Guilford Police Start Empower Card Program to Help 1st Responders

GUILFORD, CT - The Guilford Police Department is excited to announce a new program being implemented to support those in our community who are living with a cognitive disability.

The Empower Program was spearheaded by local moms who recognized there was a need on behalf of individuals with cognitive disabilities when dealing with emergency responders in a routine or crisis situation.

The Guilford Police Department created the Empower Card, which is an identification card for those living
with cognitive disabilities, which will provide valuable information to First Responders if your loved one is
lost, unable to communicate, involved in an accident or involved in a police incident.

The department will provide a training session to the recipients of the Empower Card to ensure they feel comfortable with First Responders in case of an emergency, in addition to understanding the proper use of the card in those circumstances. The photo ID will display emergency contact information and highlight special concerns for First Responders.

This service is offered free of charge to all Guilford residents living with clinical cognitive disabilities. To enroll in the program, residents will be required to attend a brief training session. The first Empower training
sessions will be held on April 28th, from 9am to 10:30am and 10:30am to 12pm.

Each training session can accommodate 10 enrollees.

Additional training sessions will be set up as needed in the future.

Please contact Sgt. Jakober at the Guilford Police Department at 203-453-8061 with questions about the
Empower Program.

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