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07/16/2023 08:10 AMPress Release from the Connecticut General Assembly House Democrats
On July 13, Branford State Representative Robin Comey (D, 102) announced $100,000 in funding from the state budget to advance programming at Branford Counseling & Community Services.
Branford Counseling & Community Services (BCCS) is a municipally funded behavioral health and social services agency providing services to Branford residents, both adults and children. BCCS offers clinical services which are administered by licensed professionals in partnership with Board Certified Adult and Child Psychiatrists. They offer a range of programs, including group, individual, and family therapy. Additionally, there is play therapy for young children, medication evaluation and management, as well as crisis intervention services.
The social services BCCS offers include food and gas cards, case management, short-term financial assistance with rent, emergency shelter, utility payments, and emergency fuel.
“While COVID-19 is behind us, we are still dealing with the mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. Nearly every week, I hear from constituents who have stories of parents, friends, or children struggling. The Branford Counseling and Community Services is on the frontlines and helping those families and so many other Branford residents every single day,” said Comey. “I am proud to have secured this grant for BCCS in the state budget and look forward to them continuing their great work here in town.”
“Our community is suffering from an increase in costs making it difficult for many of our residents, especially the elderly population, to afford basic needs. We receive an overwhelming number of calls for help with rent and utility payments. Some of these individuals face the threat of eviction or power shutoffs,” said BCCS Executive Director Peter Cimino, M.S., L.P.C. “Thanks to this grant, we can help address these issues and keep people in their homes. We are grateful for Representative Comey’s advocacy in securing such crucial funding.”
Additionally, BCCS employs a full-time licensed clinical social worker that works exclusively with the Branford Police, responding in real-time to mental health-related calls with the police and first responders. They also offer community services, which include the Branford Youth Service Bureau, the Employee Assistance Program, drug and alcohol prevention programs, school mentoring programs, and outreach discussions with Army Reserve members, focusing on PTSD and depression.