Office of Family Support records

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.