State Rep. Diana Urban Receives Award for Work with Children

A press release from the Connecticut General Assembly

State Representative Diana Urban (D-Stonington) will be presented with an award Thursday night by the Lawyers for Children America group, for her work with children. Connecticut’s DCF Commissioner Joette Katz will also be receiving an award at the organization’s 20th anniversary dinner.

“It is so great to be honored along with Commissioner Katz and this is a clear indication of the close working relationship that exists between the Committee on Children and the Department of Children and Families,” Rep. Urban said. “By working together we have been able to move numbers on foster care, out of state placement, abuse and neglect that have been stuck for years. I really appreciate this recognition from Lawyers for Children America.

Rep. Urban and Commissioner Katz have successfully worked together on many occasions when the interests of children are at stake. This past session Rep. Urban and Commissioner Katz worked with each other on an animal therapy bill, now law, which puts the DCF in charge of dispersing teams of animals and therapists to crises.

“This law was passed because of the success of the animal therapy dogs in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The state’s own teams are now ready to be deployed by the Commissioner in cases of trauma to children and families,” Rep. Urban commented.

Commissioner Katz said reforming Connecticut's child welfare system has required a broad partnership and that Rep. Urban and her leadership at the General Assembly has made a critical contribution toward this effort.

“Representative Urban has been one of the most effective partners I have had in moving a reform agenda forward in Connecticut that has resulted in fewer children in care, more children with relatives and kin and fewer children in group settings,” Commissioner Katz said. “Representative Urban has been a key force in our progress, and it is only fitting that we will receive this award together.”

In addition, a children’s mental health law that built on the work of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety law was passed with the help of the Commissioner and DCF.

“DCF has been an integral part of the team that conceived this idea, and will be helping to implement a comprehensive plan,” noted Rep. Urban. Commissioner Katz has been working hand-in-hand with Rep. Urban on the Kids Report Card, which grades the well-being of children in Connecticut, and suggests ways to improve services.