Fredonia attorney Michael Sullivan, who is running for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge, was in Jamestown this week to speak with the Jamestown AM Rotary Club on initiatives underway to improve Family Court. During the Rotary Club's meeting on Wednesday, Sullivan talked about efforts to assure that all children who are freed for adoption can find a family, as well as a project to identify drug and alcohol issues in families entering the Family Court in neglect cases. According to Sullivan, "research shows that a child who ages out of foster care without a family connection is more likely to struggle to succeed, seldom finish school and more likely to be involved in criminal activity." He adds that "all too often, the issue of alcohol and drug abuse does not surface in a neglect case until several months into the process," and "work is underway to identify the problem at the outset and to assure parents are evaluated and receive treatment as soon as possible." Sullivan is running against Sally Jaroszynski for Family Court Judge in the 8th Judicial District.
