 | | | Friend, welcome to Health Equity Solutions' monthly newsletter! | | | | | |  | | | You're Invited: Staying Covered: Responding to Federal Cuts to Healthcare - September 4th Connecticut is facing significant federal cuts to Medicaid and Access Health CT. Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors are at risk of losing coverage—either because they no longer qualify, or because of new administrative barriers that make it harder to stay insured. Join the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health and Health Equity Solutions for an important community forum. This forum will bring together voices from the Department of Social Services, Access Health CT, and a panel of policy experts to discuss the impact of these changes, share solutions, and explore what we can do together to mitigate the damage to health coverage in our state. | | | | | | | | At Health Equity Solutions (HES), we believe that health is a human right—and that everyone in Connecticut deserves the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, no matter who they are or where they live. As we prepare to host Connecticut's first-ever , we are inviting you to walk alongside us—not only in spirit, but as a committed partner in this movement for justice. This event is more than a walk—it’s a powerful statement of solidarity, a visible demonstration of community will, and a fundraising campaign that will help fuel our policy advocacy, community engagement, and systems change work across the state. Your support and participation will help us bring this vision to life. Together, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and push forward lasting change that centers equity and community voice. We hope you'll join us in this critical effort. | | Register, donate, sponsor: hesct.org/walk or contact us at jbaril@hesct.org. | |  | | | | | | | | | Kally Moquete Makes a Statement at Briefing on the 60th Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare July 30th marked the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare. Our Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy Kally Moquete, Esq., LMSW joined other advocates and legislators at the Legislative Office Building to speak about the devastating cuts to Medicaid. In Connecticut, approximately 30-40% of HUSKY (Medicaid) recipients are people of color. Cutting this vital program will only widen existing racial and economic health disparities. Watch the full briefing to hear what Kally shared. | | | | Karen Siegel Provides a Public Comment on Requested Health Insurance Rate Increase On August 18, our Deputy Director Karen Siegel made public comments regarding the requested health insurance rate increase at the State Insurance Department Informational Meeting. Karen provided four recommendations for the committee to consider. Check out the video to find out what she had to say. | | | | | | ****Special thanks to all the advocates and our many partners for their tireless efforts!**** | | | | Welcome Megan Scharrer, Our Community Engagement Manager We're excited to welcome Megan Scharrer as our new Community Engagement Manager. Megan brings extensive experience in community organizing and policy advocacy, with a focus on immigrant rights, education equity, and health equity. Before joining HES, she worked with Make the Road Connecticut and the Hispanic Health Council, where she advanced campaigns to strengthen language access in schools, expand immigrant health coverage, and promote housing and maternal health equity. Megan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Xavier University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work with a policy concentration at the University of Connecticut. In her free time, she enjoys CrossFit, spending time with her cat Bebe, and being in community with her loved ones. | | | | | | | | Ayesha R. Clarke Delivers Keynote Address at UConn School of Social Work Convocation On August 22, our Executive Director Ayesha R. Clarke delivered the keynote address to the UConn School of Social Work incoming BSW and MSW students. Clarke reminded attendees, “Joy is our fuel… It’s what allows us to keep going when the systems feel too big and the process feels too slow. Joy will sustain you.” She also emphasized the pride students should take in their chosen profession: “By choosing social work, you’re choosing a profession rooted in courage, service, justice, and hope… We are the healers. We are the advocates. We are the problem solvers and strategists.” The UConn School of Social Work held the convocation at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. | | | | | | Ayesha R. Clarke Interviews With Counter Point to Discuss the Impact of Federal Cuts In a recent Counter Point interview with Scott Harris, Ayesha R. Clarke, Executive Director of Health Equity Solutions, raised urgent concerns about the impact of federal budget cuts on Connecticut’s social safety net programs. Reductions to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential supports could disproportionately harm residents already struggling to meet basic needs. Clarke urged Governor lawmakers to take proactive steps to protect families, ensuring healthcare access, food security, and community well-being remain intact. | | | | | | | | We love to highlight the work of our partners and interesting events in the health equity neighborhood. Have content to contribute? Fill out this form. We're eager to learn about what you're working on. Know someone who might be interested in receiving our newsletter? Share this subscription link! | | | | A Roadmap to Fully Funded Communities - Multiple Dates The Connecticut Voices for Children is hosting a series of community conversations where they'll share new research on the State’s fiscal controls (or what politicians are calling “fiscal guardrails”) that will shed light on how Connecticut can raise revenue to invest in all of our children and families. The events is free and will include dinner, child care, and translation services. 📍 Upcoming stops: Danbury (Aug. 28), New London (Sept. 25), New Britain (Oct. 30), and Middletown (Nov. 20) | | | | | | | | Stay informed about the latest developments in health equity, social determinants of health, racial justice, and more! Every week, we feature relevant news articles and reports on our social media. Check out a few highlights below: | | | | - I’m a Conservative. My Disabled Son Needs Medicaid to Live: Rachel Roth Aldhizer, a registered Republican, shares how cuts at both the federal and state levels threaten the Medicaid coverage that sustains her profoundly disabled 4-year-old son, including essential therapies, medical equipment, and caregiver support. The piece highlights the urgency of protecting social safety nets, even for those whose political affiliations often oppose them. Read the full story HERE.
- Looming Medicaid cuts could hurt Black children, advocates warn: Medicaid cuts proposed by Republican lawmakers could disproportionately harm Black children, who rely on the program at higher rates than their peers. Experts warn the changes would deepen existing racial health disparities, limiting access to essential care for families already facing systemic barriers. The debate highlights the broader stakes of federal health policy decisions on vulnerable communities. Read the full story HERE.
| | | | | | | | Health Equity Solutions
53 Oak Street | Hartford, Connecticut 06106
860.461.7637 | info@hesct.org | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
