Annual Report - Children's Law Center of Connecticut · Mickelson, Jacobs and Bozek, LLC Pension...
Transcript of Annual Report - Children's Law Center of Connecticut · Mickelson, Jacobs and Bozek, LLC Pension...
2017 Annual Report
The Children’s LAW Centerof Connecticut
Our
New
Mis
sion To promote the best
possible outcomes for children and families in transition or crisis by providing access to legal services and
support they could not otherwise afford and by advancing collaborative, non-adversarial options for resolving conflicts
outside the court system.Updated April, 2018
A Letter from O
ur ExecutiveD
irector and Board PresidentDear Friends,In 2017, because of your support and commitment, The Children’s Law Center touched the lives of Connecticut’s children in a meaningful way. We served as the voice for those most vulnerable by moving their tumultuous family circumstances in a positive direction.
This annual report highlights the incredible work CLC was able to do in 2017, all thanks to your support:
• We served over 1,750 children through our programs. • In 77% of Legal Representation cases CLC attorneys were able to help parents
reach agreement. • 73% of our Families in Transition mediation participants reported that they
would return to FIT before returning to family court.• 91% of callers to the Children’s Law Line found CLC’s advice to be “helpful” or
“very helpful.”
Thank you for being dedicated members of the CLC family. We know that we can count on your continued support in furthering our mission of protecting Connecticut’s children.
These achievements are not just ours to celebrate—they are yours.
With gratitude,
Justine Rakich-KellyExecutive Director
Robert MaddenPresident, Board of Directors
New
s Overview: Our programs served over 1,750 children and families in 2017.
Location: In May, we moved our offices from the 4th floor of 30 Arbor Street to the 2nd.
Works: In collaboration with Lawyers for Children America, and funded through a generous grant from The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, CLC completed a best practices guide in the field of child advocacy: Lawyers Who Represent Children: A Beginner’s Guide.
Trainings: In 2017, CLC provided four trainings on topics related to Domestic Violence, Abuse, Parenting Plans and Children with Special Needs, and Sexual Abuse Cases, as well as a seminar on Ethics and the Law.
Our W
ork:Legal Representation
The centerpiece of CLC’s services is our Legal Representation Program.
No other organization in the state, and only a few nationwide, focus on protecting
the interests of indigent children whose parents are involved in high-conflict family court disputes. The cases we
handle are among the most difficult and contentious that the courts see, and many are exacerbated by conditions of violence, addiction, abuse, neglect, mental illness,
incarceration or other chronic challenges. We seek to achieve the safest, most stable arrangements for children who are caught
in the middle of these cases.
We served 515 children in 332 cases through our Legal
Representation Program.
In 2017...
91% of court orders substantively reflected CLC recommendations.
Our Law Line served 1,187 children through 875 calls.
Our
Wor
k:Ch
ildre
n’s
Law
Lin
e
The labyrinth of agencies, courts, and laws are often overwhelming and unmanageable even
for the most experienced advocate, and simply impenetrable for the average
parent. Our Children’s Law Line is an easily accessible legal resource that can assist
callers on a variety of topics including custody, visitation and children’s rights. Services like
our Law Line are desperately needed by those who want to help a child, but who are at the
mercy of a complex system. All calls placed to our Law Line are free, answered by a trained
professional, and open to everyone as a public service without screening or income
requirements.
In 2017...
91% of those polled said that they found the Law Line either “helpful” or “very helpful.”
Our Families in Transition (FIT) Program provides mediation and positive co-parenting
services to low and middle income level parents who are embroiled in high-conflict
family court disputes. CLC provides a gender-balanced team of mediators consisting of an attorney and a mental health professional, both of whom are trained mediators and
familiar with the family court process. Our FIT program helps each party voice concerns
and understand the concerns of the other parent. We give parents the tools necessary to communicate more effectively with one another, in turn decreasing their conflict
level and creating a healthier, more stable environment for their children.
In 2017...We served 64 children in 35 families through FIT.
