Center for Children's Advocacy
Publications and Videos

To order publications or videos from the Center for Children's Advocacy, please use the publications order form or purchase online.

Video and Book Packages:

  • New Legal Rights Book
    I Will Speak Up for Myself: the Legal Rights of Youth Living in Shelters, Group Homes, STAR Homes or Residential Treatment Facilities.

    This important new book, created by CCA and distributed by DCF to youth in shelters, group homes, STAR homes or residential treatment facilities, answers many of the questions these youth may have about their living situations and their legal rights. The book is available with a new DVD that teaches and motivates youth to advocate for themselves and speak up to get the services they need.

  • I Will Speak Up for Myself: Your Legal Rights in Foster Care (view online, or call CCA to order copies)

    "I Will Speak Up for Myself" answers children's questions about the tangle of legal issues facing them in the foster care system in Connecticut. In the video, foster children in the care of the Department of Children and Families talk about their experiences to teach and empower other foster children to speak up for the services and help they need.

    The video is part of an package for all children in foster care. The Legal Rights Question and Answer book includes many of the issues that children in foster care may have questions about. The book includes appropriate legal citations for attorneys and advocates. The book and DVD set are packaged in a backpack, and includes an "Important Information" card to allow children to keep important contact names and phone numbers.

  • I Will Speak Up for Myself (2): Legal Rights of Children and Youth in Shelters, Group Homes, STAR Homes or Residential Treatment Facilities (view online, or call CCA to order copies) This DVD and Book give youth answers to many issues they face in shelters, group homes, STAR homes or residential treatment facilities in Connecticut. In the DVD, youth talk about their experiences to teach and empower other youth to advocate for themselves to access the services and help they need. The Legal Rights Question and Answer book answers many of the questions that these youth have, and includes legal citations for attorneys and advocates.

    • Video/DVD (xx MB WMV download)

    • Legal Rights Question and Answer Book (PDF, January 2008)

  • Who Will Speak for Me? (view online, or call CCA to order copies) An important short film from the Center for Children's Advocacy, Who Will Speak for Me? represents the children caught in the child protection system. The video asks children to tell us how we might best provide legal representation to them, and presents their views and suggestions to enable us to better the level of services we provide. This video is an important learning tool for all attorneys who represent children, and is available with printed resource materials. (2001)

Child Abuse Project:

Education:

  • Truancy: A Closer Look (PDF)
    The link between truancy and unmet educational needs.

  • Quick Tips Educational Advocacy

  • NCLB Tutoring

    Under No Child Left Behind, school age children may qualify for free tutoring. This brochure (available in English and Spanish) answers many of the questions parents may have regarding free tutoring services, such as:

    Who can get free tutoring?, Which children qualify?, What subjects are offered?, Who should I call?, Who are the tutors?, How do I sign up?, What if we don't speak English?

    The brochures list local contact information for NCLB tutoring coordinators in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, along with statewide toll-free telephone numbers for the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) and the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center.

TeamChild/Juvenile Justice:

  • TeamChild/Juvenile Justice Project

    CCA's TeamChild/Juvenile Justice program provides legal help for children with educational and behavioral health issues that provoke their involvement with the juvenile justice system.

  • Know your Legal Rights in Detention.

    This question and answer handbook was developed by the Center for Children's Advocacy in collaboration with the Connecticut Judicial Branch and with funding from the Connecticut Bar Foundation. The book answers questions that youth In detention may have about their legal rights and about the responsibilities of the detention center, and encourages youth to speak up to ask for the services they need.

Teen Legal Rights:

  • Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic

    CCA's Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic provides legal advocacy to teens to reduce truancy and dropout rates by resolving issues that affect academic performance.

  • Adolescent Health Care: The Legal Rights of Teens

    Adolescent Health Care: The Legal Rights of Teens, is a comprehensive book detailing confidentiality in adolescent medical care. The book is intended to be of practical assistance to health care providers, health care policy makers, and attorneys representing adolescents. The idea of creating this book came from numerous requests and suggestions from local health organizations. It is intended to highlight basic confidentiality issues that arise when treating adolescents. While the book is intended as a reference and information source only, and not interpreted as legal advice in an individual case, it is a comprehensive general resource guide to assist the health care provider or attorney in treating and counseling the adolescent patient. The book is revised and updated through September 2003.

