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2017Annual ReportThe Children’s LAW Centerof Connecticut

Our New MissionTo promote the bestpossible outcomes forchildren and familiesin transition or crisisby providing accessto legal services andsupport they could nototherwise afford and byadvancing collaborative,non-adversarial optionsfor resolving conflictsoutside the court system.Updated April, 2018

In 2017, because of your support and commitment, The Children’s Law Centertouched the lives of Connecticut’s children in a meaningful way. We servedas the voice for those most vulnerable by moving their tumultuous familycircumstances in a positive direction.This annual report highlights the incredible work CLC was able to do in 2017, allthanks to your support: We served over 1,750 children through our programs. In 77% of Legal Representation cases CLC attorneys were able to help parentsreach agreement. 73% of our Families in Transition mediation participants reported that theywould 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 wecan count on your continued support in furthering our mission of protectingConnecticut’s children.These achievements are not just ours to celebrate—they are yours.With gratitude,Justine Rakich-KellyExecutive DirectorRobert MaddenPresident, Board of DirectorsA Letter from Our ExecutiveDirector and Board PresidentDear Friends,

NewsOverview: Our programs served over1,750 children and families in 2017.Location: In May, we moved ouroffices from the 4th floor of 30 ArborStreet to the 2nd.Works: In collaboration with Lawyers forChildren America, and funded through agenerous grant from The HartfordFoundation for Public Giving, CLCcompleted a best practices guide in thefield of child advocacy: Lawyers WhoRepresent Children: A Beginner’s Guide.Trainings: In 2017, CLC provided fourtrainings on topics related to DomesticViolence, Abuse, Parenting Plans andChildren with Special Needs, andSexual Abuse Cases, as well as aseminar on Ethics and the Law.

The centerpiece of CLC’s services is ourLegal Representation Program.No other organization in the state, andonly a few nationwide, focus on protectingthe interests of indigent children whoseparents are involved in high-conflictfamily court disputes. The cases wehandle are among the most difficult andcontentious that the courts see, and manyare exacerbated by conditions of violence,addiction, abuse, neglect, mental illness,incarceration or other chronic challenges.We seek to achieve the safest, most stablearrangements for children who are caughtin the middle of these cases.91% of court orders substantivelyreflected CLC recommendations.Our Work:We served 515 children in332 cases through our LegalRepresentation Program.Legal RepresentationIn 2017.

Children’s Law LineOur Work:In 2017.Our Law Line served1,187 children through 875 calls.The labyrinth of agencies, courts, and laws areoften overwhelming and unmanageable evenfor the most experienced advocate, and simplyimpenetrable for the averageparent. Our Children’s Law Line is an easilyaccessible legal resource that can assistcallers on a variety of topics including custody,visitation and children’s rights. Services likeour Law Line are desperately needed by thosewho want to help a child, but who are at themercy of a complex system. All calls placed toour Law Line are free, answered by a trainedprofessional, and open to everyone as apublic service without screening or incomerequirements.91% of those polled said that they found theLaw Line either “helpful” or “very helpful.”

Our Families in Transition (FIT) Programprovides mediation and positive co-parentingservices to low and middle income levelparents who are embroiled in high-conflictfamily court disputes. CLC provides a genderbalanced team of mediators consisting of anattorney and a mental health professional,both of whom are trained mediators andfamiliar with the family court process. OurFIT program helps each party voice concernsand understand the concerns of the otherparent. We give parents the tools necessaryto communicate more effectively with oneanother, in turn decreasing their conflictlevel and creating a healthier, more stableenvironment for their children.Our Work:We served 64 children in35 families through FIT.Families in TransitionIn 2017.

