The Child and Family Institute aims to purchase Great Hollow Wilderness School to expand their mental health services. The wilderness program has helped many children through therapeutic, academic, and adventure activities. Purchasing the property would allow CFI to create new programs addressing issues like bullying, obesity, substance abuse, and autism. CFI seeks investors and donors to preserve the natural area and support the community's well-being through these therapeutic programs.

1. AT GREAT HOLLOW WILDERNESS SCHOOL
THE UNDER DEVELOPED GEM OF NEW FAIRFIELD AND SHERMAN
CONNECTICUT

2. Healing Children
Strengthening Families
and Inspiring our Community

3. THE MISSION of the Child and Family Institute of Fairfield County
(CFI) is to provide comprehensive and effective mental health
services that change the lives of children, adolescents, and their
families.
The Child and Family Institute of Fairfield County visions a
community where children’s futures are not compromised by
their differences. CFI believes that every individual deserves the
opportunity to achieve his/her potential; and this value system
is defined within its programs and organizational structure.

4.  CFI’s primary goal is to provide clinical intervention that will
support lifestyle choices and behavior changes that will
strengthen and empower children and their families.
 Our Comprehensive Approach includes working with the child as
well as the family, school, and community agency resulting in
sustainable and abiding positive change in the child’s life.

5.  Clinical and Psychiatric Evaluations
 Prior to the start of treatment, an extensive evaluation is completed on every individual.
This in-depth assessment ensures that a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be
made to guarantee effective treatment.
 Individual, Group and Family Therapy
 The center provides psycho-educational and therapeutic groups. Groups are designed to
provide participants healthy coping and life skills. The focus is to develop skills to
effectively manage anger and emotions, resolve conflicts, improve social
relationships, and family functioning.
 Parent Management Training Program
 This ten week course provides parents and caregivers with an understanding of their
child’s disorders and behaviors and teaches effective parenting
skills, communication, problem solving techniques, and enhances family unity.
 Liaison and Advocacy Services
 CFI provides liaison and advocacy services to school systems, community agencies, and
daycare facilities to ensure that clients are receiving the appropriate educational services
and care.
 We provide services to approximately 450 individuals annually

6. Mental illness among children and adolescents has
reached epidemic proportions, and is now
considered to be the leading cause of disability in
children.
5,ooo,ooo children and
adolescents in the country
suffer from a serious mental
health disorder that causes
significant impairment in
functioning at
home, school, and with peers

7. eating Symptoms can include frequent tic
disorders outbursts of anger, irritability, disorders
hyperactivity, excessive worries and
fears, sadness, impulsivity, isolation,
and hopelessness. These symptoms
often interfere with a child’s ability to
develop and maintain positive
learning relationships with friends and family, anxiety
disorders perform well in school, and develop a disorders
good sense of themselves and their
abilities.
mood pervasive
disorders development
disorders

8.  If left un-treated, these youth Suicide is the
are at a greater risk for third leading
developing maladaptive cause of death for
behaviors including 15 – 24 year olds
bullying, aggression, self and the sixth
harm, and are likely to develop leading cause of
more serious mental health death for 5 – 15
problems. Even more year olds
seriously, youth with mental
health problems are most likely
to experience school
failure, substance abuse issues
and possible suicide.

9. •Despite the many mental health services that are available to
children and their families the number of children experiencing
mental health challenges is increasing and the impact on their lives
is devastating. Unfortunately, many children don’t respond well to
traditional types of therapy. Their age, lack of insight, lack of
commitment, denial, and stigma are all barriers to successful
treatment Wilderness Therapy provides challenging experiences in
a supportive educational format so participants will develop inner
strength, character and resolve.

10. GREAT
HOLLOW
WILDERNESS
SCHOOL
In the late 1960s, a 1,440 acre
wildlife preserve in New
Fairfield was willed to
Wesleyan University by Walter
Gordon Merritt. The land was
named Great Hollow and in
1969, a wilderness program for
disadvantaged youth was
developed. This once 1,440 acre
wildlife preserve, now at 890
acres, was eventually sold to the
Regional YMCA of Western
Connecticut.
CFI held the Intensive Summer
Therapeutic Program for
children and youth with
emotional, behavioral, and
social disorders from 1997 to
2011, when the YMCA decided
to sell the property.

11. WILDERNESS
THERAPY
Wilderness Therapy, also
known as Nature
Therapy, has been
instrumental in creating
significant change in
children’s lives
It can be a life changing and
emotional healing
experience for
children, adolescents and
adults who are not being
reached by traditional
therapeutic techniques

12. Acquiring Great Hollow
will enhance CFI’s
therapeutic services by
incorporating nature as
a powerful source of
learning and healing.
This innovative
approach will enhance
the lives of a greater
number of individuals
who otherwise may not
receive the services they
need.

13. Program Components
Therapeutic: Fosters improved communication, anger
management, conflict resolution, social skills, and emotional
health
Academics: Experiential Activities that improve academic
functioning and enhance a positive attitude toward learning
Adventure Challenge: Hiking, rock climbing, caving, canoeing, and
high ropes courses. These structured activities are designed to
build confidence, trust, teamwork, and improve motivation for
achievement
Cultural Enrichment: Dance, music, art therapy and drama provide
participants healthy outlets for expressing emotions, fostering
creativity and increasing self-esteem
Youth Leadership: Enhances leadership qualities, self advocacy,
problem solving and decision making skills

14. THE CHILD &
FAMILY INSTUTUTE
OF FAIRFIELD
COUNTY….
We have seen
individuals
transformed by their
experience in the
B.O.O.S.T. Program at
Great Hollow. The
design of the BOOST
Program will serve as a
blueprint for
designing other
programs that address
issues such as
childhood
obesity, bullying, subst
ance abuse, and
autism.

15.  The Peaceful Warrior: Powerful experiential program for children and
adolescents who have issues with bullying
 Harvest to Health: Experiential, skill building program for children
and adolescents with the diagnosis of obesity
 Second Chance: Cognitive behavioral wilderness program for
adolescents with substance abuse issues
 B.O.O.S.T. II: Intensive Therapeutic Program for children and
adolescents on the Autism Spectrum

16. GREAT
HOLLOW
The experience of
being immersed in an
environment different
from one’s everyday
world, coupled with a
strong emphasis on
process and on self-
expression leads to
active learning, which
makes an impression
on people in powerful
and lasting ways …

17. Provide Wilderness
Provide College
School Activities and
Provide Summer Orientation
Environmental
Camp Programs to Programs to an
Education Programs to
an increased number increased number of
an increased number
of children colleges and
of public and private
universities
schools

18. Provide Nature The Great Hollow
Open Great
Excursions for Environmental
Hollow to the
individuals and Center will provide
public so everyone
families that include educational courses
can enjoy hiking
kayaking, canoeing, and programs to
and nature
rock climbing, and individuals of all
exploration
caving ages

20.  BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR
COMMITTED INVESTORS GROUP WHO
ARE DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THIS
UNDER DEVELOPED GEM IN NEW
FAIRFIELD AND SHERMAN
CONNECTICUT; AND MAINTAINING THE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR
COMMUNITY

21.  The marketing plan will consist of the following
components:
•A situation analysis
•A positioning strategy
•Reasonable, measurable and achievable objectives
•Marketing goals that are likewise
reasonable, measurable and achievable
•Development of action steps and activities that
match marketing opportunities with our own
strengths and weaknesses

22. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MEDICAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR GREAT HOLLOW DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
C C C BOOK ASSISTANT
ASSISTANT KEEPER
PROGRAM
DIRECTOR
C C OFFICE
MANAGER
WILDERNESS
STAFF