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Kids Camp Reunites Separated Siblings

Camp Connects Siblings Placed In Separate Homes

POSTED: 3:46 pm EDT July 23, 2008
UPDATED: 7:27 pm EDT July 23, 2008

Aidan, Tristan and Sloan are brothers, but they live in three separate foster homes.

They said they don’t get to see one another much, but thanks to the Channel 3 Kids Camp, they got to spend an entire week together.

They said the last time they got to see each other was in April when one of them celebrated a birthday.

A partnership between the Channel 3 Kids Camp, Department of Children and Families, and the Wheeler Clinic focuses on bringing siblings together who have been placed in separate foster homes.

“In situations where we're not able to keep kids together in the same foster home, opportunities like this are invaluable,” said DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton.

The idea is to give these kids a week at camp with their brothers and sisters, she said, just like other children.

“It's a really regular group of kids doing camp as usual, that was our whole goal,” said Dave Meizels, camp director.

Since many of the children have been away from their siblings for a while, clinical specialists from Wheeler are on hand to help with the transition.

“This is bringing them to a different environment, bringing them out in the woods, and all of the sudden things are a little bit different, so we want to make sure they're secure,” said Mike Russo, of the Wheeler Clinic.

Brothers Neo, Alex, Manny, and Angel, from the Meriden area, said this is a great idea for any separated family.

Since they’re separated from each other, they said, it’s nice to be able to get together and have fun.

This is the first year for the program, but camp officials said it will not be the last. They said they already have a contract with DCF and the Wheeler Clinic to do it again for a week next year.

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