

In 2025, Boys & Girls Village welcomed The Launch Program to our Bridgeport and Milford campuses. Launch is an intensive, community-based program for youth ages 14–17 in DCF foster care. Building on our former Work to Learn program, it helps teens gain job, life, and money skills to better prepare for adulthood. Youth take part in life skills training, community work experiences, and financial education, including an Individual Development Account where they can save and learn smart money habits. BGV matches their savings dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 each year.

Community Support

BGV would be nothing without its community. These are just a few examples of the ways our neighbors stepped up in 2025 to make a difference:

• A partner of Kada’s Promise delivered a set of teddy bears for children in foster care.

These teddy bears will provide a sense of security for the children, reminding each child that even in uncertain times, they are cared for and not alone.
• The Cheshire Public Library and the community of Cheshire offered a generous donation of professional business attire.

These clothes will be used by the Launch program, which offers skill-building and employment opportunities for youth ages 14-17 who are in foster care. Thanks to this donation, our youth now have access to the apparel they need to attend job fairs and interviews with confidence and pride.

• Jaidalynn Alicea, Miss Connecticut Teen Volunteer 2025 organized the Holiday Gingerbread Extravaganza Toy Drive and Sugar & Spice Fairytales planned the fantastic Holiday Community Celebration, both of which provided boxes full of toys for the kids in our programs.
• The students of Stamford High School created 75 comfort cases for BGV’s foster care children.

Comfort cases not only provide physical items but they also serve as a meaningful reminder to children during difficult moments that they are seen, supported, and valued.

Accreditation

In April 2025, Boys & Girls Village welcomed reviewers from the Council on Accreditation (COA) to our Milford and Bridgeport campuses for a series of in-depth interviews and discussions. Following the visit, the lead auditor shared the following:

“We came in having reviewed your self-study and documentation, which all looked strong. But our role is to see whether the work matches what’s on paper. What we found is that you exceed what you present on paper. Based on our experience, you are one of the best agencies, and for many good reasons. You should be incredibly proud.”

This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of staff, clients, board members, and partners who work every day to deliver high-quality care and meaningful outcomes for the youth and families we serve.

BGV served

1132

unique clients from 83 different towns and cities throughout Connecticut

89%

of clients in our Safe Haven residence showed a significant increase in functioning or decrease in problem severity

93%

of caregivers in our Building Stronger Families program were substance free at discharge

Hayden School offered special education to

156

students from kindergarten through 12th grade

Our behavioral therapy programs had an average of a

98%

satisfaction rate among families of children served

79%

of family members attended weekly therapy sessions with their child in our Kraft House residence

100%

of families were reunited after participating in our Reunification program

90%

of parents in Parent Support Services felt they met their treatment goals

86%

of children in Kraft House were successfully discharged to a less restrictive level of care

99%

of families in our Quality Parenting Centers indicated that their parenting skills had improved

96%

of youth in our juvenile justice program did not have any arrests during the course of their treatment

1. How long have you been at BGV?

23 years

2. What were you doing before coming to BGV?

I worked for West Haven Probation as a recreation therapist and creative arts instructor. I also assisted in multiday wilderness school trips with them.

3. What is your exact title and how would you describe what you do on a day to day basis?

Senior Recreational Therapist and Challenge Course Manager. On a day to day basis I am facilitating groups at our school and residential programs on the ropes course, introducing the youth to new recreation and leisure activities to develop a healthy lifestyle, teaching self-regulation skills and activities, and doing my best to instill hope that they can and will get better and live the happy and fulfilling lives they deserve.

4. What do you like most about working at BGV?

The kids. And the feeling of satisfaction I get watching them do something that I have taught them or encouraged them to do. I have been fortunate that from very early in my career I have had the full support of senior leadership (Dr. Kimberly Shaunesey and Dr. Steven Kant) in adding and developing a variety of therapeutic recreation components to the agency, such as adventure-based counseling and gardening to name a couple. I am grateful to be given all the resources I need to help the children learn and grow using a variety of experiential-based activities.

support of senior leadership (Dr. Kimberly Shaunesey and Dr. Steven Kant) in adding and developing a variety of therapeutic recreation components to the agency, such as adventure-based counseling and gardening to name a couple. I am grateful to be given all the resources I need to help the children learn and grow using a variety of experiential-based activities.

5. Do you have moment you are most proud of?

One moment that has always stayed with me is from my time working with a Safe Haven client. His family life was chaotic, and he faced significant behavioral health challenges. After he was discharged, I didn’t know what became of him. Years later, I was leaving the office when a young man stopped me. He recognized me, though I didn’t recognize him at first. He said, “You were the most positive memory from my childhood.”

Today, he’s graduated from college and works at a law firm. Over my 23 years with BGV, I’ve seen many moments like this. I think youth connect with me because I try to be a source of hope. I draw on my own experiences to show them I understand and that I truly believe in them.

I’m doing my best to instill hope that they (the youth) can and will get better and live the happy and fulfilling lives they deserve.

Amy Tansley has played a key role in expanding enrichment opportunities for youth in BGV’s Safe Haven and Kraft House residential programs.

One of the most visible examples, both figuratively and literally, is the Project Adventure ropes course that towers above the Milford campus. In place for over 20 years (with an indoor course operating for more than 25), Project Adventure uses experiencebased learning to help youth face fears in a controlled, safe environment. While the course may feel intimidating, it allows participants to better understand their body’s responses and practice regulating them. This is especially important for youth who have experienced trauma, where even small triggers can activate a fight-or-flight response. Adventure-based learning helps desensitize these reactions, teaching youth that they can remain in control even in moments of stress.

Project Adventure uses experience-based learning to help youth face fears in a controlled, safe environment.

Beyond the ropes course, Amy has helped introduce a wide range of enrichment activities, including Family Fun Nights, a yoga and meditation studio, and therapeutic recreation through gardening. As Amy explains, “Having enrichment activities isn’t just ‘nice to offer’, it’s a core part of effective treatment. These activities build real-world coping skills, increase engagement in treatment, reinforce clinical treatment goals, support development of self-regulation skills, help the youth to identify and develop their strengths and interests, and restore a sense of normalcy and hope. Residential care can make our youth feel isolated. These enrichment activities remind the youth that they are more than a diagnosis and help reintroduce joy, curiosity, and a future-minded mindset.”

Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who have supported BGV over the past year. We would like to extend a special thank you to the following foundations and businesses that have contributed:

Affinity Health & Wellness Inc.
Assured Partners
Carbutti & Co., Realtors LLC
The Dan Adley Ralph Carloni Memorial Fund
Colonial Toyota
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Connoisseur Media, LLC
County Electric Construction, Inc.
The Dammann Fund
The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation
Family Electric, Inc.

First County Bank Foundation, Inc.
Charles D. Fleischman Charitable Trust
Fore the Kids CT Inc.
The Goodnow Fund
Hawes Family Fund
Maximillian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Fdn.
It’s Free to Dream Foundation
The Charles & Mabel P. Jost Foundation, Inc.
L.H. Brenner, Inc.
The Ethel and Abe Lapides Foundation

M&T Charitable Foundation
MH Maintenance LLC
Near & Far Aid Association, Inc.
NewAlliance Foundation Inc.
Newtown Savings Bank
St. Louis Community Foundation
Total Wine & More
Town Fair Tire Foundation Fund
The Ernest & Joan Trefz Foundation
Workers’ Compensation Trust

Want to learn more about what we do? Please visit www.bgvillage.org or email development@bgvillage.org.