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