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Speakers visited 10 schools and over 350 students within the 2023-24 school year.

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RSP Quarterly Meeting- Jan 24th 2025

Speakers Bureau – Torrington HS – Dec 10th

Speakers Bureau – New Milford HS – Dec. 10th

Dec. 11th – Quarterly Meeting – Q4-2024

HealthConnect Networking

Speakers Bureau 2024

Q3 2024 Convening Meeting Northwest Connecticut Regional Sector Partnerships

Strive to Thrive Youth Fair, NRWIB 2024

Intro to Sept 8 RSP Event: NRWIB 2022

Youth Health & Wellness Fair

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 Saint Mary&#8217;s Hospital (Trinity Health Of New England) – Waterbury: Saint Mary&#8217;s Hospital, part of Trinity Health Of New England, continues to serve the Greater Waterbury area as a nonprofit Catholic acute care community teaching hospital. Licensed for 347 beds and designated as a Level II Trauma Center, it offers award-winning cardiac and stroke care, and houses the region’s only pediatric emergency care unit.  
<a href="https://www.jointrinityne.org/About-Us/Locations/Saint-Marys-Hospital?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Trinity NE</a> 
Waterbury Hospital: Waterbury Hospital has been recognized for its quality of care by several prestigious healthcare organizations. It earned the American Heart Association&#8217;s Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus and Mission Lifeline Silver achievement awards for its commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, it was ranked a high-performing hospital by U.S. News and World Report for quality treatment of patients suffering from heart failure and diabetes in the 2024-25 Best Hospital Edition.  
<a href="https://www.waterburyhospital.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Waterbury Hospital</a> 
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital: Charlotte Hungerford Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® &#8211; Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, recognizing its commitment to ensuring high-quality stroke care. Furthermore, it earned Specialty Excellence Awards from Healthgrades for Gastrointestinal Care and Critical Care.  
<a href="https://charlottehungerford.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Charlotte Hungerford Hospital</a> 
Ability Beyond: Ability Beyond, a nonprofit organization providing services and programs for people with disabilities, marked its 70th anniversary in 2023. The organization continues to expand its services, including residential, day, and employment programs, supporting hundreds of adults with disabilities throughout Connecticut and New York.  
<a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/ability-beyond-70th-anniversary-17866565.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com">CT Insider</a> 
These updates highlight the ongoing efforts and recognitions of these organizations in providing quality healthcare and support services to their communities. 
 
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Our Members “In the News” – Nov/Dec 2024

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 Danbury, CT – HealthConnect CT, a regional sector partnership, continues its mission to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals by visiting local high schools, bringing real-world exposure to diverse healthcare roles. Through its Speakers Bureau, HealthConnect CT connects students with experienced professionals, offering insights into the rewarding careers in healthcare. 
This December, the program will make stops at two schools: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">December 4th: HealthConnect CT will visit New Milford High School, featuring guest speakers from Ability Beyond and Nuvance Health. Students will learn about careers in healthcare, from direct care roles to administrative opportunities, and hear firsthand stories from industry professionals. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">December 10th: The Speakers Bureau will travel to Torrington High School, where students will engage with Charlotte Hungerford Hospital employees to explore roles in a community hospital setting. </li>
</ul>
The initiative provides an invaluable opportunity for students to understand the dynamic world of healthcare, hear about the skills required for success, and explore pathways to achieving their career aspirations. 
&#8220;We are thrilled to partner with organizations like Ability Beyond, Nuvance Health, and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to bring this program to life,&#8221; said Jennifer Murphy-Pitcher], Project Manager, HealthConnect.  &#8220;Healthcare offers a wide array of career opportunities, and our goal is to ignite a passion for these fields among local students.&#8221; 
Stay tuned for announcements about additional school visits and participating organizations as HealthConnect CT continues to expand its reach. 
About HealthConnect CT 
HealthConnect CT is dedicated to fostering connections between the healthcare community and local schools to inspire and educate the workforce of tomorrow. Through programs like the Speakers Bureau, HealthConnect CT aims to build a robust pipeline of talent for the healthcare industry. 
 
