On a cold Sunday afternoon in March 1996, thirty-six concerned citizens met in the home of Randi Rubin and Sergio Rodriguez, to explore gaps in services for children and families affected by violence and substance abuse. Sergio and Randi, as foster and adoptive parents themselves, have lived the mission of 'r kids Family Center.
In describing the essence of work performed by the dedicated
'r kids team, Co-founder and Executive Director Randi Rubin Rodriguez cites a Midrash, an interpretation of the Bible by Jewish scholars;
"With each child, the world begins anew"
In 1996, the group recommended pursuing the development of a family visitation center in New Haven to support the 750 families that were involved with the state Department of Children and Families (DCF).
After incorporating and spending the next 3 and a half years fundraising through annual racquetball tournaments, researching and developing program models and obtaining donated professional services, 'r kids inc. received its first public funding from the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven.
These initial seed monies of $3,500 in 2000 led to 'r kids securing a 3 year contract from DCF for over 1 million dollars. Through the state Department of Social Services, bond monies, the Connecticut state Department of Environmental Protection, the New Haven Community Development Block Grant program and private donors, 'r kids secured city-owned property, remediated the brownfields site, and developed its state of the art 4300 square foot home.
A community ribbon cutting ceremony was held in June 2003 marking the official reclaiming of both a brownfields site and hundreds of lives of children and families. http://www.epa.gov
In 2004, nearly 5 percent of all children in the New Haven area were substantiated as abused, neglected, or uncared for. Today, the rate of 48 cases per 1,000 children in New Haven is over three times the statewide average of 15 cases per 1,000. Almost 1,600 children in the Greater New Haven area are temporarily or permanently removed from their homes each year. http://ctdatahaven/org
