Who We Are
East Haddam Youth & Family Services (EHYFS) is a private, non-profit agency working collaboratively with our town government, school system, local and state police, civic and faith organizations, parent groups, youth and adults and several regional and state agencies to provide services for the community.
We are committed to offering programs and services at little or no charge.
Our Mission
East Haddam Youth & Family Services is dedicated to fostering a healthy, supportive community where young people and their families can thrive. EHYFS promotes the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of our community, strengthening the foundations of connection and resilience across East Haddam.
Our Vision
We envision a safe and connected community, where all families have the resources necessary to raise their youth into caring, capable, and contributing members of society.
Our Community
Because we are a private, non-profit agency, our funding is dependent upon grants from:
- The town of East Haddam
- State and local Boards of Education
- The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council
- The Middlesex County United Way
- The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Private donations from residents, local businesses, civic and faith organizations
Our Commitment
At East Haddam Youth & Family Services, we commit to:
- Partner with schools, local organizations, and town leadership to create a community network that supports families in raising healthy young people
- Raise community awareness of influences that may harm or place youth at risk
- Build resilience by using proven prevention strategies that mitigate the harm that these influences cause to our community’s youth
We Believe:
All youth deserve to have their basic needs met.
We Believe:
All youth deserve to grow up in a community safe from violence and the influence of substances.
We Believe:
All youth, families, and community members deserve to be respected and supported in their uniqueness and diversity.
Our Staff
(Thanks to Nathan Hale-Ray High School photography students for our headshots)
Team & Board of Directors
EHYFS is governed by a board made up of volunteers who represent various sectors in the community. The board consists of elected members, including adults and youth.
We are seeking Board Members!
Victoria Ebright, Chair
Jennifer Height, Treasurer
Jennifer Schulz, Secretary
Denise Gable
Maureen Gillis
MaCyn Parady
Alexis Vitali
Sarah Kaminski
Mary Murphy
Sara Gould
Ashley Raithel
Our History
For more than 30 years, East Haddam Youth & Family Services (EHYFS) has been dedicated to supporting the youth, families, and community of East Haddam. Since our founding in 1994, we’ve worked to create programs and services that help young people thrive, strengthen families, and build a healthier, more connected community.
How it Started
Our story begins with the creation of the East Haddam Local Prevention Council (LPC). In 1992, a group of students at Nathan Hale-Ray High School partnered with adult community members who were concerned about the increase of underage drinking and unsafe teen parties in town. Parents, students, school staff, law enforcement, town leaders, and prevention advocates united to take action, and this shared commitment led to the formation of the LPC. When EHYFS was established in 1994, we became the administrative home for the LPC, beginning a partnership that continues to this day.
Through the 1990s, our agency focused on creating programs that encouraged safety, connection, and community involvement. Some longtime residents may remember initiatives like the Safe Ride Home Program, Party Line Pledge, and Red Ribbon Week activities. We also supported prevention campaigns such as “Hugs Not Drugs” and the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Campaign.
The Early 2000’s to Now
In the early 2000s, our community experienced several tragic alcohol-related youth deaths that deeply impacted East Haddam. In response, EHYFS strengthened our commitment to prevention and education by adopting more evidence-based and data-driven approaches. We began conducting regular youth surveys in local schools to better understand the experiences and needs of young people in our community. The information gathered through these ongoing surveys continues to guide our programming today.
From 2012 to 2022, we were honored to receive a federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant, which allowed us to greatly expand our prevention programming. EHYFS worked in collaboration with local law enforcement to reduce underage drinking at teen gatherings while creating opportunities for early intervention and support. We also focused our energy on public awareness campaigns, and began integrating mental health counseling and referral services into our programming.
From 2022 to 2026, we were awarded the federal Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP Act) grant. With this funding, EHYFS strengthened youth and parent education initiatives, launched our town-wide Summerpalooza Family Fun Day, and introduced annual prevention speakers in local schools. We also provided Youth Mental Health First Aid training for law enforcement, EMS personnel, and school staff.
In 2025, we hosted our first annual Health and Wellness Fair as part of EHYFS’s Summerpalooza festival, connecting hundreds of residents with local mental health, social service, and prevention resources.
In 2023, EHYFS began offering social services assistance to East Haddam residents of all ages. Our agency became a hub for residents seeking support in meeting their basic needs, helping residents access support related to food insecurity, affordable housing, homelessness, financial difficulties, and transportation.
As we look to the future, our mission remains the same:
To support young people, strengthen families, and help build a safer, healthier, and more connected East Haddam community for generations to come.
Serving East Haddam Together
East Haddam Youth & Family Services (EHYFS) is a private nonprofit organization built on collaboration and community trust. Working alongside schools, families, and local partners, EHYFS provides accessible programs and services that support youth wellbeing and strengthen East Haddam.
Matthew Morris-Wood, LCSW
Executive Director
Email: matthew.morriswood@ehyfs.org
Matt is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in the fields of social services, mental health, and education. As Executive Director, he oversees EHYFS operations and ensures the delivery of quality youth development programming and social services to residents of East Haddam. With a background in family therapy and community health, Matt is passionate about the social and emotional well-being of community youth and their families.
Education
- M.S.W. – Social Work, University of Connecticut
- M.M. – Performing Arts (Music), University of Michigan
- B.E. – Education (K-12, Music), Murray State University
Taylor Setzler
Prevention and Youth Services Coordinator
Email: taylor.setzler@ehyfs.org
Taylor holds a dual role as the Prevention and Youth Services Coordinator at EHYFS. With a background in Public Health and School Health Education, Taylor has over 6 years of experience in the public health field from food accessibility and farm to school initiatives to substance use prevention and mental health promotion in both rural and urban settings in Connecticut. She is currently the Chairperson for East Haddam Local Prevention Council and Treasurer of the Mental Health Lions of Eastern Connecticut. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, painting and gaming.
Education
- B.S. – Public Health, Southern Connecticut State University
Andrea Webster
Social Services Coordinator
Email: andrea.webster@ehyfs.org
Andrea has been with EHYFS since 2023 and has over 13 years of experience working with individuals and families both in a clinical setting as well as through advocacy and case coordination. Andrea is passionate about networking and collaboration to problem solve and connect individuals and families to the resources they need. She lives locally with her family and enjoys cooking, gardening and hiking the many trails of East Haddam.
Education
- M.P.H. – Public Health, Boston University
- B.S. – Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut
Kristen Waltamath
Administrative Assistant
Email: kristen.waltamath@ehyfs.org
Kristen brings over 16 years of experience working with young children and their families in the fields of early childhood education and social services. She also spent 11 years in management in the life and disability insurance industry. In her position, Kristen manages all administrative functions of the office, supports the Program Coordinator with event planning, oversees the Youth Job Bank, and coordinates the organization’s annual Holiday Campaign. Kristen lives locally with her husband and their two children.
Education
- B.S. – Early Childhood Education and Behavioral Science, University of Hartford