Our W
ork:Fam
ilies in Transition
Justine Rakich-KellyExecutive Director
Randa HojaibanDeputy Director
Deb Shulansky Director of
Development
Aisha RocheStaff Attorney
David CoughlinStaff Attorney
Artila LubonjaStaff Attorney
Kathryn PhillipsStaff Attorney
Monique RyanStaff Attorney
Nicole SilvaStaff Social Worker
Abby Woodhouse Marketing & Development
Associate
Adelina Santiago Professional
Assistant
InternsAllegresse Bambi
Bruce BatesIsabel Benedetto
Owen EagenKirina Gair- MacMichael
Thalia GiraldoAnne Hay
Aaron HookerAllie Klein
Katelynn KohlMolly Martin
Leann MclarenElizabeth Panico
Courtney ParsonsAnnabel Stanley
FIT MediatorsJeffrey Asmar
Margaret BozekWilliam BrownTom BuczynskiSusan Busby
Abby ColeDiane DeFronzoRachel Diamond
Kim DuellGarlinck DumontCynthia Eastman
Robert FiedlerDouglas FishmanBruce FreedmanKelly Gallagher
Christine GaudioLisa Giliberto
Andrew HechtmanCharles HigginsSidney Horowitz
Kate KowalyshynHoward KriegerRobin LandeauKaren LaRose
Pamela MagnanoJohn Mancini
Robert MaddenNicholas Maglio
Kata MaleuzewskiJeff Mickelson
Kathleen NevinsMichele ParkerLizbette Rivera
Ben ShapiroCorey Somerville
Stephanie Stein LeiteTanya Wayne
Martin WheelerJeff Zimmerman
Volunteer TrainersMark DuboisEric Frazer
Robert MaddenLinda Smith
Who
We
Are:
Our
201
7 St
aff
In 2017, we said farewell to...Kathryn Bissonnette
Staff Attorney
Rosalie RothDirector of
Development
Emily Gilbert Development
Associate
Brooke Garcia Professional Assistant
Kathryn Bissonnette Staff Attorney
Board ofDirectors
Robert Madden, PresidentTim Buckley, Vice President
Jonathan Fink, TreasurerPamela Magnano, Secretary
Mark BoxerDan A. Brody
Sandra GerstenC. Ian McLachlanChristine Miller
Gaurav PatelPatricia Pheanious
Laura PostPatrick ProctorJames Russell
Elizabeth ThayerJovanni Valentini
Maureen Zavatone
In 2017, we said farewell with
grateful thanks to...Kelly Frye Barnett
Patrick ProctorMaureen Zavatone
Our
Com
mun
ity
Brackets for GoodCLC is always seeking dynamic, new fundraising opportunities, taking part in Connecticut’s first Brackets for Good—a single-elimination, bracket-style fundraising tournament—coming in 6th place out of 64 teams, despite being eliminated in the first round by one of the eventual finalists.
This fantastic opportunity raised over $5,700 for CLC, and opened us up to future opportunities from this incredible organization.
CLC’s incredible community made 2017 a success. The events we hold and which you attend are great ways for us to celebrate the champions of our work and raise awareness of CLC’s programs.
BK & Co. Wine, Women &
FashionBK & Co. celebrated some
of CLC’s favorite things while raising money to continue our important
work. Who said shopping can’t be charitable?
TrainingsWe held four trainings:
Co-parenting Special Needs
Children with Dr. Linda Smith
Deciphering Interviews of Children Alleging Sexual
Abuse with Dr. Eric Frazer
Workshop on Domestic Violence with Dr. Eric Frazer
Ethics & the Law Seminar with Robert Madden & Mark Dubois
CLC Motorcycle Ride & Show
Our valued supporters the Wallingford Moose Riders, hosted a Motorcycle Ride &
Show that provided CLC with financial support and gave us
valuable exposure, helping us to grow our community.
