RIGBY: Family Resource Center a Great Community Asset

WINSTED–Basic parenting skills and good nutrition were among the topics Rep. John Rigby discussed today when he got a look at the Family Resource Center, a valuable program he views as crucial in building a strong community. Rigby, of Colebrook, spent a couple of hours at the center, housed at Batcheller School on Pratt Street. Director Ruthann Horvay explained the program’s goal, which is to develop comprehensive, community-based systems of family support and child development. These days, the center has turned an eye toward making itself available to families that have just moved to town. Winsted has a particularly high number of renters and quite often it’s these people that benefit most from the the center’s efforts. The center works toward early intervention–making certain young children are as prepared as possible for their first experiences in school. “They’re really providing a key service,” said Rigby, a member of the legislature’s committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement. “In my opinion, it’s money well spent.” According to the Connecticut Family Resource Center Alliance, in 2007-08 there were 62 state-funded Family Resource Centers in 39 school districts throughout the state. These centers routinely provide referrals to parents looking for help with complex subjects such as health care. During his visit today Rigby also caught up with Blaise Salerno, Winchester Public Schools superintedent, and Batcheller principal Matthew O’Connell. For here more information about the Family Resource Center.