Guided Assistance Program (GAP)

Personal growth and possibilities become reality

The Guided Assistance Program (GAP) provides personalized support and referrals for women and families facing difficult life challenges. The Center’s Referral Navigators work to directly connect participants to community resources spanning crisis services, social services, mental health, financial and legal services. Through GAP, a participant learns how to outline her personal or family needs and to create an action plan. GAP is a unique service, not offered at any other organization on the Shoreline, providing services to anyone regardless of income from any of the following 16 towns that we serve:

Branford, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haven, East Lyme, Essex, Guilford, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.

Women & Family Life Center assists many families that would otherwise have no place to turn for help. Contact us for immediate assistance or more information.

Our Services

Restart Divorce Support Group

This 6-week support group will be held on Monday evenings at Women & Family Life Center from 7:00pm-9:00pm on March 28, April 4, April 11, April 18, May 2 May 9 (note there will be no group on April 25) and will be hosted by two facilitators Thea Bourke Martin, JD and Sandy Wolf, LCSW. The six week series is designed to provide information, skills and support for those contemplating or navigating divorce. With the guidance of a Licensed Clinical Social Work and Divorce Attorney/Coach, participants will learn the essential skills needed to thrive through and after divorce.

Together participants will explore the emotional, legal and financial aspects of divorce including:

1. emotional regulation and self care;

2. spousal and child support;

3. custody and parenting plans;

4. the division of assets and debts; and

5. building your professional team.

Participants will leave with:

1. a personalized roadmap for the journey ahead;

2. a comprehensive list of resources and an understanding of when and how to use those resources effectively (Highlighting W&FL programs);

3. a sense of community and support;

4. an understanding of their personal relationship to stress, conflict, and marriage and how that influences their lives through and after divorce.

To register please contact one the Center's Referral Navigators by calling 203.458.6699 or email info@womenandfamilylife.org.

Adapt Divorce Workshop

Information is power!

The Adapt Divorce Workshop will be held via Zoom on March 26, 2022 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

This workshop is led by one of our volunteer attorneys who will provide a comprehensive overview of divorce and provide information to help acquire the tools you need to make the best choices for you and your family. An expert in divorce and family law guides you through the different types of divorce, paperwork to collect, questions to ask, and how the courts are operating during the pandemic. Empowered with this knowledge, you can more confidently navigate this major life change.

To register, or for more information about this workshop, please call the Center and ask to speak with one of our Guided Assistance Program Referral Navigators at 203-458-6699 or send an email to info@womenandfamilylife.org

Lawyer Time

Meet individually with one of our volunteer attorneys to discuss your legal questions and to better understand your rights and the legal process. Attorneys can discuss most civil matters; for legal assistance related to immigration or criminal law, please call our Center and ask to speak with a Referral Navigator (203-458-6699) who can put you in touch with other resources. To schedule your free appointment, please follow these two steps:

1. Create or update your Registration Account with us here:

https://cm2wflc.neworg.com/Default.asp?PageNum=91

2. For more information about Lawyer Time or to make an appointment please call our office at 203-458-6699 or email at info@womenandfamilylife.org.

Financial Education

Financial Consults one-on-one assistance:

Meet individually with a volunteer Financial Coach to empower yourself to make better financial decisions and take control of your economic independence and success. Topics include: budgeting; divorce & finances; debt; death claims paperwork; and more! For safety during COVID, all of our appointments will be held via phone or video conference.

To schedule your free appointment, please follow the following steps:

1. Create or update your Registration Account with us here:

https://cm2wflc.neworg.com/Default.asp?PageNum=91
2. For more information about Financial Consults or to make an appointment please call our office at 203-458-6699 or email at info@womenandfamilylifecenter.org.

Safe Search

Are you a woman looking for a safe place to make calls or use the internet?

Women & Family Life Center is pleased to announce that we will be starting up our Safe Search program once again. Safe Search allows women who do not feel they are in a safe environment to communicate freely and without fear of being tracked or monitored.

Safe Search provides a private space for calling counselors or lawyers; researching job openings; or revising and printing their resume, for example. Our Safe Search program allows women to be set-up to use a computer, internet, printer, copier, fax machine and phone in the privacy of their own room. We also offer locked storage for securing documents for future use as well as the referral book of local resources.

Safe Search will be open Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 3:00pm at Women & Family Life Center's offices located at 96 Fair Street. No appointment is necessary and there is no fee.