Hartford Evergreen Masonic Lodge #88 Visionary Gala Sponsor We love supporting our
funders whenever possible, such as staffing the
registration booth at Hartford Evergreen Lodge’s Annual 5K
Run.
Birdies for Charity We participated in the 2017
Birdies for Charity program in partnership with the Travelers Championship, which helped us raise over $6,000 for our
work at CLC.
Annual Intern Breakfast We are so grateful for all of
the hard work our interns do for CLC! We hold an annual breakfast each summer to celebrate all they do for us
and give their loved ones an opportunity to see the work
they’ve done.
More 2017 Highlights
2017
Ann
ual G
ala In November, we held our
Annual Gala to celebrate the work of CLC.
We’d like to offer special thanks to our Visionary Sponsor,
Hartford Evergreen Masonic Lodge #88—as well as other
sponsors like Dornenburg Kallenbach Advertising, Max Cares Foundation, Delamar
West Hartford, Cigna, Ruel Ruel Goings & Britt Attorneys-at-Law,
and Stanley Black & Decker.
During this record-setting year, over 300 attendees gathered at Delamar West Hartford, raising
over $117,000 for our programs.
A highlight was a speech by Theresa, a young woman who benefited from a seventeen-
year relationship with Justine—Theresa’s guardian ad litem for one year but a mentor for the
following sixteen.
GALA COMMITTEEBarbara Aaron,
Co-ChairPaddi LeShane,
Co-ChairEd Bryan
Lena DiGentiGarlinck Dumont
Meghan FreedCara HardackerKaren Herbert
Kristen MarcroftCarol McCabe
Heather McRobertsLaura Post
Erum RandhawaPam Verney
HONORARY GALA COMMITTEE
Meghan Sweeney Burns
Sandra GerstenPam Magnano
Debra RuelMaureen Zavatone
COMMUNITY SUPPORTER
LAZ Parking, who generously provided
valet services
GALA VOLUNTEERSTom Adams
Marsha BeckfordSusan CellinoJoe Cianciolo
Maya CiancioloBob Coco
Elaine CocoLinda Cummins
Nanci FoxKirina Gair- MacMichael
Courtney GardnerCara HardackerKaren HerbertMike HughesEileen Hurley
Nick KarlowiczBarbara Karsky
Armen KevorkianAlissa KorwekPhyllis KnoxEmma LynchEd O’Connor
Eileen O’ConnorCourtney Parsons
Hannah PliskinMaddy PliskinKatie ReavesJ. R. Reaves
Donna SauerSteve Silva
Greg Tartaglino
Special Thanks to:
Our
Sup
port
ers Grants & Foundations
AmazonSmile FoundationAmerican Academy of Matrimonial
LawyersAmerican Savings FoundationBarbara Walthers TrustBudd Family FundCATIC FoundationCommunity Chest of New Britain & BerlinCommunity Foundation of Eastern
ConnecticutCommunity Foundation of Greater
New BritainConnecticut Community FoundationConnecticut Judicial BranchDavid L. Coffin, Jr. Memorial FundEnsworth Charitable TrustFarmington Bank Community FoundationFund for Greater HartfordGreater Hartford Community FoundationHartford Evergreen Masonic Lodge #88Hartford Foundation for Public GivingIon Bank FoundationJ. Walton Bissell FoundationJeamel Family Charitable FundDavid L. Savin Family Fund of the
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
John and Kelly Hartman FoundationKnights of Pythias, John Hay Lodge 61Lincoln Financial FoundationMax Cares Foundation
