May 30, 2025
Mental Health Awareness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is essential for the overall well-being at every stage of life. Regardless of age, background, or experience, prioritizing mental health strengthens individuals, families, and communities. For children and teens, supportive families, schools, and communities build strong mental health. CCA provides legal support for children and youth who suffer from mental illnesses so they can receive the services necessary to thrive.
“Mary’s” Story
16 year-old “Mary” had a chronic illness that could make her quite ill if she did not consistently receive proper treatment. Her treatment was complicated by her mental health condition, which caused her to not accept that she had a life threatening chronic illness. Mary and her mom were referred to the Medical-Legal Partnership Project (MLPP) because Mary had not been participating consistently in her care and her chronic condition had spiraled to a life threatening level. She had been hospitalized and was about to be released from the hospital with no identified services and supports. One hope for Mary was her doctors’ recommendation for an intensive daily mental health program, but the mental health program rejected Mary because of her chronic physical illness. Mary’s mom contacted the project in despair, fearful that her daughter might die without treatment. The MLPP reached out to the mental health program and explained that federal law requires that they cannot reject a child simply because they have a medical condition. Mary is receiving services from this intensive program and she and her mom have hope for the future.
Key Project Updates
Youth Voice
Speak Up! Youth member Oluwaseyi Oluborode has been selected for Tow Youth Justice Institute’s “Rising Trailblazer” award. This prestigious recognition celebrates a young leader’s exceptional dedication to creating positive change within their community.
Immigrant Children’s Justice Project
CCA’s Immigrant Children’s Justice Project has been stepping in to help fill the void left by the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate key federally-funded legal services for 26,000 unaccompanied children in the United States. As a result, many legal service providers across the nation, including in Connecticut, have been forced to close or pare down their programs providing legal representation for unaccompanied minors. The decision to eliminate the federal government’s long-standing support for unaccompanied minors has had dire consequences, leaving vulnerable children without legal representation as they face immigration removal proceedings on their own. CCA’s Immigrant Children’s Justice Project, with the assistance of its pro bono partners, has accepted representation for many of these children who have been left without legal assistance, to help them pursue protection through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. CCA is working hard to advocate for these children who are seeking refuge from abuse, neglect and abandonment, and stands in solidarity with our non-profit colleagues who are being forced to stop providing essential legal services to these vulnerable children.
** If you are interested in joining CCA’s SIJS Pro Bono Project to represent an immigrant child, please reach out to Sabrina Tavi, Director of CCA’s Immigrant Children’s Justice Project at stavi@cca-ct.org. Attorneys, paralegals, interpreters/translators are all welcome and needed for this urgent effort.
Systemic Advocacy
CCA attorneys meet regularly with leadership from the State Department to address the need for the timely resolution of complaints about the delivery of special education services to children, while monitoring the enforcement of rights in Bridgeport public schools.
Attorney Trainings
On June 11th, CCA will conduct a statewide attorney training on 5 Things Every Lawyer Should Know. This statewide symposium, commissioned by the Public Defender’s Office, is designed for attorneys who who represent parents and children.
CCA in the Community
CCA in Fairfield County: Giving Children a Voice – In Challenging Times
On Friday, May 2nd, CCA held its second annual, Giving Children a Voice: In Challenging Times. We were delighted to welcome 90+ guests on this occasion. We were thrilled and honored to welcome Senator Chris Murphy who championed the power of community and community action during these challenging times. We were likewise honored to share an important family voice from Ms. Asia Johnson on behalf of her children and their experience working with CCA’s Education Success Project..
This annual event which elevates CCA’s in-community work and its impact across Fairfield County was championed by CCA’s Board Directors Renea Bea, Scott Gerard, Chris Mattei, and Scott Murphy. Addressing the very real need to protect the rights of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children in the very challenging times, CCA would like to thank our sponsors again.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Sustaining Sponsors: Finn Dixon & Herling, LLP, First County Bank, Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder PC, Shipman & Goodwin LLP, Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, Slarskey LLP, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLP
Equity Sponsors: John and Kelly Hartman Foundation, Stockman O’Connor, Carta McAlister & Moore, LLC
Growth Sponsors: Southport Compass, Randel Law Offices, LLC
Westport Rotary Club
A special thank you to the Westport Rotary Club and Peter Helt for supporting CCA’s work in Fairfield County. This year’s Westport Rotary Club grant funds two important CCA services that will help low-income children and youth in Fairfield County have healthy development and attend school and learn. With this grant, CCA will hold a Keep the Power On Utility Clinic in Bridgeport to help low-income families access affordable payment programs and maintain utility service. We will also provide an Advocacy for Healthy Children training with follow-up coaching for health care providers in Fairfield County to help the providers advocate for child patients with chronic health conditions, other special needs or disabilities so they can get the services they need. The Westport Rotary Club has been a steadfast supporter of CCA’s advocacy over the years and we are fortunate to include them as a valued community partner.
