Submitted by Alli Behnke, HKYFS
(August 24, 2026) — Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services welcomes two familiar faces from the community into new roles this year. Rachel Verinis has joined the organization as Co-Director, and Summer Walton has joined as Positive Youth Development Coordinator. Both bring years of experience supporting children and families, strong connections to Haddam and Killingworth, and a shared belief that relationships and a sense of belonging can make a lasting difference in a child’s life.
Rachel will share leadership of HKYFS with Co-Director Alli Behnke, while Summer will focus on youth programming and community engagement. “I feel very connected to this community,” Rachel said. “I’m raising my kids here, I coach multiple local youth sports, I’ve worked in our schools, and I’ve gotten to know so many families and people in Haddam and Killingworth. Being able to take that connection and turn it into work that supports our kids and families in the community I call home feels special.”
As Co-Director, Rachel (photo above, center, with children, Sal and Corbin Verinis) will focus on the operational side of HKYFS, including finances, agency systems, day-to-day operations, and the supervision and implementation of services connected to case management. She will also lead and support programming that reflects her areas of interest and experience. Rachel and Alli will work closely together, bringing different strengths and responsibilities to a shared, collaborative leadership model.
That collaborative approach extends throughout the HKYFS team. Rachel is particularly passionate about the role trusted adults can play in helping kids navigate childhood and adolescence. Sometimes children need support with everyday challenges, and often they need it before those challenges become overwhelming. Rachel hopes to be that advocate and trusted adult by meeting kids where they are, listening to what they need, and helping them navigate whatever comes next.
“Kids don’t have to be in crisis to deserve support,” Rachel said. “Sometimes kids just need someone to talk to, someone who believes in them, or an adult who can help them figure out the next step. I want kids in Haddam and Killingworth to know there are people here who care and want to see them succeed.”
Summer (photo above, right with daughter Amelia) brings deep roots in the community. She grew up in Haddam and spent 11 years working in the Haddam-Killingworth school district as a special education teacher. She and her husband are now raising their daughter here, continuing a lifelong connection to the community she has valued throughout her life.
“I grew up in Haddam, so this community has always been a really special place to me,” Summer shared. “Some of my fondest memories of growing up here come from the lifelong friends I made, the teachers that inspired me along the way, and the community members that worked tirelessly to protect the uniqueness of our community.”
In her new role as Positive Youth Development Coordinator, Summer will focus on creating spaces where kids feel connected, confident, supported, and like they belong. Her goal is not simply to create programs, but to create meaningful opportunities for relationships, growth, service, and community involvement.
“I want kids to know that they matter here,” Summer said. “I want them to know that the team at HKYFS is made up of familiar faces that they can rely on and go to for support as they move through the different stages of their lives.”
That vision is already taking shape through existing, new, and expanding programs designed to help kids build relationships, confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging. Summer will introduce an HKYFS Job Bank connecting local teens with employment and community service opportunities and continue Lunch Bunches at the elementary school, where students can build friendships, practice social-emotional skills, and connect with trusted adults. Built to Impact, a hands-on group for 4th and 5th grade boys, will focus on relationships, confidence, and meaningful experiences. These efforts complement programs such as Future Impact, Junior Impact, Teen Impact, and Community Impact, creating opportunities for kids and families to connect, contribute, and make an impact.
“We want kids to understand that they don’t have to wait until they’re adults to make a difference,” Summer said. “They can make an impact right now. It can be something small, like helping a neighbor, or something bigger, like organizing a service project. What matters is that they understand that their actions have the power to make their community better.”
Together, Rachel, Summer, Alli, and the entire HKYFS team hope to strengthen connections among kids, families, schools, community organizations, and local resources. Whether a family needs prevention, direct services, advocacy, guidance, or simply a trusted person to talk to, HKYFS wants to be a place where people can start.
“I’m excited to be doing this work in the community where my own family is thriving,” Rachel said. “I want to listen. I want to learn what our families and kids need, and I want to work alongside the people who already care so deeply about this community.”
For more information about HKYFS programs and upcoming opportunities, visit www.hkyfs.org.
Photos provided by HKYFS