Near & Far Aid AssociationRBC FoundationSBM Charitable FoundationThe Benevity Community Impact FundThe Betty Knox FoundationThe Community Foundation for
Greater New HavenThe Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial
Charitable TrustThe Petit Family FoundationThe Shulansky FoundationUnited Way of West Central ConnecticutXL Catlin $5,000 & UpBerman, Bourns, Aaron & DemboCignaStanley Black & Decker
$2,500 - $4,999BaringsBlumShapiroConnecticut Collarborative Divorce GroupFlaherty Legal Group, LLCAtty. Aaron & Atty. Sandra GerstenAtty. Debra & James RuelRussell & Company CPAs, PCJames & Carmela RussellSheila S. Moses CPA, PC
$1,000 - $2,499Beacon Behavioral Services, LLCMark & Michelle BoxerBrown, Paindiris & Scott, LLPCharles Schwab & Co.Bruce & Hanna ClementsTim Buckley & Atty. Patricia O’NeilEast Hartford Moose RidersJonathan & Carolyn FinkFreed Marcroft LLCWillis GeeAtty. Charles HigginsIntel CorporationWilliam & Erin JohnsonLouden, Katz & McGrathSusan MartensonMester, Grabow & Miller, LLCAtty. David MesterJanis Milroy & Christa RakichRobert & Kathleen NastriRobert & Patricia PheaniousPatrick & Linda ProctorPullman & Comley, LLCReid & Riege, PCRobinson & Cole, LLPRuel Ruel Goings & Britt, LLCThelma SantosGeraldine & Timothy SullivanSullivan & LeShane, Inc.The O’Neil Law FirmThe S/L/A/M Collaborative, Inc.Deb TostoTheresa Wing Hines
$500-999Hon. Holly Abery-Wetstone &
Mark WetstoneBarnett & Shoflick PCBerry Law LLCBK & Co.Bradley Foster & Sargent, Inc.Atty. Dan A. BrodySusan BrownBrown Rudnick LLPCapitol Strategies Group, LLCMichael & Lisa CicchettiHartford HealthCareHoffman Auto GroupCharles & Janet JohnsonLaw Offices of Susan Busby, LLCAtty. Robert & Doreen MaddenJohn McClutchyMickelson, Jacobs and Bozek, LLCPension Consultants, Inc.Laura Post & Mark PazniokasPue, Chick, Leibowitz & Blezard, LLCAtty. Justine & Brian Rakich-KellyAtty. Mary RocheTodd D. Shepard, CFPDr. Liza & Dr. Jack ThayerOliver TullerWealth Preservation Partners, LLCWoolf Law Firm, LLC
$250-499AnonymousHon. Barbara Aaron & Jeff NeseHon. Joseph & Atty. Sara BernsteinMichael & Michelle BlezardAtty. Thomas ChapmanDr. Claudia CopleinAtty. Kathleen Flaherty & James
ValentinoVirginia GilmourEdward GoldbergMaureen GouldAtty. Randa HojaibanCarla Hojaiban & Teddy JawdeWilliam Howard & Elizabeth KaplanFrancis & Diane KellyGil & Kimberly GamboaMaureen GouldLAZ ParkingScott & Rebecca LehmannPaddi LeShaneAtty. Pamela & Brian MagnanoMassMutualMax DowntownAtty. Heather & Michael
McRobertsGaurav & Atty. Parul PatelDon & Sheila RittmanCynthia SanstromAtty. Philip SmallDennis StanekThe Health Consultants Group, LLC
Trumbull Group Benefits, LLCAtty. Arthur WebsterMarilyn & Guy WestAtty. Edward & Brooke
WhittemorePeter Yacovone
$100-249Hon. Gerard I. AdelmanMark AlexanderPeter & Diane AntosAtty. Peter Arakas & Karen
KellermanJane & Norman BarstowPaul & Vivian BattersonTheresa BoiansAtty. Courtney Bourns & Anne
LundbergAtty. Francis & Mary BradyDonna BronwellAtty. Suzanne CaronCetro AmericaTerry & Catherine D’ItaliaDiCara LawLena DiGentiMonica EhrlichScott & Stephanie EspositoAtty. Robert FriedJay GamesterChris & Laura GarrahanAtty. Rosemary GiulianoAtty. Damon Goldstein