CCA in New Haven County: Visit to Wiggin and Dana LLP
CCA’s new Executive Director, Sarah Eagan, joined the Wiggin & Dana LLP team at their offices for a special meet and greet. We were grateful for their warm welcome to our team and Sarah Eagan was pleased to share her vision for CCA and CCA’s impact protecting and promoting the legal rights of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children and youth. She also shared some of the recent individual wins and the 2025 priority areas for systemic advocacy.
CCA Attorneys Sabrina Tavi and Bonnie Roswig also shared CCA’s Pro Bono opportunities through our Immigrant Children’s Justice Project and our in-community volunteer opportunities through our Keep the Power On! utility clinics.
CCA Attorney and Director of the Yale New Haven Medical-Legal Partnership Project, Sarah Mervine, presented at the Yale Conference on Physical and Mental Health of Refugees on helping healthcare providers understand the systems families must navigate regarding housing and health, understanding referral options and resources, and supporting systemic level advocacy. To view the presentation, click here.
Pathways to Success
CCA Attorney and Director of our Racial Justice Project, Nieka Thompson will join several other distinguished panelists at the 2025 Pathways to Success Conference hosted by the Tow Youth Justice Institute. CCA Speak Up! Youth member Oluwaseyi Oluborode will be presented with the inagaural “Rising Trailblazer” award during this conference.
Upcoming Events
Spring for Kids 2025, CCA’s Flagship Fundraising event, will take place on Tuesday, June 3rd at 5:30pm at the Yard Goat Club at Dunkin’ Park. You can still join us for an inspiring evening of remarkable stories as we honor this year’s Champions of Children, Barbara Dalio and Dalio Education, Krystal Rich, Erin Williamson, and Yvette Young, leading members of the Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team, and the 2025 Sustainability Award Honoree, the Herbert and Nell Singer Foundation. Click here to register and join us at Spring for Kids 2025 if you can! If not, our Spring for Kids Silent Auction is a fun way to help support CCA’s work, and it’s live! Bid early and often here as the auction ends on June 3rd at 8pm, bidders don’t need to be present to win.
CCA in the News
Bridgeport’s school financial woes could worsen with new budget, advocates warn
CCA’s Executive Director, Sarah Eagan, JD, was quoted in this article with WNPR saying, “the [Bridgeport] City Council’s vote does not give nearly enough money to Bridgeport public schools, so everything remains catastrophically, life changingly, underfunded for kids in our highest need communities.”
CCA’s Executive Director, Sarah Eagan, JD, was quoted in this article with CT News Junkie saying, “Children who are exposed to animal cruelty may be at risk of abuse themselves, and witnessing animal cruelty is traumatizing to children, impacting them in a number of ways, including increasing their risk of depression, anxiety, and development of maladaptive behaviors,” Eagan said. “It is essential that animal abuse by an adult be further investigated to determine whether there are children in the home who need further support and protection.” Click the link to read more.
CT passes bill ensuring access to reproductive care for youth under 18
CCA helped to draft and support legislation that protects minors rights to access to reproductive care. Attorney Bonnie Roswig specifically advocated for confidential access to birth control for minors to ensure that minors have the appropriate support and services and why this addition to the bill is so important. “Connecticut must continue to respect the reproductive health care rights of all of their women regardless of age. This protection as embraced by 25 other states (see Guttmacher Report)—is critical to the safety and well-being of our youth,” Attorney Roswig.
CT lawmakers ensure contraceptive, pregnancy care for minors
CCA’s Executive Director, Sarah Eagan, JD, was quoted in this article with the CT Insider saying, “I would choose between education reform or affordable housing, but you could also say the efforts to address income inequality through this movement towards (universal) basic income and earned income tax credits. The more you reduce parental poverty, the more outcomes for children improve. Because children’s well-being is so tied to their parents’ well-being.” Click the link to read more.
CCA Welcomes
Welcoming Our Summer Interns
CCA is delighted to welcome 6 new law student interns this summer: Fresia Fernandez, Tobey Phillips, Mark Sterling, Elena Salm, Kylie Heneghan, and Claire Talbert! These new interns will be working with our attorneys in our Immigrant Children’s Justice Project, LGBTQ+ Youth Advocacy Project, and our School Justice Project.
