NEW BRITAIN — Klingberg Family Centers has received a $45,000 grant from the Joey Logano Foundation to support its Therapeutic Foster Care Program, which helps children with complex needs find stable and supportive homes.
“More than 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year, with no type of long-term support system, family or trusted adult to help guide them. These kids are truly facing a race against time,” said Joey Logano, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. “My wife, Brittany, and I have focused our giving to help these kids build the connections they need to live their best lives and to beat the significant odds facing youth who age out of foster care.”
The Therapeutic Foster Care Program prepares families to care for children who have faced difficult life changes and may have emotional, behavioral or medical needs. Children are placed in homes that best match their needs with foster families’ strengths and resources.
About 3,000 children are currently in Connecticut’s foster care system.
The program provides children with specialized services and ongoing support to help them heal and grow. Foster parents receive extensive training focused on trauma-informed care. They also work closely with Klingberg staff to coordinate care and receive 24-hour on-call support. Regular check-ins and family activities are offered to help parents and children feel supported and connected.
“We’re so grateful for the continued support of the Joey Logano Foundation,” said Dr. Steven Girelli, president and CEO of Klingberg Family Centers. “Statistics related to youth aging out of foster care are grim. Without the support that comes from a foster family, an adoptive family or a permanent connection, these kids face really tough odds.” Girelli said many young people who leave foster care without support face homelessness, addiction, early pregnancy or involvement with the criminal justice system. Few graduate from college and even fewer have steady jobs by age 24. He said the foundation’s support helps improve outcomes for children in care.
Because of the growing need, Klingberg is looking for more foster parents and respite foster families to help care for children, even on a short-term basis. “If you have been considering serving as a foster parent, I urge you to learn more and to get involved,” Logano said. “There are thousands of kids in Connecticut and hundreds of thousands across the nation desperately in need of a second chance that a foster family can provide.”
Klingberg is a private nonprofit that serves thousands of children and families across Connecticut each year. The Joey Logano Foundation supports organizations nationwide that offer second chances to children and young adults during times of crisis.
Logano is originally from Middletown.
Credits: NewBritainHerald.com | By: Claudia S. Hilario | Published Thursday, January 22, 2026
