Rep. Urban of North Stonington to receive award for work to raise awareness of child abuse

State Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, has been selected to receive the Center for Youth Leadership's 2011 Candy Necklace Award, which is presented to the organization or person who has done the most to raise awareness of child abuse in the state. Urban, who co-chairs the legislature's Select Committee on Children, was successful in passing a bill that requires animal abuse cases to be reported to the Department of Children and Families.

"We selected Representative Urban for the work she has done to raise awareness of the link between animal cruelty and violence against people," said Katie Levine, a member of the center's award selection team. Urban, who will receive the award today, praised the center for its work and for helping her get the bill passed.

"They came and testified and gave first-hand knowledge of working in domestic shelters and listening to children that were victims of abuse tell about their pets also being hit by their abuser. Their testimony was incredibly compelling as they impressed the Children's Committee with their courage to bear witness and take action," she said.