Social Services

Mission Statement

Social Services works to assist Sherman residents find the resources they need with regards to housing, energy, food, healthcare and more. How can we help?

Contact Information and Office Hours

Phone: 860-354-2414 ext 2
Fax: 860-799-0144
Email: shermansocserv@gmail.com

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9-3
Thursday 10-2
*Thursday Evening by Appointment
Friday: 10-2

Mailing Address:
Sherman Social Services
8 Rt. 37 Center
P.O. Box 261
Sherman, CT 06784

Social Services Staff

Lynne Gomez, LMSW, Director of Social Serices

CHOICES Medicare and Medicaid Counselor
ADA Coordinator
Title VI Coordinator
Veterans Affairs Representative

Susanna Marker, CNA, Assistant

CHOICES Medicare and Medicaid Counselor

TAX HELP: https://portal.ct.gov/DRS/Individuals/VITA-TCE/Free-Income-Tax-Assistance

Resources, Info, Applications

Below is a list of resources available to the residents of Sherman through the Social Services Department. Applications are available both in the office and on-line.

Health
Medicare, Medicaid
Home Care Resources
Disability Resources
Access Health CT
Energy
Energy Assistance
Operation Fuel
Housing
Renters’ Assistance
Senior and Assisted Living
Home care and long-term care referrals (NMVNA and Hospice)
Finances
Social Security
Unemployment
Local charitable organizations: Sherman Cares, Community Relief, M25
Food
SNAP (Food Stamps)
M25 Hot Meal Program
Salvation Army Food Boxes
Seasonal food: farmers’ market, spring and fall food baskets
Veterans
Veterans Administration
Drug and Alcohol
Member NMCAN: substance abuse prevention council.
Referrals to drug and alcohol programs
Emergency Management
Sherman Emergency Support System
Special Reach Out for those who live alone
Families and Children
Back-to-School Supplies
Preschool Tuition Waiver
Summer Camp Voucher
Women’s Center, Danbury, Liaison
Mandatory reporter: Child Abuse, Elder Abuse
Transportation
FISH: free rides to medical appointments
Transport options in wider area
COVID – 19
Reliable up-to-date information on covid, vaccines

Website Links

Helpful Websites:

These sites are government and agency sites with the most up-to-date information. Get your facts here!

Social Security: ssa.gov

Enroll in Medicare. Create “My Social Security” account to check your current and future benefits.

Medicare: medicare.gov

Find Drug Plans. Find Supplemental plans to cover the 20%.

Learn about Medicare and You.

Department of Social Services: https://www.connect.ct.gov

Apply for food stamps (SNAP)

Apply for Medicare Savings Plan (helps pay premiums, deductibles etc.)

Apply for Husky C (for those 65 and older only) Other Husky: see AccessHealthCT

Access Health CT: accesshealthct.com

Apply for Husky A, B, and D. Children, parents and caregivers of children (Husky A and B) and those 65 and younger (Husky D)

Veteran’s Affairs: portal.ct.gov/DVA

All things veterans, including Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Applications

Housing Assistance, Rental assistance: https://portal.ct.gov/DOH/

Or https://CHFA.org

Learn about UniteCT: The newest Rental Assistance program.

TOWN OF SHERMAN, CT NOTICE UNDER
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the Town of Sherman, CT will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment: The Town of Sherman, CT does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication: The Town of Sherman, CT will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in Town of Sherman, CT programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures: The Town of Sherman, CT will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in Sherman offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of the Sherman Senior Center or Town of Sherman, CT building or meeting, should contact the office of the ADA Coordinator, Lynne Gomez, Director of Social Services as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require the Town of Sherman, CT to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Complaints that a program, service, or activity of the Sherman Senior Center or the Town of Sherman, CT is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to the ADA Coordinator, Lynne Gomez, Director of Social Services at PO Box 261, 8 Rt. 37 Center, Sherman, CT 06784 or on the town website at http://www.townofshermanct.org/ by filling out the electronic form available on this website.

The town of Sherman, CT will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.

Notifying the Public of Rights under Title VI

Town of Sherman

The Town of Sherman operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with the Title VI Coordinator, Lynne Gomez, Director of Social Services
For more information on the Town of Sherman civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact 860-354-2414 Ext.2, TRS 711; shermansocserv@gmail.com; or visit our administrative office at 8 Route 37 Center, Sherman, CT 06784. For more information, visit http://www.townofshermanct.org/
A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Connecticut Department of Transportation by filing a complaint with the Office of Contract Compliance, Attention: Title VI Coordinator, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06111
A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration by filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590
If information is needed in another language such as Spanish, German or any other languages, contact 860-354-2414 Ext.2

Title VI Complaint Procedure

Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by the Town of Sherman may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the Town of Sherman Title VI Complaint Form. The Title VI Coordinator for the Town of Sherman investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. The Title VI Coordinator will process complaints that are complete.

Once the complaint is received, the Title VI Coordinator will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by our office. The Title VI Coordinator will notify the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Title VI Coordinator of any Title VI complaints filed, within 10 business days of receipt.

The Title VI Coordinator of the Town of Sherman has 30 days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, the Title VI Coordinator may contact the complainant. The complainant has 30 business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 30 business days, the Title VI Coordinator can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. An LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member, or any other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has 30 days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so.

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Contract Compliance, Attn: Title VI Coordinator, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06111; or directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at FTA Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

ADA Complaint Form

Title VI Complaint Form

Health and Welfare Grant Request