The Center for Children, Families, and the Law Center name:
The Center for Children, Families, and the Law
Director name:
A. Gail Prudenti
Staff name(s):
Matthew Kiernan, Director of Policy and Planning Bonita Ricks, Special Projects Coordinator Olivia Porter, Administrative Assistant
Board Members: Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, Chair Gail Broder Katz, Esq. Nancy Burner, Esq. Kim Ciesinski, Esq. Hon. Andrew Crecca Hon. Edmund Dane Cynthia Diaz, Esq. Prof. J. Herbie DiFonzo Donna England, Esq. Stacy Eves, Esq. Samuel J. Ferrara Rene P. Flechter, Esq. Stephen Gassman, Esq. Suzanne Gavin Hon. Lara J. Genovesi Harriet Weinberger, Esq.
Hon. Sharon M. J. Gianelli Hon. Jeffrey Goodstein Warren Graham Saundra M. Gumerove, Esq. Jennifer Gundlach Charles Hammerman William Kaplan M.D. Susan Kaufman, Esq. Matthew Kiernan, Esq. Hon. Jeffrey Lebowitz Prof. Theo Liebmann Donna Martini Prof. Paul Meller Teresa Ombres, Esq. Jed L. Paniter Hon. Hope Schwartz Zimmerman
Hon. C. Raymond Radigan Kieth Rieger, Esq. Lee Rosenberg, Esq. Prof. Andrew Schepard Stephen Schlissel, Esq. Lois Schwaeber, Esq. Crystal Screen Esq. Joe Scroppo, J.D., Ph.D. Gladys Serrano, LCSW Hon. Denise L. Sher Hon. Madeline Singas Hon. Conrad Singer Jill C. Stone, Esq. Hon. Linda Tally Zenith T. Taylor, Esq.
Mission: The Center was established in 2001 in response to the urgent need for more effective representation of children and families in crisis. Its mission is to provide interdisciplinary education, community service and research to benefit children and families engaged in the legal system. Through the Center, students are afforded unique opportunities to participate in community service, public policy projects, and research. The goal is for the students to not only experience how their legal studies apply in society, but also to truly make a difference. How does your center or institute address the university’s mission and goals? The Center addresses the university's mission and goals in several key ways. First, through our service to those in our community who need help, best exemplified by our 17A Guardianship Demonstration Project, we cultivate the student’s social and ethical responsibility. Second, by sponsoring our conference presentations, we have demonstrated Hofstra’s commitment to providing information required to advance knowledge. Finally, our Family Law Practicum, in which our law students collaborated with students in the psychology department in an interdisciplinary fashion allowed the participants to enjoy enhanced learning opportunities through cross-cultural competencies. 62 The Center for Children, Families, and the Law