CONNECTICUT LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA

Physical abuse is just one reason why Natasha* and Joshua found themselves in the care of Connecticut’s Department of Children & Families (DCF). For sisters Brittney, Laruen and Hanna, parental substance abuse led to DCF intervention.

But thanks to Lawyers for Children America, Inc. (LFCA), each of these youngsters, ages 5 to 11, are in foster homes and in the process of being adopted.

Success stories like these are a result in part of support from a two-year, $100,000 grant in 2007 from the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health), whose children’s mental health goal is to reduce the number of at-risk children ages 6-14 entering intensive treatment and/or the juvenile justice system due to mental health problems.

“Our goals for each of these children are permanency, safety and services,” says Priscilla Pappadia, Connecticut LFCA executive director. Since its inception in 1995, LFCA has helped children like Natasha receive the medical and mental health services they need, as well as the loving, nurturing environments necessary to grow into healthy adults.

Part of a nationwide organization, the Connecticut LFCA recruits and trains volunteer lawyers to provide abused and neglected children with pro bono representation.  During the two-year grant period, LFCA:

• Helped about 160 new children
• Closed 88 cases by providing children with permanent homes
• Served over 350 active cases

“We’ve also been asked to participate more in policy-making forums,” adds Pappadia.  “That indicates to us that our hard-fought reputation for excellence in child protection now gives us even greater credibility in lending our voice to policy-making decisions.” 

She also notes that LCFA’s caseloads in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven continue to grow, “evidence of the court’s growing confidence in our program and the ability of our volunteers to provide excellent advocacy for abused and neglected children.”

LFCA ‘s reputation is built on its results since 1995, which includes:

• Representing over 1,800 abused and neglected children, mostly African-American and Latino
• Training about 450 attorneys from over 75 of the region’s top law firms, more than 80 percent of whom remain with the Connecticut LFCA program for five years or more

Training includes areas of the law unique to representing children, such as child development, children’s mental health disorders, the effects of trauma on children and cultural competency.  “These practical skills seminars enhance our volunteers’ ability to zealously advocate for their clients and achieve results beyond those possible simply in courtroom advocacy,” says Pappadia.

“Our volunteer attorneys each donate hundreds of hours annually to their LFCA casework, and become political as well as legal advocates for these children.”

For children like Natasha and others, it makes a world of difference and provides hope for a bright future.

*All children’s names changed to protect confidentiality.

Website: www.lawyersforchildrenamerica.org