We’re excited to announce the appointment of Sharon Langer as Interim Executive Director of Connecticut Voices for Children.  Sharon will fill this role while we recruit a permanent Executive Director.  For nearly eight years, Sharon has served as a Senior Policy Fellow at Connecticut Voices.

Sharon Langer will start her work as Interim Executive Director on October 18th.  Jamey Bell, our current Executive Director, has been appointed by Governor Malloy as the state’s Child Advocate and will leave the organization on Wednesday, October 17th.  We will soon launch a search for a permanent director.

During this transition period, Sharon will work on the organization’s new initiatives, such as our new Fiscal Policy Center, and continue our policy, research, and advocacy work with partners to improve the lives of the state’s children.

Sharon’s work at Connecticut Voices has focused on health policy and funding issues, particularly those affecting families and children. She currently coordinates the Covering Connecticut's Kids and Families Coalition, which brings together state officials, community health providers, advocates, and others who seek to help families enroll in HUSKY, the state's publicly funded health insurance program.

Prior to joining Connecticut Voices in 2004, Sharon served as an attorney at Connecticut Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) for 20 years. CLS is an independent, non-profit agency that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families. She has extensive experience representing and advising low-income individuals and families concerning Medicaid, income supports, unemployment compensation and employment law, as well as in administrative and legislative lobbying on matters affecting low-income citizens of this state.  She also has experience as a teacher of young children with disabilities. 

Join us to welcome Sharon Langer in her new role and wish Jamey Bell well in her new role as Child Advocate at our First for Kids Awards event next Wednesday evening!