About the Connecticut Family Support Council

The Council was establshed by statute in 1994 to assist the various state agencies that administer or fund family support services to:

  1. Establish a comprehensive, coordinated system of family support services
  2. Use existing state and other resources efficiently and effectively
  3. Identify and address services that are needed for families of children with disabilities
  4. Promote state-wide availability of such services 


Our Vision

The CT Family Support Council envisions communities across Connecticut in which familys of children with disabilities are:

  • Strengthened to nurture and enjoy their children at home and in their communities
  • Supported to meet their children’s unique health, educational, recreational and vocational needs
  • Informed to help make choices and decisions regarding the services, supports and resources available to them.
  • Assisted by community based services to meet the individual needs to their children and the inherent potential of all children to contribute to their communities
     

What are Family Support Services?

Family support services are whatever is needed for families to thrive within their communties including, but not limited to:

  • Cash subsidies
  • Goods and services
  • Parent education and support
  • Community inclusion assistance
  • Home modifications & assistive technology
  • Linkage to policymakers community leaders 

Appointed Council Members
Robyn Trowbridge, Co-Chair, Meriden Laura Knapp, Plainville 
Karen Hlavac, Co-chair , Wallingford  Joan Law, Stratford
Jennifer Carroll, Glastonbury Merva Jackson, Hartford
Tesha Imperati, North Haven  Mona Tremblay, Putnam
Angela Klonoski, Plainfield Terry Walsh, Woodstock
Karen Zrenda, Old Lyme
Alice Buttwell, New Milford
Evelyn Mantilla, West Hartford Lisa Sheppard, Fairfield

 
Kathleen Reddington, Dept. of Developmental Services
Kathleen Bradley, Dept. of Children and Families
Sylvia Gafford-Alexander, Dept. of Social Services Colleen Hayles, State Dept. of Education
Ann Gionet, Dept. of Public Health Moira O'Neill, Office of the Child Advocate
Elaine Zimmerman, Commission on Children
Jim McGaughey, Office of Protection and Advocacy
Dr. Mark Greenstein, Birth to Three Council (SICC)
Mary Beth Bruder, A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Maureen Smith, Office of the Healthcare Advocate
 

 

Statewide Family Support Network Coordinator

Jennifer Carroll, Glastonbury

Regional Family Support Network Coordinators

North Central:  Sheila Harris, Hartford
                           Patti Silva, Wethersfield
Northeast:  Mona Tremblay, Putnam
Peter Szruba, 
Northwest:  Alice Buttwell, New Milford
Trish Butler, 
South Central:  Tesha Imperati, North Haven
Deborah Pagano
Southeast:  April Dipollina, Waterford
Southwest

CT Family Support Council Secretary

Moira O'Neill

CT Family Support Council Supportive Partners

African-Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. AFCAMP

Autism Society of CT, ASCONN

Autism Spectrum Resource Center, ASRC

Child Development Infoline


CT Council on Developmental Disabilities
 

Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, CDHI

CT Lifespan Respite Coalition, CLRC

Favor, Inc.


Family Connections Program, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital
 

Office of the Healthcare Advocate


Specialty Support Center, CT Children's Medical Center