Our 2017 StaffWho We Are:FIT MediatorsJustine Rakich-KellyExecutive DirectorRanda HojaibanDeputy DirectorDeb ShulanskyDirector ofDevelopmentAisha RocheStaff AttorneyDavid CoughlinStaff AttorneyArtila LubonjaStaff AttorneyMonique RyanStaff AttorneyKathryn PhillipsStaff AttorneyKate KowalyshynJeffrey AsmarHoward KriegerMargaret BozekRobin LandeauWilliam BrownKaren LaRoseTom BuczynskiPamela MagnanoSusan BusbyJohn ManciniAbby ColeRobert MaddenDiane DeFronzoNicholas MaglioRachel DiamondKata MaleuzewskiKim DuellJeff MickelsonGarlinck DumontKathleen NevinsCynthia EastmanMichele ParkerRobert FiedlerLizbette RiveraDouglas FishmanBen ShapiroBruce FreedmanCorey SomervilleKelly GallagherChristine Gaudio Stephanie Stein LeiteTanya WayneLisa GilibertoMartin WheelerAndrew HechtmanJeff ZimmermanCharles HigginsSidney HorowitzVolunteer TrainersMark DuboisEric FrazerKathryn BissonnetteStaff AttorneyNicole SilvaStaff Social WorkerAdelina SantiagoProfessionalAssistantAbby WoodhouseMarketing &DevelopmentAssociateIn 2017, we said farewell to.Kathryn BissonnetteStaff AttorneyRosalie RothDirector ofDevelopmentEmily GilbertDevelopmentAssociateBrooke GarciaProfessional AssistantRobert MaddenLinda SmithInternsAllegresse BambiBruce BatesIsabel BenedettoOwen EagenKirina GairMacMichaelThalia GiraldoAnne HayAaron HookerAllie KleinKatelynn KohlMolly MartinLeann MclarenElizabeth PanicoCourtney ParsonsAnnabel Stanley

Board ofDirectorsRobert Madden, PresidentTim Buckley, Vice PresidentJonathan Fink, TreasurerPamela Magnano, SecretaryMark BoxerDan A. BrodySandra GerstenC. Ian McLachlanChristine MillerGaurav PatelPatricia PheaniousLaura PostPatrick ProctorJames RussellElizabeth ThayerJovanni ValentiniMaureen ZavatoneIn 2017, we saidfarewell withgrateful thanks to.Kelly Frye BarnettPatrick ProctorMaureen Zavatone

Our CommunityCLC’s incredible communitymade 2017 a success. The eventswe hold and which you attend aregreat ways for us to celebrate thechampions of our work and raiseawareness of CLC’s programs.Brackets for GoodCLC is always seeking dynamic,new fundraising opportunities,taking part in Connecticut’s firstBrackets for Good—asingle-elimination, bracket-stylefundraising tournament—coming in 6th place out of 64teams, despite being eliminatedin the first round by one of theeventual finalists.This fantastic opportunityraised over 5,700 for CLC, andopened us up to futureopportunities from thisincredible organization.

TrainingsMore 2017HighlightsWe held four trainings:Hartford EvergreenMasonic Lodge #88Co-parenting Special NeedsChildren with Dr. Linda SmithVisionary Gala SponsorWe love supporting ourfunders whenever possible,such as staffing theregistration booth at HartfordEvergreen Lodge’s Annual 5KRun.Deciphering Interviews ofChildren Alleging SexualAbuse with Dr. Eric FrazerWorkshop on Domestic Violencewith Dr. Eric FrazerEthics & the Law Seminar withRobert Madden & Mark DuboisBK & Co.Wine, Women &FashionBK & Co. celebrated someof CLC’s favorite thingswhile raising money tocontinue our importantwork. Who said shoppingcan’t be charitable?Birdies for CharityCLC MotorcycleRide & ShowWe participated in the 2017Birdies for Charity program inpartnership with the TravelersChampionship, which helpedus raise over 6,000 for ourwork at CLC.Our valued supporters theWallingford Moose Riders,Annual Intern BreakfastWe are so grateful for all ofhosted a Motorcycle Ride &Show that provided CLC with the hard work our interns dofinancial support and gave us for CLC! We hold an annualbreakfast each summer tovaluable exposure, helpingcelebrateall they do for usus to grow our community.and give their loved ones anopportunity to see the workthey’ve done.

