RG 015:024, Office of Family Support

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Damon M. Munz and Lizette Pelletier.

Copyright © 2007 by the Connecticut State Library

Histortical Note

The Office of Family Support was established by Governor John G. Rowland shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. After the September 11th attacks occurred, Gov. Rowland personally contacted family members as the Connecticut victims became known. During each conversation, the Governor offered his assistance in any way needed. Many families took him up on his offer and began calling his office for help in locating financial, legal and emotional assistance. The Governor, realizing that his office staff would not be able to effectively handle the calls, set up a separate office to serve as a clearing house for information and as an advocate for the families. He assigned Office of Policy and Management Undersecretary Brian Mattiello the responsibility of assisting the families. Two staff members, DeAnna Paugas and Jim Sorensen were also brought in on loan from the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services respectively, because of those department's areas of expertise. Mr. Sorensen was the official Director. The initial placement was within the Office of Emergency Management which had been collecting the names of the victims immediately after the event occurred. Later it was moved to the Office of Policy and Management. After Jim Sorensen retired and Brian Mattiello moved to the Department of Children and Families, the services became part of the Department of Children and Families for administrative purposes as Ms. Paugas also returned to her home agency.

The Office of Family Support was most active during the first year after the attacks. In the intervening years, requests for assistance dwindled to a few each year. The only real remaining activity is the coordination of the annual memorial service for the victims as part of "Remembrance Day" required by PA 02-126. In addition to assisting the families through the maze of assistance available to them, the office also oversaw the six-month and annual memorial services for the families. There was also a Connecticut Helps Oversight Council established which consisted of eighteen state agencies and volunteer organizations. They were in charge of coordinating all post September 11th health and human service activities ranging from those associated with victim's families to those population-based.

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Scope and Content

Includes administrative files, support programs and services, case management, Office of Emergency Management, victim files, and memorials.

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Arrangement

Series 1. Administrative Files, 2001-2004, .5 cubic foot
Includes Connecticut Helps Oversight Council, donor information, newsletters, and progress reports and budget.

Series 2. Support Programs and Services, 2001-2004, .5 cubic foot
Includes American Red Cross Emergency Family Gift Program, Cantor Fitzgerald, Family and Children's Agency, funds, insurance, Realtors Housing Relief Fund, Salvation Army, Trial Lawyers Care, Tuition Waiver Program, United Way Infoline 2-1-1, and Victim Compensation Fund.

Series 3. Case Management, 2001-2003, 1 cubic foot
Includes case management tools, contacts made by Governor Rowland, Connecticut resident and nonresident victim lists, family correspondences, family lists, and United Services Group.

Series 4. Office of Emergency Management, 2001-2002, .5 cubic foot
Contents from two notebooks from Office of Emergency Management.

Series 5. Victim Files, 2000-2002, 1 cubic foot
Arranged alphabetically.

Series 6. Memorials, 2001-2004, .75 cubic foot
Includes materials from six-month, one-year, two-year, and three year anniversaries, living memorial at Sherwood State Park, memorial board, quilt, photographs, and videotapes.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Office of Family Support records are closed to researchers. These records may contain confidential personal data restricted by law. Please contact State Archives staff for assistance.

These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

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Related Material

RG005:039 Governor John G. Rowland records, Scheduling files and Legal Consul subject files.

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Index Terms

Organizations:

Subjects:

Document Types:

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Container List