Programs & Services

Divorce & Money: What Do You Need to Know?

We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

Steven H. DeGraff, CDFA®, CExP™, a seasoned financial planner and certified divorce financial expert, is hosting a virtual workshop to help you make sense of the financial side of divorce. It’ll cover:

•  Figuring out your true net worth and dialing in what assets and debts you actually have
•  Understanding real income and cash flow, including hidden or irregular earnings
• Sizing up your budget needs and spousal support to keep things realistic post separation
•  How taxes play into dividing assets like retirement accounts and investments
• Tips for speaking up for yourself so you’re confident during negotiations

Steve brings 20+ years of experience in financial planning, including guiding families through divorce and exit planning. He’s been helping people take the stress out of tough money decisions, working alongside CPAs and attorneys to make sure your financial future stays secure.

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Now available to residents in the following towns for a small fee: New Haven, West Haven, Mystic and the Lymes. 

Divorce Mortgage Workshop

We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required

 In partnership with Marc Meglio, CDLP®, CMA™, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and one of the dedicated volunteer Financial Consultants at Women & Family Life Center, we’re pleased to offer a workshop focused on mortgage planning during and after divorce.

Whether you are just beginning the process or navigating life post-divorce, this session will provide helpful insight into topics such as qualifying for a mortgage, what to consider when exploring housing options, managing debt, and making informed decisions about home equity.

Participants will leave with practical tools, greater clarity, and increased confidence to support thoughtful financial decision-making—wherever they may be in their journey.

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Now available to residents in the following towns for a small fee: New Haven, West Haven, Mystic and the Lymes 

The Probate Process: What Is It? And Why Do We Need It?

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Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699

Registration is required.

The word “probate” often brings up feelings of stress or uncertainty—but it doesn’t have to. The probate process largely depends on your specific situation, and being prepared and educated about the estate administration process helps you take control and minimize your stress. In this session Attorney Erin Duques, will ease and demystify some of your apprehension of the probate process in Connecticut. She will explain who takes charge of a Will after someone dies, what happens when there is no Will, and how to streamline or even avoid the probate process through tools like living trusts. You’ll also learn about common challenges that can arise—and how smart planning can help you avoid them.

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Bereavement Support Group

 We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

Dr. Margo Merin, DSW, leads this thoughtfully designed group as a guided series rather than an ongoing drop-in group. Each session builds upon the last, offering participants the opportunity to explore different aspects of the bereavement process within a consistent, supportive group setting. This is a welcoming space where individuals can come as they are—sharing, connecting, and finding support in a safe, understanding environment. Dr. Merin brings deep expertise in grief, bereavement, and working with older adults, and has facilitated similar supportive groups that focus on healing, mindfulness, and rebuilding one’s sense of purpose.

Please note: Due to the structure of this group, if your loss is very recent,  prolonged, or complex, you may benefit from other forms of support at this time—we’d be glad to guide you toward the right resources. Please reach out 

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Adapt Divorce Workshop 

We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

Join W&FLC for a virtual, in-depth divorce workshop designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to move forward with confidence. If you're ready to begin your divorce journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Led by Thea Bourke Martin, JD, E-RYT — an experienced attorney, life coach, mediator, and yoga teacher — this workshop will cover everything from the different types of divorce and key documents to gather, to how to choose an attorney and explore your legal options.

 
To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator. 

Now available to residents in the following towns for a small fee: New Haven, West Haven, Mystic and the Lymes. 

Taking Care: Empowerment for Women Navigating Healthcare 

 We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

 Facilitated by Maya Bartel, Family Nurse Practitioner, this workshop offers a supportive space for women to explore their relationship with illness, their bodies, and their identity within the health care system. Open to women ages 18 and older, the session encourages participants to reflect on their experiences and build confidence in how they show up and advocate for themselves in medical settings.

In alignment with Women & Family Life Center’s mission to support and empower women through education, connection, and access to resources, participants will gain practical tools to communicate their needs more clearly in the exam room, feel more visible and understood within the health care system, and develop stronger, more collaborative relationships with their health care providers. Participants will leave feeling more informed, empowered, and connected to their own health and well-being.

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.  

Options for Managing Life Circumstances

We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

This group provides a supportive space to explore life’s challenges while building skills in mindfulness, self-awareness, and decision making. Facilitated by Dr. Margo Merin, DSW, participants will learn practical tools to manage stress , navigate change, and move forward with great clarity, confidence, and self-compassion. 

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Restart Divorce Support Group 

We’d love to save you a spot!

Email us 📩 programs@womenandfamilylife.org 

Call us 📞 (203)458-6699 

Registration is required.

Restart is a 5-session divorce support group facilitated by Thea Bourke Martin, JD, E-RYT, an Attorney, Life Coach, Mediator, and Yoga Teacher providing emotional support and connections with other woman going through the life change of separation or divorce.

To access services at Women & Family Life Center, participants must complete an intake process with a Referral Navigator.

Now available to residents in the following towns for a small fee: New Haven, West Haven, Mystic and the Lymes.