Wilmington, Delaware- On June 15, 2023, Bayard director Kara Swasey presented at the Delaware State Bar Association’s annual Bench and Bar Conference.  Kara was part of a panel presentation on the link between domestic violence, animal abuse and child welfare.  The panel included Family Court Chief Judge Michael Newell, Family Court Judge Jennifer Ranji, Delaware Child Advocate Tania Culley, and Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki.  The presentation described the connections between various types of abuse and how the awareness of the connections can promote better outcomes for children and families.  Vin, the Family Court Support Dog, made an appearance during the presentation and attendees were invited to take home dog treats from Waggies by Maggie, a dog treat company that employs persons with intellectual disabilities.   Brandywine Valley SPCA also attended the conference and brought four puppies for adoption.

Kara is active in the Delaware legal community, where she serves in leadership positions for several organizations including The Melson-Arsht Inn of Court, DSBA Family Law Section, and the Access to Justice Commission. She has also been recognized for her pro bono work with organizations like the Domestic Violence Advocacy Program (DVLS), the Federal Re-entry Legal Assistance Program and the Limited Legal Assistance Program. Kara concentrates her practice in the area of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship and protection from abuse. She also provides litigation support to Bayard’s bankruptcy, corporate and commercial law practices.
 
Visit the Delaware State Bar Association website for more information about the DSBA and upcoming events.
For information about Waggies and to purchase dog treats, visit https://waggies.org/. 
Click here for pet adoption information from Brandywine Valley SPCA.