  • Is It Confidential?
    Reproductive Health Care: the legal rights of teens

    Important Information about STDs, HIV/AIDS, Birth Control and Abortion. Published in partnership with Breaking the Cycle, "Is It Confidential?" details teens' rights to confidential reproductive health care. The pamphlet is written for adolescents and covers topics such as confidential testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS; confidentiality rights in regard to birth control and abortion; local school-based health clinic services.

  • Teen Legal Issues:
    A Series of Pamphlets on Teen Legal Rights

    Brochures and other written information are available for students who may be reluctant to meet with an attorney. These materials address many of the legal issues students may have questions about. Topics include:



  • Click here to learn about our Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic, which produces the brochures.

Medical-Legal Partnership Project (MLPP) :
MLPP Pamphlets

These materials address many of the medical-legal issues individuals may have questions about. Topics include:

Click here to learn about our Medical-Legal Partnership Project.

KidsCounsel Newsletters:

  • March 2008
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    CCA Receives Robert Wood Johnson Grant to Assist Refugee and Immigrant Families

    Bonnie Roswig, Esq. Joins Medical-Legal Partnership

    CCA & NAACP File Amici Brief in Connecticut Supreme Court

    HUSKY Update from Department of Social Services

  • November 2007
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    Vision for the Juvenile Court Judge Christine Keller, Chief Administrative Judge for Juvenile Matters

  • Summer 2007
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Abobe PDF
    CCA Complaint Filed on Behalf of Hartford's English Language Learners;

    Legislature Approves Sweeping Changes to Status Offender Law (FWSN);

    Update: 2007 Legislative Session.

  • March 2007
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Abobe PDF
    TRUANCY: CCA Releases New Report; CCA In the News; Truancy Court Prevention Project: Emily's Story; Legislative Update: CCA Advocacy; Changes to FWSN Laws Forthcoming;

    Raise the Age: An Update from the Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning & Implementation Committee; Changes in DCF Adolescent Policies;

    CCA Internships and Externships Available; New Changes in the Rules of Professional Conduct; Suspending Elementary School Students; Recent Developments in Child Law.

  • October 2006
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Abobe PDF
    Sheff: Ten Year Anniversary; CCA Welcomes Nina Aasen, Director, TeamChild Project; Two New Task Forces Work to Resolve Issue of Open Courts;

    Connecticut’s Child Protection Commission Developing New Practice Standards and Training Models; New Advisory Committees Tackle Juvenile Justice and FWSN Issues;

    NCLB Updates: National Report and Connecticut News; National Cases Highlight the Rights of English Language Learners; Information on the Final Report of the Governor’s Commission on Judicial Reform; CCA Legal Advocacy: Special Education Services; MLPP Update: Legislative Advocacy Reaps Benefits for Disabled Children; Change in Medicaid Law May Delay Coverage; Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries (including Reginald H.)

  • Spring 2006
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Abobe PDF
    Raise the Age Legislation Gains Momentum
    Inclusion or Illusion?
    CCA Welcomes Sarah Healy Eagan, Staff Attorney, Child Abuse Project
    Emergency Contraception vs. the Abortion Pill: Legal Ramifications are Different
    New DCF Policies in Effect
    CCA Training Seminar Addresses the Trauma of Emergency Placements
    Truancy Prevention Project Recognizes Improved Attendance
    CCA Proposes Legislation to Protect Children's Rights
    DMR to Take Over Voluntary Services for Children with Diagnosis of Mental Retardation
    Teen Privacy Rights and Drug Testing
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries

  • Winter 2005
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
     Honorable Barbara Quinn: Vision for the Juvenile Court
    Connecticut Campaign 4 Youth Justice: Keep 16 & 17 year olds Out of the Adult Criminal Justice System
    Important Changes for Adolescents at Manson Youth
    Changes in Eligibility for HUSKY
    National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week: Feb. 6-10, 2006
    CCA Staff Recognized for Contributions
    United States Supreme Court Weighs in on Special Education
    No Child Left Behind: How to Secure Supplemental Education Services for your Client
    Thank You to our Generous Donors
    Area Law Firms Provide Legal Representation and Training Opportunities
    Recent Developments in Child Law
    New Commission on Child Protection Begins Work

