Her case sparked debate about changes to the way DCF confirms children’s identities during interviews and whether it has enough resources.
Laura Tillman
Laura Tillman is CT Mirror’s Human Services Reporter. She shares responsibility for covering housing, child protection, mental health and addiction, developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Laura began her career in journalism at the Brownsville Herald in 2007, covering the U.S.–Mexico border, and worked as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi. She was most recently a producer of the national security podcast “In the Room with Peter Bergen” and is the author of two nonfiction books: The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts (2016) and The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia (2023), which was just awarded the 2024 James Beard Award for literary writing. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Laura holds a degree in International Studies from Vassar College and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College.
Posted inEducation
Mimi Torres-García case renews calls for CT homeschool regulation
In July 2024, Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-García’s mother told school officials she’d homeschool her child. Two months later, the girl was dead.
Posted inEducation
Bridgeport schools ordered to improve special education services
A complaint, the fourth filed against Bridgeport schools since 2013, alleged the district violated the rights of special education students.
Posted inHuman Services
Child found dead in New Britain had not eaten for weeks, warrant says
Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-García was severely abused before she died, documents state, but DCF says it didn’t receive reports of the abuse.
Posted inHuman Services
Child posed as dead New Britain girl in meeting, DCF says
DCF says the girl’s mother had another child impersonate the girl during a wellness check early this year.
Posted inImmigration
Afghan interpreter released on bond after ICE detention
Zia, who once worked with U.S. Armed Forces and came to the country through legal means, was detained in July after a routine appointment.
Posted inHousing
As cold weather threatens, CT pledges $8 million for homelessness
The funds fall short of a $9M goal, but advocates said they are working to recoup the additional $1M during a special legislative session.
Posted inHuman Services
CT will continue to fund WIC food program amid government shutdown
WIC, which costs about $200,000 a day to run in Connecticut and serves around 52,000 people, will continue thanks to an infusion of state funds.
Posted inImmigration
CT faith leaders, advocates press lawmakers to protect immigrants
Faith leaders and immigrant advocates held a rally Monday outside the Capitol, urging CT lawmakers to prioritize immigrant safety.
Posted inHuman Services
Susan Hamilton to lead CT DCF again, as interim commissioner
During her first stint as commissioner from 2007 to 2011, the agency struggled with meeting kids’ basic service needs, according to reports.
Posted inEducation
CT schools see gains on test scores and attendance
All grade levels saw improvements in all subjects and in chronic absenteeism rates, data shows, but most metrics did not meet pre-pandemic levels.
Posted inHuman Services
CT lawmakers hear from auditors, DCF on missing kids report
Some lawmakers questioned whether the audit, which found that children went missing 3,700 times from FY2021-23, put too much blame on DCF.
Posted inHuman Services
This CT recovery coach could lose his job to federal cuts. What will happen to his clients?
The future of CT’s recovery coaches, who help people navigate sobriety and stay safe, is in flux. One man’s story shows what could be lost.
Posted inGovernment
CT Jewish leaders denounce new rules for federal security grants
Recipients of the nonprofit security grant will be prohibited from DEI programming, staging some boycotts or helping undocumented immigrants.
Posted inEducation
After CTECS illegally denied admission to many, state will require regular reporting
CT Board of Education will require enrollment reports from technical school system after students were denied admission in violation of law.