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NW HealthConnect Expands Healthcare Career Awareness with High School Visits 

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 Black Men in White Coats Event &#8211; Waterbury, CT 
Date: November 9, 2024  
Location: Waterbury, Connecticut 
On November 9th, Trinity Hospital and UConn Waterbury hosted an inspiring Black Men in White Coats event, dedicated to empowering and increasing diversity within the medical field. This initiative brought together students, parents, educators, and healthcare professionals for an engaging day of mentorship, networking, and education. 
Participants had the opportunity to connect with prominent Black male physicians, explore pathways to medical careers, and discuss the challenges and triumphs of breaking barriers in medicine. Workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on activities encouraged attendees to envision themselves as future leaders in healthcare. 
The Northwest Workforce Investment Board had the privilege of partnering with this incredible organization to provide a real hands-on experience through Virtual Reality.  Students were able to select from one of 6 healthcare options including Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Patient Care and more.  Students from 5th grade through High School enjoyed the augmented reality encounter.  
This event was a celebration of ambition, resilience, and the drive to create a more equitable future in the medical profession. Thank you to all who participated and supported this impactful day! 
For more information about upcoming events and initiatives, visit <a href="https://www.blackmeninwhitecoats.org/">Black Men in White Coats</a>. 
 
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NW HealthConnect Collaborates With “Black Men in White Coats”