  • Summer 2005
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    Emily J. Settlement Agreement Provides $8.5 Million for New Services
    Systems of Care Community Collaborative: Coordination of Services for Children with Unmet Behavioral Health Needs
    DCF Rolls Out New Managed Service System
    Connecticut Update: Important New State Legislation
    Pushing Kids Out of School: What "Zero Tolerance" Means for Our Kids
    Medical-Legal Partnership Project Achieves Positive Results
    TIPS for Lawyers: Issues Affecting Connecticut Cases
    No Child Left Behind: Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Education Commissioner Betty J. Sternberg Discuss the Issues at CCA Seminar
    Truancy Court Prevention Project: First Year Update
    Needed Responses to Increase in Teen Dating Violence

  • Winter 2005
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    The Spanking Case: Issues and Opinions on Lovan C.
    In Re Lindsey P. Prompts New DCF Policies on OTCs
    CCA-Sponsored Pending State Legislation
    Social Security Administration Adds 2 New Categories for Childhood Disability
    IDEA Reauthorization Includes Numerous Changes
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries
    TIPS for Lawyers: Issues Affecting Connecticut Cases

  • Fall 2004
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    Public Access to Juvenile Court Child Protection Proceedings: Should the Doors be Open?
    CCA to Introduce Legislation on Disproportionate Minority Contact
    Crossing the Line: Second Circuit finds Juvenile Strip Search Policy Unconstitutional
    CCA Proposes New Legislation: Decriminalization of Status Offenders; and, Open Courts
    Transitioning the Mentally Retarded Teenager to Adulthood
    New DCF Policy Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender ID or
    Marital/Partner Status
    Truancy Court Prevention Project Update
    Guardianship vs. Relative Foster Care for At-Risk Children: What Works?
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries
    Medical-Legal Partnership Project News

  • Summer 2004
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PD)
    Bullying: What Every Child Advocate Needs to Know
    Judicial Department Sponsors CCA Training of New Contract Attorneys
    Partnering to Help Truant Students
    Chafee Independence Act: How to Use the Act to Advocate for Your Teen Client
    Nationwide Innovations in Foster Care
    First Regional Children's Probate Court Opens
    New Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Legislation in Connecticut
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries
    Youth Who Filmed "I Will Speak Up for Myself" Win Youth Spirit Award
    CCA Training Seminar: How to Use the Law to Advocate for your Teen Client

  • Spring 2004
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    Honorable Lois Tanzer: Effective Advocacy - Protecting Your Client's Interests
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries
    MLPP Expands to Community - Based Locations
    Physicians and Lawyers: A New Spirit of Collaboration
    Evaluation Shows Positive Outcomes for TeamChild Program
    Homelessness: Five Legal Tips for Representing your Child/Youth Client
    New Materials Outline Legal Rights of Youth in Foster Care
    Office of Child Advocate Files §1983 Action Against DCF
    Court Says 'No' to Reconsideration of DCF Exit Plan
    TeamChild Referral Criteria

  • Fall 2003
    KidsCounsel Newsletter Adobe PDF
    Honorable N. Rubinow: 3 Hot Tips for Presenting a Successful Child Protection Case
    What Counsel Should Look For in Foster Home Visits
    Federal Court to Oversee Management of DCF
    Five Legal Tips for Representing your Child Client Facing Multiple Suspensions or Delinquency Petitions
    Recent Developments in Child Law: Important Case Summaries
    Devastating Cuts in Husky Insurance Program
    TeamChild: Favorable Evaluation Nears Completion

CCA Annual Reports:

To order publications or videos from the Center for Children's Advocacy, please use the publications order form or purchase online.

For questions about CCA publications or videos, please contact Bonnie Berk, Director of Communications at (860) 570-5327 or bberk@kidscounsel.org.