Sen. Kelly Appoints Angela Schlingheyde of the Center for Family Justice to Serve on State Domestic Violence Council

Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) is appointing Angela Schlingheyde, Director of Civil Legal & Court Advocacy Services at the Center for Family Justice, to serve on the state’s Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council.

“Angela is a dedicated advocate who has spent years helping vulnerable individuals and being a voice for families and victims of violence,” said Sen. Kelly. “As a member of this council, Angela will help oversee state standards on domestic violence offender programming which aims to stop violent and abusive behaviors. In this role she will continue to advance the mission of the Center for Family Justice to break the cycle of domestic and sexual abuse and violence in our communities.”

“We are appreciative of the advocacy and support that will be led by Senator Kelly and the Taskforce that will support this critically important initiative regarding domestic violence with a representative of our staff participating, Angela Schlingheyde,” said Debra Greenwood, CEO/ President of The Center for Family Justice.

“I am so honored that Senator Kelly has appointed me to serve on the state’s Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council,” said Angela Schlingheyde. “I look forward to being a part of this critical work to address domestic violence offender accountability.”

Schlingheyde is a former prosecutor in Miami Dade County, Florida, who specialized in prosecuting cases involving domestic and sexual violence. She now leads a team at the Center for Family Justice that helps to bridge the justice gap for clients who have been impacted by abuse and trauma. She leads CFJ’s Court Advocacy Team and also helped launch the Justice Legal Center, Connecticut’s first legal incubator. She also coordinates legislative advocacy and public policy initiatives and is a member of the Connecticut Domestic Violence Fatality Review Task Force. She holds a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Minor in Women’s Studies from Boston College.

Connecticut’s Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council was established in 2015 to oversee Connecticut’s Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards. These standards were established in 2014 to offer consistency around domestic violence offender accountability with an aim to teach skills that support a non -violent lifestyle and promote healthy relationships.

The Center for Family Justice provides free and confidential trauma-informed services and coordinates care for all victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking and child abuse in six Fairfield County towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Learn more at centerforfamilyjustice.org.