Community Organizations

Juvenile Review Board – This group exists under the auspices of Madison Police Services and has representatives from various other local agencies. Juvenile offenders may accept an alternative to the court process designed by the Juvenile Review Board and coordinated by Madison Youth Services. Please call Melissa Balletto for more information at 203 245-5656.

Friends of Madison Youth/Wilbur W. Pardee Youth Center The Wilbur W. Pardee Youth Center was established by The Friends of Madison Youth as a safe, drug-free, supervised environment where Madison teens can enjoy a positive recreational experience and avoid risk-taking behavior common to adolescents. In addition to providing age-appropriate recreation for the town’s young people, the Barn seeks to encourage opportunities for growth, maturity, and personal skill development through a balance of challenging activities and programs that will enhance their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Madison Youth Services was a founding member of Friends of Madison Youth and continues to provide consultation and technical assistance.

Valley Shore Collaborative (Essex) / Shoreline Collaborative (Branford) Within the State of Connecticut there are a number of community-based programs known as “Collaboratives.” These programs are set up geographically around the state and get funding through various resources such as grants and DCF. The Collaboratives have a membership of parents and agencies in their communities that work together to identify needs, and then coordinate and provide a variety of services for youths and families to met those needs. Each Collaborative maintains a “Care Coordinator” to work individually with families in need, and identified Chairpersons to convene monthly meetings in their respective localities. Collaborative meetings can be very useful for finding out about resources, identifying community needs, and providing advocacy for kids and families. Madison is somewhat unique in that it falls under two Catchment areas, which essentially means Madison residents could participate with either the Valley Shore Collaborative or Shoreline Collaborative. For more information about these programs, or making the choice about which meeting to attend, you can contact our staff or call the Care Coordinators directly: As of May 2009 Valley Shore Collaborative - Mary Lou Woynar (860) 767-0147 x 1308 Shoreline Collaborative – Christine Montgomery (203) 777-8648

Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries provides food and fellowship to those in need. We serve the Connecticut shoreline towns of Essex, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth, Westbrook and Deep River. We provide approximately 900,000 meals worth of food each year. 860.388.1988

L.I.F.E. (Live Intoxication Free Everyday) is the youth affiliate of M.A.D.E. (Madison Alcohol and Drug Education Coalition).  We are a group of high school students that promote making good choices throughout the community, as well as bringing an awareness to the dangers of underage substance use to light.  In the past, we have been involved in many different activities including workshops with younger children, creating billboards, bringing speakers to the high school, as well as many other activities.  For further information contact Melissa Balletto or Erin Corbett at 203-245-5656.

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