A community conversation with keynote speaker Joette Katz, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Children and Families in collaboration with Bridgeport Hospital’s REACH Program serving children, Merkaz, The Community High School for Judaic Studies, and Fairfield University’s Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions.

Whether you are a concerned parent, school educator or community health professional, all of us are responsible for ensuring that Connecticut’s children grow up to be “healthy, safe, smart and strong,” according to DCF Commissioner Katz. Appointed at age 39 as the youngest justice to sit on the Supreme Court of Connecticut, Katz became Commissioner of DCF in early 2011.

Join us for this community forum as we build bridges and share in a critical conversation impacting pressing issues impacting our children’s emotional and social well being. Acting in “partnership with families who seek or need assistance, with the communities in which they reside, with our state agency partners and the advocates whose insights continue to be invaluable,” we will hear a ‘state of the State’ from Commissioner Katz.

Included will be Charles J. Morgan, MD from Bridgeport Hospital’s community based REACH (outpatient program) serving children and teenagers with a spectrum of issues including addictions, oppositional behaviors, and social isolation. Dean Robert Hannafin of Fairfield’s GSEAP program will overview programmatic approaches to the wide range of family counseling and child support curricula pathways. Most importantly, we’ll be sharing effective strategies and creating cross-disciplinary dialogue among community leaders, notable professionals, and thoughtful parents proactively protective of the precious lives of our children.

Generously supported by Toby and Emil Meshberg

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