Darien Will Commit $40K For TeenTalk Counselor At Middlesex Middle School

DARIEN, CT — Darien will pitch in $40,000 to help fund a TeenTalk counselor at Middlesex Middle School.

The Board of Selectmen last week voted to approve a transfer of $78,554 in opioid legal settlement money into a health department program expenses account. Of the total amount, $40,000 will be put toward the TeenTalk initiative at MMS.

The program costs $100,000 for one year, and MMS is expected to launch the initiative during the 2024-2025 school year. The Community Fund of Darien's endowment fund allocated $30,000, and the general public raised an additional $30,000 through a fundraising effort.

TeenTalk was designed by Kids In Crisis, the nonprofit organization based in Greenwich that provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families, and aims to address the need for mental health support for young people.

The program, which has been implemented at Darien High School, places master’s-level mental health counselors in middle and high schools across Fairfield County.

According to their website, Kids In Crisis says 17,717 students currently have access to a TeenTalk counselor in their schools/clubs.

Counselors are specially trained to identify and assist students facing various personal, familial, and academic challenges. Services are available to students and families 24/7 and all shared information is confidential and is not reflected in the students’ school records.

Darien Director of Health Mindy Chambrelli told the selectmen last week that "the thought is to pull back year by year" and have the Darien Board of Education increase the amount of money they put into the program.

"I think as long as there's a need and they see validity in that and the importance of having someone there, I think they'll end up taking that on. We won't be committed to funding that into the future," Chambrelli said.

Selectwoman Marcy Minnick said she supported the program and that she'd like to see the school board continue to support it going forward if it's impactful.

"I'm supportive of this," added First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky. "I agree with Marcy, the board of education should take over this… Given the school's commitment to Teen Talk and the relationship they have with the Kids in Crisis folks that drive all this, eventually having all that over there will make sense. But I'm certainly supportive of doing this now."

Last week's Board of Selectmen meeting can be viewed on demand on Darien TV79.