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 <h2>Legislative Package Reduces Underlying Costs of Care and Invests More Than $72 Million in Expanding Access to Care and Addressing Healthcare Worker Shortage</h2>
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced he has introduced a comprehensive package of legislative proposals that, if enacted, will improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for families and small businesses in Connecticut.
“Healthcare is a human right that too many Connecticut residents struggle to afford,” Governor Lamont said. “Last year, our bipartisan budget created Covered Connecticut to provide nearly 40,000 more people no-cost healthcare through Access Health CT, which is also offering big savings in healthcare for everyone. Although subsidies help, we must also address the high and rising underlying costs of care. That’s why I’m proposing legislation to make prices more transparent, safely re-import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, and cap run-away prices on prescription drugs here at home. Three in ten Americans report cutting pills in half, skipping doses, or swapping out drugs to save money – with the legislature’s help, that stops now.”
The initiatives and investments Governor Lamont is proposing this session will:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/-/media/office-of-the-governor/2022-legislative-proposals/aac-healthcare-cost-growth.pdf">Increase price transparency and right-size healthcare cost growth</a> by codifying cost and quality benchmarks in Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 5.</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/-/media/office-of-the-governor/2022-legislative-proposals/aa-reducing-prescription-drug-prices.pdf">Reduce prescription drug prices</a> by capping manufacturer’s annual price increases at no more than inflation plus two percent and by authorizing the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection to oversee the safe importation of lower-cost Canadian drugs.</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/-/media/office-of-the-governor/2022-legislative-proposals/aa-encouraging-primary-and-preventive-care.pdf">Encourage lifesaving primary and preventive care</a> by establishing a primary care spending target, by putting contact information for primary care providers and telehealth services at patients’ fingertips on their insurance cards, and by directing insurance companies to adopt health enhancement programs, modeled on the successful program open to state employees, that offer lower premiums and other financial incentives to residents who complete free screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce.</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/OPM/Budget/2023_Midterm/Midterm2023_Final.pdf#page=95">Expand access to care and address the healthcare worker shortage</a> by providing rate increases for adult dental care and family planning services that will expand the Medicaid provider network, by adopting two interstate occupational licensing compacts that cure red tape for doctors and psychologists, and by investing $35 million in expanding the number of education and training opportunities for aspiring nurses and mental health providers, $20 million in financial aid for students pursuing a nursing or mental health career pathway degree, and $17 million in a student loan-forgiveness program for clinicians that work in underserved communities. More than 7,000 qualified applicants were denied admission to Connecticut nursing programs in 2020 due to faculty shortages, lack of student clinical placements, and limited capacity for capstone experiences in specialty areas.</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/OPM/Budget/2023_Midterm/Midterm2023_Final.pdf#page=95">Provide more equitable care</a> by enhancing the collection of race, ethnicity, and language data so we can identify, address, and monitor racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare and health outcomes under <a href="https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35">Public Act 21-35</a>.</li>
</ul>
Connecticut Social Services Commissioner Dr. Deidre S. Gifford said, “Governor Lamont’s healthcare initiatives for this legislative session will mean real differences in the quality of life for many thousands of Connecticut residents. For our HUSKY Health program – already one of the leading Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance services nationally – the governor is proposing provider rate enhancements and other improvements to strengthen our networks and promote even better care for children, families, and individuals we serve. Family planning and dental rate increases in this budget will improve equity and access for HUSKY Health members. Advancing key areas like telehealth, primary and preventive care, cost transparency, and care access and equity, among others, will benefit people throughout the state. I look forward to working with the General Assembly in support of the governor’s recommendations.”
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais said, “Governor Lamont’s proposal will help increase the quality and availability of health care for all Connecticut residents as we take the necessary steps to address costs and increase affordability. Getting access to health enhancement programs and being able to easily find a primary care practitioner to be your health care home will help consumers stay healthy in the long run by helping prevent avoidable illnesses and treating those that happen as soon as possible.”
Connecticut Office of Health Strategy Executive Director Victoria Veltri said, “The governor knows that healthcare is critical to every resident in the state and to businesses in our state. Making healthcare affordable begins with understanding what drives healthcare spending. Two years ago, Governor Lamont stood with legislative partners and healthcare stakeholders to charge the Office of Health Strategy with establishing targets for per capita healthcare spending growth with an eye toward driving action among all stakeholders to tie healthcare spending growth to a reasonable rate of growth. He also emphasized the critical importance of shoring up the primary care infrastructure of the state by setting a primary care spending target as a share of all medical expenses. Today, Governor Lamont proposes to make this work permanent, cementing our commitment to making healthcare more affordable by making data available and targeting areas for action.”
Connecticut Chief Workforce Officer Dr. Kelli Vallieres said, “Across the country, we’re seeing a massive shortage in our healthcare workers, who, right now, are needed more than ever. Governor Lamont’s legislative proposals tackle this issue head on by increasing faculty capacity at our colleges and universities so Connecticut can train more students to enter these fields, developing more streamlined pathway programs so we can address this shortage as fast as possible, and making this education more affordable by offering tuition assistance to students, especially those in the hardest hit communities.”
Today’s proposals build on the Lamont administration’s record of support for quality, affordable healthcare, including:
<ul>
<li>Creating the Covered Connecticut program to provide no-cost care to nearly 40,000 adults making too much for Medicaid, but less than 175% of the Federal Poverty Level, through Access Health CT.</li>
<li>Preventing health insurance rate hikes that would have cost consumers an extra $173 million.</li>
<li>Capping copays for insulin at $25 per month and for insulin-related supplies at $100 per month.</li>
<li>Requiring insurance coverage for mental illness and substance use disorder conditions is on par with coverage for physical illnesses.</li>
<li>Expanding HUSKY benefits to parents making less than 160% of the federal poverty level.</li>
<li>Extending HUSKY benefits to qualifying new mothers from 60 days to a full year postpartum.</li>
<li>Providing state-subsidized benefits, regardless of immigration status, to an estimated 2,800 income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women and 1,900 income-eligible children under 9.</li>
<li>Ensuring access to care throughout the pandemic by expanding access to telehealth, recognizing out-of-state licenses, extending opening a new special enrollment period for Access Health CT, and protecting consumers from out-of-pocket costs.</li>
<li>Establishing healthcare cost and quality benchmarks.</li>
<li>Launching a paid family and medical leave program so workers no longer have to choose between taking care of their health and earning a paycheck.</li>
</ul>
Governor Lamont’s proposed budget adjustment also allocates more than $100 million of federal relief funding to expanding mental health services that will help children and adults cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Governor Lamont Introduces Comprehensive Package of Legislative Proposals on Healthcare

Governor Lamont Signs Legislation on Healthcare Affordability

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Hands-On Healthcare: 71 Students Explore Career Paths Through Immersive Summer Internship in Northwest CT

NW CT Healthcare RSP at Wilby & Crosby, 2023

Kayla, A NW CT Healthcare RSP Story, 2023

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