Charles & Karen HerbertAtty. Pamela Hershinson &
David ColemanGeorge HojaibanAtty. John HorakDr. Robert & Carla HorwitzEileen HurleyCathy IacovazziKeith & Marietta JohnsonNicholas KarlowiczJim Keller & Candice ChirgotisDr. Henry & June KrischAtty. Monica Lafferty HarperLaw Offices of James C. Wing, Jr.Susan Lennon & Nick MerrittMary & Robert LaPorteKenneth & Annette LevineAtty. Tara LiscombeCaitlin LucianLuLaRoe, Inc.Paul & Louise MagnanoRobert & Maura MathieuPaula McIlduffHon. C. Ian McLachlanGraham McLachlanSheila & Paul MosesAlison MundyAtty. Collen Murphy & Philip
DeFronzoAtty. Geoffrey NaabAnn NewmanDaniel Nussbaum, PhDRobert Painter & Nancy Macy
Elizabeth PanicoAtty. Yolanda PreysnerRegina M. Wexler, LLCAtty. David & Atty. Aisha Roche Atty. Gerald RoismanAtty. Mark Rosenblum & Lisa
DerenzoAtty. James & Abiah RuelDonna SauerMurphy Sewall & Virginia FultonDeb ShulanskyAmy SillsJacqueline SimardAtty. Cindy & Mark SlaneHoward & Ruth SovronskyCourtney StaleyRichard SteadmanAndrew & Sandra SternNorman & Nora StevensBrian & Nancy St. JarreAtty. Nancy & Timothy StriniTimothy Sullivan, Jr.Greg TartaglinoThe Law Offices of Donna L.
Buttler, LLCUnion University BSNA Class of
2017UnitedHealth GroupElliot & Esther UrdangAtty. Lynne UstachJovanni ValentiniSusan WatsonMichael Weber
Howard & Patti WeinerMichael & Susan WelchAtty. Regina WexlerStefan & Maureen Zavatone
Under $99AnonymousAllied WorldKathleen ArsenaultPhilip & Dorothy BognarTom & Keara BoisjolieLori BoscoRitamarie BraswellWilliam & Susan BreslauRichard & Patti BroadConstance BuchShannon BuckleyTom BuczynskiJenna BunnerAnthony & Atty. Logan CarducciEllen CarterAshley CerrutoMaya & Joe CiancioloAtty. Brian ClemowHolly CohenDavid & Diana ColpittsAtty. Jodie Comer OshanaRichard CoughlinMeredith CrowtherNicole D’AddioDiane DefronzoMaureen Denney
Atty. Phyllis DiCaraDJM Carpentry & Design, LLCLinda DucksteinAtty. Josh & Jillian FeldmanLeonard Felson & Julia
RosenblumAndrew FengAtty. Michelle FicaMichael & Wendy GacekSheri GindenDavid, Atty. Sandi, & Cassidy
GirolamoBenjamin GlaseRochelle GreenRosalyn GuttermanPeter & Judith HaddadBetty HeissAtty. Don HodgdonAngela JalbertAtty. Leon KaatzTim & Alice KavanaughLawrence KrausK. Narayan KuttyAtty. Robert & Shelley LangerRenee Lavoie & Eric RothauserLaw Office of Rhonda M. MorraJack & Annette LevineFatima LoboBryant MaddenMelissa MarshallJames & Mary Ellen MenendezAtty. Christine MillerKathy Moriarty
Elie NakouziLaura NassauBenjamin NassauDon & Brad NoelMary O’ConnorAndrea OddiWendy & Greg O’SeepJeanette PetersCharles PhillipsAtty. Raphael PodolskyJimmy PsarofagisLisa RandSarah RaskinSusan RiccioNancy RobertsonAtty. William & Carolyn RockAtty. Irene RomanelliRosalie RothDr. Harold SchrammRuth ShulanskyElena SimoesRobert & Sharon SmithJennifer SnowDeborah StickelAtty. Nieka ThompsonTracey TonerAnthony & Cristine ViggianoUnited Methodist WomenHelen WilliamsAbby WoodhousePaul & Katrina Woodhouse
Special ThanksWe’d like to extend a special thank you to the friends and family of Attorney Della Kathryn “Kathi” Steadman, who generously donated to CLC in her memory.
