DMYFS Offers Monthly Newsletter

Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services has launched a monthly e-mail newsletter in an effort to reach out to parents and children in the community.

DMYFS, a private, non-profit organization located in the Middlefield Community Center, provides programs and resources to families in Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall, including first aid and babysitting classes, , community service opportunities and safe date workshops.

The e-mail newsletter includes helpful information, as well as up-to-date schedules of upcoming programs and events offered by DMYFS.

Program Director Jane Moen said about 160 parents have signed up to receive the newsletter since its launch.

"We had to figure out a way to get the word out about creating new programs and building on the ones we have," Moen said, while adding that her goal is to get every parent in the community to sign up for the newsletter.

You can sign up for the newsletter on the DMYFS website.

"Our goal, of course, is to provide substance-free activities for kids."

Moen, who previously worked as Youth Coordinator at Youth and Family Services of Old Saybrook, has been with DMYFS since October 2010 and has been instrumental in developing programs and the newsletter.

"We rely on the people in the community to help us do what we do. I've been meeting with the PTO's (Parent Teacher Organization) and the schools. We're really trying to be more collaborative."

DMYFS Executive Director Betsy Dean is responsible for securing the grants that help pay for many of the programs, Moen said.

You can reach either Jane or Betsy by email at jmoen.dmyfs@comcast.net or bdean.dmyfs@comcast.net, or visit the organization's Facebook page here.