New Bedford Community Connections Coalition - United Way of Greater New Bedford

Since 1996 our United Way has served as the fiscal partner and home of New Bedford Community Connections Coalition (NBCCC). Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF); the mission of the coalition is to take a leadership role within the City of New Bedford in facilitating collaborative strategies to build neighborhood-based networks of family support to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families, and build healthier communities.

NBCCC works through a philosophy and culture of building off family’s strengths and the promotion of the 5 Protective Factors. NBCCC supports the work of a co-located DCF unit called Patch, which utilizes a community-based child welfare practice model and focuses on families within the South End of New Bedford.

NBCCC is continually working to improve the landscape for families in New Bedford. The coalition is guided by its Advisory Board, which is comprised of a diverse group of passionate community residents and stakeholders. The coalition is currently working toward growing its membership through 3 main areas:

Task Force for Foster Care Support
Since 1999, the Task Force has worked to increase our community’s awareness and responsiveness to the needs of foster children and their foster families. For more information about becoming a foster parent, please click here. To learn more about the Task Force, click here.

Fatherhood Engagement
Working towards increasing community awareness of the importance of fathers within the family unit and provide more opportunities for resident fathers to increase their protective factors and become resident leaders.

Near North End Partnership
Focusing on creating a multi-disciplinary team of individuals and organizations to address some of the challenges and build on strengths and assets to improve the quality of life within a struggling area of the city.

For more information on NBCCC and how to become involved in the coalition, please contact Stan Brajer at sbrajer@unitedwayofgnb.org or (508)-994-4521 x106.

New Bedford Community Connections Coalition Advisory Board

Esperanza Alejandro-Berube Manager of Resident Services, New Bedford Housing Authority Katlyn Auty Director of Business Development, Southcoast Behavioral Health Lucy Canuel New Bedford Area Director, Department of Children & Families Xavier Cardona Resident, Nurturing Fathers Master Facilitator Damon Chaplin Director of New Bedford Health Department Joseph Cordeiro Chief of Police, New Bedford Police Department

Linda Hutchinson Assistant Director of Development, Dorca’s International Institute of Rhode Island Pam Keuchler, Advisory Board Chair Executive Director, PACE Glenn Oliveira Director of Foundation Programs, Carney Family Foundation Marcelina Pina-Christian Human Services Coordinator, City of New Bedford Karen Treadup Deputy Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools Corinn Williams Executive Director, Community Economic Development Corporation Warley Williams Assistant Principal, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School