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The Cohen Center for Family
and Children
In the course of his 58 years of practice, Atty. Cohen
became deeply concerned about the decline in social values linked to the
breakdown of families. In this setting, families were facing bankruptcy
and struggling to save their homes from foreclosure. Atty. Cohen believed
that with families falling apart, attorneys and courts are sometimes used
as nursemaids to settle unnecessary bickering that might be resolved by
stronger family structure and preventive counseling, as well as forums
for family problems.
In November of 2003, Atty. Cohen with Reverend Gail Mulligan and Carrie
Belagamba organized a center to be housed in the Cohen building to meet
these challenges. The board of directors, staffed by community leaders,
discovered there is no pediatric psychiatrist in New Milford. The nearest
psychiatrists for people under 18 years of age are in Danbury, Connecticut.
Focus groups of social workers and psychologists convened by The Center
and United Way, indicated that the greatest needs for help are with children
10 to 12 years of age where drinking and sexual activity is present. This
study was confirmed by a study appearing the Connecticut section of the
New York Times. There have been many cutbacks in programs like the Husky
Iinsurance Program, making it hard to provide services to low income families
.
Atty. Cohen believes that remaking the world starts at home with our families.
He stated "I can't take the building with me when I die and I hope
that when I am gone the building will still be used to benefit families
and children."
Currently, a portion of the downstairs facilities is used by The Center.
Madeline Wragg of the New Milford Youth Agency is proving youngsters who
have reading disabilities with help, using the most sophisticated brain
waive, neurological diagnosis techniques. The Center is also considering
use of the office facilities for promoting assistance for finding homes
for the homeless in New Milford.
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