Meet Miriam Gardner-Frum, MSW, JD.
With 28 years of legal experience, I focus on family law, particularly mediation for divorce, custody and financial matters. I also provide a broad array of other mediation services to businesses, families with elder and probate concerns and to family partnerships. I have been able to help my clients successfully resolve issues in a private, less costly setting, thus avoiding the financial and emotional costs of litigation.
I was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1987 and previously practiced with the Law Offices of Suisman, Shapiro, Wool, Brennan and Gray.
I have also worked as a social worker, administering a community child abuse intervention program for ten years. Appointed to The Governors Task Force on Justice for Abused Children, served as a Special Masters in New London County and the Regional Family Trial Docket, has testified before US Senate subcommittees as well as the Connecticut Legislature. I am a facilitator/lecturer for the State of Connecticut Parenting Education Program and taught Children’s Rights and Public Policy at Connecticut College. I have served on the board as member and President of Safe Futures and am a member of The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce. I have also developed seminars for mental health workers on confidentiality, child sexual abuse, and use of multi-disciplinary teams.
In addition to mediation services, I prepare wills, Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) and provide individual representation.
EDUCATION
University of Connecticut, School of Law, 1987 Juris Doctor
University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, 1975 Masters in Social Work
University of Connecticut, Bachelor of Arts
BAR MEMBERSHIP
State of Connecticut, Admitted 1987
Mohegan Tribal Court, Admitted 1997
Mashantucket Tribal Court, Admitted 1998
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ATTORNEY, LAW OFFICES OF MIRIAM GARDNER-FRUM, NEW LONDON, CT. 1995 – PRESENT
Divorce, family and elder mediation. Facilitated negotiations with business partnerships; schools and private non-profit organizations. Arbitration services via court and private referrals. Consultation to mental health professionals. Negotiation and litigation in family law, including marital, juvenile and probate; representation of children both as attorney and Guardian ad Litem in criminal, family and juvenile court actions.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Consultant to Mashantucket Tribal Legal offices regarding revision of child welfare statutes. 1998
Judicial Appointment: Special Masters for Early Intervention Special Master Program 1998- 2005 Special Masters Program New London County 1997-present; Regional Family Trial Docket-Special Masters Program 1997-2005.
Parenting Education Program: facilitator and lecturer, 2004-present
Mediation in school setting-administration and teachers
Mediation for family business-land use; development of strategic plan Governor appointed
Governor’s Task for on Justice for Abused Children, 2006
Co-designed and supported a program on Israeli/Palestinian Dialogue for Congregation Beth Shalom in Chester, Connecticut
Speaker for community groups, including Parents Without Partners, New London County Parent Aide Program, Parent Leadership Training Institute, 1997, Child and Family Services
ATTORNEY, SUISMAN, SHAPIRIO, WOOL, BRENNAN & GRAY, P.C., NEW LONDON, CT. 1988-1995.
Family law, including marital, juvenile and probate. Attorney for minor children in juvenile, family and criminal courts. Divorce mediation.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Legal counsel to the Diocese of Norwich Pastoral Care Committee regarding response to child abuse. (1990)
Member, New London County Bar Association Committee on Counsel for Children , 1991. Developed educational programs; designed guidelines.
Co-Founder and Chairperson, New London County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, 1988-91. Developed multi-disciplinary approach to the investigation, treatment and prevention of child sexual abuse.
Coordinator, New London County Child Abuse Investigative Team, 1991-92. Designed interagency policy and procedural agreements between agencies investigating child sexual abuse
Governor-appointed, Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children, 1988, 1993 Participated in drafting recommendations.
Governor-appointed, Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children, Sub-Committee-Finding Words-Half a Nation 2003-05
VISITING INSTRUCTOR, Connecticut College, New London, CT. Department of Human Development. Spring 1999; Spring 2000. Childrens Rights and Public Policy.
VISITING INSTRUCTOR, University of New Haven, New London, CT. Department of Criminal Justice, Spring 1998; Family Violence.
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ADMINISTRATOR, COORDINATED CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM, MERIDEN, CT 1978-88
Administrative management/Director and clinical supervision of professionals and para-professionals; principal grant writer; budget preparation and management; contract negotiations; program evaluation; statistical analysis; marketing and public relations; developed partnerships between the social service, law enforcement, child protection, and judicial systems.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Founder and Co-Administrator, Sexual Abuse Treatment Program for Victims and Offenders. Liaison to criminal justice system. Designed and implemented training for judges, prosecutors and attorneys. Drafted inter-agency policy and procedure between law enforcement, judicial, child protection and mental health organizations.
Founder and chairperson, Connecticut Child Abuse Prevention Legislative Committee. Draft legislation, legislative monitoring and advocacy.
Chairperson and co-designer of statewide model, Sexual Abuse Prevention Program. Designed and conducted evaluation of training and prevention programs. Secured funding for establishment of statewide programs.
Founder and chairperson, Sexual Abuse Resource Team and Child Protection Team.
Interdisciplinary teams.
Organizer/co-founder, Day Care Center and Sexual Assault Crisis Services.
ADJUNCT FACULTY, Southern Connecticut State University School of Public Health, 1982-83
CONSULTANT and TRAINER, Human Services and Resource Center, West Haven, CT Women=s Health and Public Policy, 1976-78.
SOCIAL WORKER/THERAPIST, Family Services of Middlesex County, Inc., Middletown, CT 1976.
CASEWORKER, Department of Children and Youth Services, Hartford, CT 1969-71.
PANELIST AND LECTURER
Legal Issues in the Investigation and Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse Cases. Yale-New Haven Hospital, Sexual Abuse Evaluation Clinic (December 1993)
Termination of Parental Rights Cases. Panel member, Connecticut Bar Association (November 1993).
Sexual Harassment. Presented to New London County law enforcement personnel (September 1993)
Families in Legal Transition: Challenges for Mental Health Professionals. Seminar at Law Offices of Suisman, Shapiro, Wool, Brennan & Gray (June 1993)
Confidentiality and Privileged Information for Social Workers. National Association of Social Workers (February 1993).
Confidentiality, Social Work, Ethics & the Law to Hamden Public School (1995).
Truth & Consequences: Child Abuse in Child Care Settings@ East Lyme Public Schools Infoline, (February 1994)
Presentation of the Legal System and Mock Trial. North Stonington Elementary and Middle School (1992, 1993, 1996.)
Representing Children: Effects of Divorce on Children. Divorce experience workshop (1992)
Child Sexual Abuse and the Law. Law Talk@, television program (October 1992)
A Forum and Workshop on Child Abuse. Waterford Public Library and Ledyard Public Library (1991)
Child Abuse and the Legal System. Groton Public Library (1989)
TESTIMONY
U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Children, Family Drugs and Alcoholism. Invited to present testimony on the topic of The Children=s Justice Act, Multi-disciplinary Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse, 1985.
Connecticut Commission on Children (a legislative review committee). Invited to present testimony on the topic of Sexual Abuse Allegations in Divorce/Custody Disputes,@ 1988.
Connecticut Judiciary Committee Presented testimony on the topic of Testimony by the Child Witness, 1989.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Sexual Abuse Allegations in Custody/Visitation Disputes. University of Connecticut School of Law, 1987
AFFILIATIONS
Congregation Beth Shalom, Board of Directors 2006-present
Safe Futures, Board of Directors 2000-2007 President 2005-2007
Connecticut Bar Association
Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce