The Docket- The Children’s Law Center
Teen Day
T
he Bronx and Kings Family Courts, including agencies and court stakeholders, held their annual “Teen
Day” on October 10th and 22nd. Teen Day is an
event aimed at educating and empowering teenagers in
foster care. Teen Day featured representatives from various government agencies and nonprofit organizations who
gave short presentations, manned tables or met individually
with the youths. Financial planning educators, representatives from the CUNY college system, job preparation professionals, and representatives of government social programs
participated in this wonderful event. The goal is to provide
a conduit that will be an educational resource and linkage
so these teenagers are aware of the various services available to them as they prepare to live independently for the
first time. Teen Day is designed to help these teenagers plan
for being full time students or employees and often both in
order to support themselves when their time in foster care
comes to an end. Both CLCNY clients and staff participated.
In the Bronx, we want to acknowledge all the Bronx CLCNYer’s for their participation at Teen Day and the numerous
donations of personal care products to Connie’s Closet. In
Brooklyn we are excited to acknowledge the hard work that
Martha Pollack, Esq. and Cathy Kolcun, LMSW, our holistic
team did to make the Brooklyn Teen Day a success.
The highlight for the teens was that two Kanye West tickets
were donated and raffled. The 17 year old who won the tickets burst into tears, crying with joy, saying “you just don’t
know how much I love Kanye.” Everyone cheered for her.
The ticket winner will soon be 18 and is college bound. Her
caseworker, also crying with emotion, came up and shared
with us “that this couldn’t have happened to a better kid who
has been through so much.” This is a great annual event and
both days were wonderful and inspiring.
Serena Rosario, Esq.,
Patricia Martin Gibbons, Esq.
& Martha Pollack,
Esq. on Teen Day in
Brooklyn Family
Court
Connie’s Closet, a great program created by Connie Belnavis was on hand in both the Bronx and Brooklyn. Connie, a data entry specialist at the Juvenile Rights Practice,
receives donations of infant, toddler, children and teen
clothing and supplies. She makes these available at a moment’s notice to the Manhattan Family Court for any child
or family in need. Everyone was so appreciative to have
this great program be one on the highlights at Teen Day.
Friends and Family Day 2013
On July 26th we held our second annual Friends and Family
Day. Staff, volunteers and families gathered together at Central
Park on a beautiful day to take a break and have a some summer fun. Thank you all for participating in this great event!!
22? CLCNY Fall/Winter 2013