2017 Annual GalaIn November, we held ourAnnual Gala to celebrate thework of CLC.We’d like to offer special thanksto our Visionary Sponsor,Hartford Evergreen MasonicLodge #88—as well as othersponsors like DornenburgKallenbach Advertising, MaxCares Foundation, DelamarWest Hartford, Cigna, Ruel RuelGoings & Britt Attorneys-at-Law,and Stanley Black & Decker.During this record-setting year,over 300 attendees gathered atDelamar West Hartford, raisingover 117,000 for our programs.A highlight was a speech byTheresa, a young woman whobenefited from a seventeenyear relationship with Justine—Theresa’s guardian ad litem forone year but a mentor for thefollowing sixteen.

Special Thanks to:GALA COMMITTEEBarbara Aaron,Co-ChairPaddi LeShane,Co-ChairEd BryanLena DiGentiGarlinck DumontMeghan FreedCara HardackerKaren HerbertKristen MarcroftCarol McCabeHeather McRobertsLaura PostErum RandhawaPam VerneyHONORARY GALACOMMITTEEMeghan SweeneyBurnsSandra GerstenPam MagnanoDebra RuelMaureen ZavatoneCOMMUNITYSUPPORTERLAZ Parking, whogenerously providedvalet servicesGALA VOLUNTEERSTom AdamsMarsha BeckfordSusan CellinoJoe CiancioloMaya CiancioloBob CocoElaine CocoLinda CumminsNanci FoxKirina GairMacMichaelCourtney GardnerCara HardackerKaren HerbertMike HughesEileen HurleyNick KarlowiczBarbara KarskyArmen KevorkianAlissa KorwekPhyllis KnoxEmma LynchEd O’ConnorEileen O’ConnorCourtney ParsonsHannah PliskinMaddy PliskinKatie ReavesJ. R. ReavesDonna SauerSteve SilvaGreg Tartaglino

Our SupportersGrants & FoundationsAmazonSmile FoundationAmerican Academy of MatrimonialLawyersAmerican Savings FoundationBarbara Walthers TrustBudd Family FundCATIC FoundationCommunity Chest of New Britain & BerlinCommunity Foundation of EasternConnecticutCommunity Foundation of GreaterNew 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 theJewish CommunityFoundation of Greater HartfordJohn and Kelly Hartman FoundationKnights of Pythias, John Hay Lodge 61Lincoln Financial FoundationMax Cares FoundationNear & Far Aid AssociationRBC FoundationSBM Charitable FoundationThe Benevity Community Impact FundThe Betty Knox FoundationThe Community Foundation forGreater New HavenThe Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb MemorialCharitable TrustThe Petit Family FoundationThe Shulansky FoundationUnited Way of West Central ConnecticutXL Catlin 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 & McGrath 5,000 & UpSusan MartensonBerman, Bourns, Aaron & DemboMester, Grabow & Miller, LLCCignaAtty. David MesterStanley Black & DeckerJanis Milroy & Christa RakichRobert & Kathleen NastriRobert & Patricia Pheanious 2,500 - 4,999Patrick & Linda ProctorBaringsPullman & Comley, LLCBlumShapiroConnecticut Collarborative Divorce Group Reid & Riege, PCRobinson & Cole, LLPFlaherty Legal Group, LLCRuel Ruel Goings & Britt, LLCAtty. Aaron & Atty. Sandra GerstenThelma SantosAtty. Debra & James RuelGeraldine & Timothy SullivanRussell & Company CPAs, PCSullivan & LeShane, Inc.James & Carmela RussellThe O’Neil Law FirmSheila S. Moses CPA, PCThe S/L/A/M Collaborative, Inc.Deb TostoTheresa Wing Hines