About CFG

What is Children First Groton?

Children First Groton (CFG) began in 1999 through the Children First Initiative and was known as Groton’s Early Childhood Community Collaborative.  As a recipient of a Discovery grant from the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, the collaborative officially became Children First Groton.  In collaboration with the Groton community, CFG designed and is implementing a Community Plan focusing on important issues in early childhood for Groton families. In 2016, funding from the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund ended, and Children First Groton began to write grants and work with the Town and City of Groton to fund all initiatives as an independent collaborative.  CFG Leadership also serves as Groton's School Readiness Council, overseeing the State and Federally funded preschool programs in the community.

CFG is comprised of early childcare providers, parents, community members, non-profit and for-profit service providers, librarians, health care providers, Groton Public Schools, Town and City Elected Officials and Departments, DCF, Town and City Police and Fire Departments, and other persons interested in working on early childhood issues in the Groton community. The work is guided by the CFG Leadership group and is implemented through four work groups (Physical Health, Education, Mental Health, Safe/Strong Families, and Finance & Communications) and five Neighborhood Groups; all of whom are currently working from the town-wide Community Plan.

Child & Family Agency is a CFG partner and the fiduciary agent for the collaborative. You can contact them at:

P.O. Box 120, New London, CT 06320, ATTN: Lisa Baxter or call (860) 437-4550 x1417