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DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER - IT'S GETTING COLD!

The outside temperature is really starting to drop, and CCA’s advocacy for low-income children is heating up as we help vulnerable children and youth stay warm and healthy this winter.

Enforcing the Legal Rights of Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Our advocacy is especially critical right now for youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. CCA’s Right Direction: Homeless Youth Advocacy Project is getting calls from youth who need legal help finding a safe place to sleep at night and enforcing their rights. Sixteen-year-old “Tyrell” had to leave his home because it was unsafe. He was couch surfing with friends, and not going to school because he thought he needed a parent to register him. A former coach connected him to a CCA attorney who fought for his educational rights, and Tyrell started school and was thrilled to join the football team. CCA’s Client Fund helped him get his cell phone fixed so he can communicate with us and use it to connect with people he can stay with.

The impact of Tyrell’s success ripples outward, as his coach is now partnering with CCA to share information about the rights of homeless students with other sports coaches in the region so they can be advocates for other youth experiencing homelessness. For more information on the rights of homeless students, contact Attorney Stacey Violante Cote.

Preventing Discharges from Foster Care to Homelessness

When youth who have been abused and neglected and grown up in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) are involuntarily discharged from care before they are ready, they are at tremendous risk of becoming homeless. DCF has agreed to give CCA’s contact information to all youth threatened with an involuntary discharge from DCF care after they turn 18, and CCA’s Child Welfare Advocacy Project is representing a growing number of youth who need legal help to remain in DCF care and maintain housing, health care, and basic needs while they prepare to live independently in the future. For more information on the rights of youth aging out of DCF care, contact Attorney Stacy Schleif.

Helping Families Maintain Utility Service

Families need utility service to keep their children warm, and our Medical-Legal Partnership Project is providing legal help to families with low incomes who are at risk of losing utility service. For information on how to protect a family’s utility services, click here or contact CCA Attorney Bonnie Roswig at broswig@cca-ct.org.

Bringing Legal Services to Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Our Mobile Legal Office, a fully equipped legal office inside a customized van, visits locations in the community where youth who are experiencing housing instability feel comfortable. The Mobile Legal Office provides legal services and basic needs items to youth. If you're interested in providing basic needs for youth during the holiday season, please contact Eileen Brennan.

Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Trainings

On December 8, Attorney Marisa Halm and Attorney Kathryn Meyer presented a webinar on “School Discipline Law in Connecticut: What you need to know to advocate for your youth client.” The webinar covered the foundations of school discipline law in Connecticut, explained the special rights of students with disabilities who are entitled to special education, and discussed strategies to employ when school discipline & delinquency intersect. A recording of the presentation is available here. Passcode: QHMHA@N5

Reviewing Our Impact in 2022

In CCA’s 2022 Annual Report, we recount how we walked beside vulnerable children and youth and their families so they didn’t have to battle systems alone. Read our Annual Report here.

CCA tripled the support for CT’s most at-risk children on #GivingTuesday 2022!

The Center would like to acknowledge and thank our donors for their support on #GivingTuesday this year. We are extremely grateful to each of our 34 donors who helped CCA surpass our #GivingTuesday goal! In addition, each new gift and increased gift on #GivingTuesday was matched by our Board leveraging over $7,000 in unrestricted funds. Driven by our mission to protect and promote the legal rights of Connecticut’s most at-risk children and youth so that they have equitable opportunities for good health, a quality education and a successful transition to adulthood, we are delighted to acknowledge this level of engagement in our work as we build momentum together in this our 25th Anniversary year.

CCA is delighted to welcome new team members!

Dr. John Ducksworth joins CCA as our Restorative Justice Project Coordinator. Dr. Ducksworth comes to CCA with extensive experience providing restorative justice training and managing restorative justice programs in New York City and Washington, D.C. At CCA, he will provide training and support to help Connecticut youth facilities and shelters replace punitive behavior management systems with a culture of restorative justice.

Briana Wahl joins CCA as our new Digital Communications Manager. With a substantial background in communications and marketing for nonprofit organizations in Greater Bridgeport, Briana will lead CCA’s digital communications to educate youth and other stakeholders about legal issues and CCA services, and support CCA’s advocacy for systems change.

Chanel Wright joins CCA as our new Youth Leadership Program Manager. Ms. Wright brings to CCA years of experience leading youth development programs with community-based organizations in Greater Hartford. At CCA, she’ll grow our Speak Up youth-led advocacy project in Hartford and expand the project’s youth organizing and advocacy to Bridgeport.

Want to support the work of the Center for Children's Advocacy?

Become a donor by giving here

Contact Center for Children's Advocacy
65 Elizabeth St. | Hartford, Connecticut 06105
860-570-5327 | mprendergast@cca-ct.org

www.cca-ct.org

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