In-Kind Services & Donations
AnonymousHon. Barbara Aaron & Jeff
NesePaige, Steve & Ellie AbramsAmerican GirlArt Connection StudioBella Gusta Select Oils &
VinegarsBilly Grant Restaurant GroupBlue Fox Rock N BowlBlue Plate KitchenBootleg BandBoston BruinsBoston Red SoxAtty. Margaret BozekAtty. Dan BrodyCahoots SalonCaps & DampersClayArtPlayCompass Group USA
Connecticut Science CenterHon. Edward DolanDolce Mama Confections, LLCDORO Restaurant GroupHon. Anne DranginisElizabeth GradyFirebox RestaurantFirefly Hollow Brewing
CompanyF.L. Roberts - Golden NozzleFoxwoods Resort CasinoFrench CleanersAtty. Sandra & Atty. Aaron
GerstenHartford Baking CompanyHartford Flavor CompanyHartford Restaurant GroupHartford Symphony
OrchestraHartford Yard GoatsRabbi Andrew & Rachel
HechtmanHope & StetsonHowley Bread Group, Ltd.IRIS PhotographyJoey Logano FoundationCarrie KramerKimberly BoutiqueCarrie KramerLaunch Trampoline ParkRenee Lavoie & Eric RothauserLAZ Parking
LEGO Systems, Inc.LifeProofLiquid NirvanaFatima LoboLux Bond & GreenMatthew Phillips Aveda
Concept SalonMaximum BeverageMax Restaurant GroupPatrick & Carol McCabeHon. C. Ian McLachlanMetro BisMohegan SunMoscarillo’s Garden ShoppeMount Southington Ski AreaNew Hampshire Motor
SpeedwayOmar Coffee CompanyOtterboxAtty. David & Barbara PanicoPhilip David JewelersPixie SweetsRobert & Patricia PheaniousAtty. Kathryn PhillipsPlayhouse on ParkPond House CafePopover BakeryLaura Post & Mark PazniokasPotbelly Sandwich ShopAtty. Justine & Brian Rakich-
KellyRay’s Frame Shop
Real Art Ways, Inc.Michael & Diane RoachDeb ShulanskySullivan & LeShane Inc.Super Cellar Warehouse
LiquorsSusan Loraine JewelryTalcott Mountain Science
CenterTheaterWorksThe ClaypenThe Cook & the BearThe Gold Club of AvonThe Hermitage ClubThe Market RestaurantThe Mark Twain House &
MuseumTherapeutic Solutions
Massage Therapy & Skin Care Center
The Silver DahliaTruffles on MainJohn ValentiniPamela & Jeffery VerneyVineyard VinesWadsworth Antheneum
Museum of ArtWalt Disney WorldWhole Foods MarketXL Catlin
Thank You!
Our
Fin
anci
als
Our Support & RevenueGrants & Foundations $622,312
Legal Reimbursement & State Legislature $228,933
Event Income $146,182
Individual & Corporate Contributions $42,108
Rebuilding Families Income $6,911
Investment Income $70,520
Total $1,116,966
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Our Support & RevenueTotal Program Expenses $809,682
Legal Representation $744,908
Families in Transition $40,484
Children’s Law Line $24,290
Fundraising $179,070
Management & General $117,296
Total $1,106,048
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Looking Forward: Celebrating 25 yearsSilver Anniversary
2018 is CLC’s 25th Anniversary. Join the celebration at our Annual Gala!
Tickets and auction items will be posted on www.clcct.org/gala-2018
Join Our Community Want to join the fun at CLC? Follow us
on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and keep an eye on
www.clcct.org/events.
#CLC25THCelebrate our 25th Anniversary by taking a picture and posting it on Facebook or Instagram with the
hashtag #CLC25TH to join our mural.
Support our mission by donating at www.clcct.org/donate