About Us
Working for a brighter future in Stamford and beyond
An evidence-based approach
Transforming youth life trajectories through love
About 1 in 5 young adults in our state are disconnected or disengaged. Through love-infused programming, Domus helps young people in Stamford and beyond overcome obstacles that jeopardize a bright and stable future. Our trauma-responsive approach combines our Relational Model (how we work) with our Program Models (what we do) to support youth in making positive changes. From earning a diploma and securing a living-wage job to transitioning back to the community after incarceration, our work empowers young people to transform their own lives and thrive.
What Guides Us
Our Mission
We build loving relationships with young people facing adversity, empowering them to pursue their path to self-sufficiency.
Our Vision
No child shall be denied hope, love, or a fair chance in life.
Our Core Principles
• Our work is about the kids.
• We never give up on people.
• Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
• People should have many chances to learn and grow from their mistakes.
• Loving relationships change people.
Who We Are
Domus staff are expertly trained in positive youth development and serve as representational role models for program participants. Our Leadership Council is comprised of dedicated leaders from across the organization who provide diverse viewpoints and work collectively to make insightful decisions about the many challenges Domus faces now and will face in the future.
Who We Serve
We serve youth aged 12 to 26 in Stamford and some surrounding areas who show signs of being disengaged or disconnected such as struggling with school attendance or behavior, being two or more years behind in their grade level, have been recently incarcerated, or are out of school with no stable work history. Most Domus participants and their families are from low-income backgrounds and have experienced multiple traumas that impact their ability to thrive.
How we Work
The Domus Relational Model uses evidence-based approaches to help disengaged and disconnected youth regulate, relate, and reason. We support youth in the practice of shifting from a “fight, flight, or flee” chronic stress response to engage their “calm and connect” systems. As they master this practice, youth learn to interrupt unproductive, automatic reactions and begin to respond more skillfully when they face life’s inevitable challenges.
Our History
Domus was founded in 1972 as a group home for boys who had been removed from their families and homes due to neglect and/or abuse. In the 1990s, under new leadership, Domus began to add programs, including one of Connecticut’s first juvenile justice centers and the community’s first transitional living program. Since its founding, Domus has operated schools, group homes, and programs focused on workforce development, juvenile justice, youth violence prevention, and education. We designed our programs to provide individualized support, meeting youth where they’re at, so they can stay in school and graduate, engage in post-secondary education or training, or enter the world of work.
Partner with Domus
We work closely with core community partners to bring programs to disengaged and disconnected youth, funded by both public grants and philanthropic donations. Learn how you can support our work.
