Families United Appoints New Executive Leadership

 
New London, CT - Families United announced today the induction of a new Executive Board of Directors. The Executive Board of Directors is comprised of Officers with diverse professional backgrounds and personal experience. They represent the statewide communities, provider network, families, and industries that we serve. Their leadership, alongside their new Executive Director, Danielle M. Chiaraluce, is prominent in the organization's decision making and strategic planning.

Families United Executive Board of Directors:

Ann-Marie Degraffenreidt, Esq. /DCF- President
Michelle Boyle-Kenefick, LCSW- Vice President
Diana Leonardi-Discher, Educator and Business Owner- Treasurer/Family
Alexia Antczak-Bouckoms, Ph.D; DMD- Family/Officer
Patricia Groves, Provider- Family/Officer
Ed Perl, Community Business Owner- Officer
Diane Raffanello, Governors Prevention Mentoring Partnership- Officer 
Barbara Sandstrom, New Haven Job Corps- Officer
Maribel Vazquez, DCF- Family/Officer
Michael Vigeant, Center for Research- Family/Officer
 
"As a community-based, family advocacy organization comprised of family members and professionals, we uphold the value of facilitating sustainable resources and services to families, children, and youth. This new leadership brings forth the promise of change to an agency that has been a cornerstone for family advocacy and services since mid-1990. Families United values the effort and commitment of prior leadership and looks forward to continuing our mission of facilitating and promoting unity, and the healthy growth and development of individuals, families, and communities through empowerment, advocacy, and services." Danielle Chiaraluce, Executive Director.

Families United is committed to the promotion of wellness and growth. They address a range of life issues by:

•    Assisting families, youth, and children through services based within the community, school, and program such as: education, advocacy, mentoring, and connections to resources.
•    Building strong family and youth-driven networks, support systems, and advocacy groups.
•    Developing partnerships within the community and provider network that focus on the strengths and needs of families, youth, and children.
•    Raising widespread awareness regarding the mental health, behavioral, emotional, or social conditions facing families, youth, and children.
•    Impacting public policy via advocacy efforts to assure quality and proactive resources for families, youth, and children are in place.
•    Encouraging proactive interventions that are individualized, interconnected, holistic, culturally responsive, and sustainable.
•    Providing programming that meets the needs of families, youth, and children within the community and across the State of Connecticut.
 
For more information, please call (860) 443-0044 or visit the main office on 154 Hempstead Street in New London, CT.