 | | Friend, welcome to Health Equity Solutions' monthly newsletter! |
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| | | On May 22, the Senate passed SB 7: An Act Concerning Protections for Access to Healthcare and Equitable Delivery of Healthcare Services in the State. Our legislative priority, SB 1192: An Act Concerning Hospital Financial Assistance,” is now Section 14 in SB 7. This important piece of legislation addresses the gap in access to financial assistance for patients in CT. The bill has been placed on the House calendar to be called within the next week. We will continue to exhaust all efforts to get the bill called and ultimately passed out of the House. Special thanks to all of our partners for their tireless efforts! |
|  | | Quick Updates - HES Supported Bills: |
| - SB 1506: AN ACT CONCERNING RACIAL AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENTS passed the Senate on 5/1 and just passed the House on 5/22. HES is grateful for the work of the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health on this important effort to embed equity in policymaking.
- HB 7213: AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE passed the House on 5/1 and passed the Senate on 5/27. The bill protects access to reproductive health services. HES is thankful to our partners at Planned Parenthood, She Leads Justice and Reproductive Equity Now and so many other organizations for their relentless advocacy to protect access to reproductive care.
- HB 7214: AN ACT CONCERNING MATERNAL HEALTH initially started with 3 sections (1) a task force to study perinatal mental health care, (2) establish a report card for birth centers and hospitals providing maternity care, and (3) require the Commissioner of Public Health to convene an advisory committee to study doula-friendly practices in hospitals. The bill was amended to remove section 2, passed the House on 5/20 and is on the Senate calendar.
- SB 1470: AN ACT CONCERNING TWICE ANNUAL REPORTING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ON MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER SERVICES. The bill has been tabled for the Senate Calendar since 4/2/2025.
- HB 5002: AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AND THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS is a robust housing bill that aims at lowering housing costs in the state. It is currently being debated in the House.
- HB 6937: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY CHILDREN'S DIAPERS. This bill has not been evaluated by appropriations and is unlikely to be considered this legislative session.
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| Thank You for Supporting HES During The Great Give! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported Health Equity Solutions during The Great Give 2025! Thanks to your generosity, we were proud to be part of this incredible 36-hour community-wide giving event, now in its 16th year. Hosted by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, The Great Give shines a spotlight on nonprofits making a difference across our region and your support helped amplify our mission to advance health equity for all. We are deeply grateful for your commitment, and we look forward to continuing this important work together. Thank you for standing with HES! |
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| | | | Farewell to HES Interns Adriana and Grace! |
| Adriana López de Victoria Martínez, Community Engagement & Advocacy Intern This month, Adriana will conclude her internship with us, we’re grateful for the energy and dedication she brought to our community engagement and advocacy efforts. Her passion for health equity and drive to create lasting change were evident in all she did. We wish her continued success in her journey toward medical school and beyond! |
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| Grace Williams, Policy and Advocacy Intern As Grace wraps up her time with us, we want to thank her for the passion and insight she brought to the HES team. Her commitment to health equity and community-driven policy was truly inspiring, and we wish her all the best in her continued journey at Yale! |
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| | Ayesha R. Clarke Speaks at the Fund for Women & Girls Annual Celebration On May 12th, our Executive Director Ayesha R. Clarke attended the Fairfield County Community Foundation's Fund for Women & Girls Annual Celebration. At the event, Clarke joined other community leaders to speak about the Black Maternal Health Initiative. The celebration also honored Barbara Dalio with the Anne S. Leonhardt Award. |
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| | Job Opportunity: Community Engagement Manager |
| HES is hiring a Community Engagement Manager to help lead grassroots organizing and coalition-building efforts that advance health equity in Connecticut. This role will focus on community-driven policy advocacy, data-informed engagement, and inclusive facilitation to ensure that underserved voices shape public health solutions. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. Read the full job description and apply HERE. |
| | | 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! |
| Pride Day at the Capitol - June 4th The Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity is hosting PRIDE Day at the Capitol: Beyond Celebration: Centering Equity, Wellness & Voice on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Hartford, CT. The event will feature a powerful panel on LGBTQ+ mental health featuring HES' Director of Social Enterprise Taylor Tucker, spoken word performances, and a resource fair—all free and open to the public. |
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| | Community Resource Fair - June 7th The Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the City of Waterbury and the Waterbury Police Department, is hosting a Community Resource Fair on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waterbury City Hall (235 Grand Street). This free event will offer health screenings, state and local resources, and care packages that include gift cards to local eateries. It’s a great opportunity to connect with services and support in the area. Rain date: June 14, 2025. |
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| | 2025 Pathways to Success - June 10th The Tow Youth Justice Institute is hosting the 2025 Pathways to Success Trailblazers and Innovators in Youth Justice conference on June 10th in Hartford, CT. The conference will feature keynote speaker Lawrence Bartley of The Marshall Project Inside. Attendees will explore innovative youth-centered approaches to justice reform, engage with cutting-edge research, connect with experts and amplify youth voices for meaningful change. |
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| | Community Health Fair - June 10th Make the Road Connecticut and Hartford HealthCare’s Institute of Living invite you to a Community Health Fair on Tuesday, June 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 885 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06114. Stop by to receive free health screenings and information, including glucose tests, blood pressure checks, cholesterol, women’s health services, mental health resources, and more! For more information, contact Yajaira Garay, HFT Community Health Worker, at (475) 302-6022 ext. 108 or yajaira.garay@maketheroadct.org. |
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| | Undoing Racism - June 27-29th The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, in partnership with the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut and the Wesleyan University College of the Environment is hosting an intensive, interactive workshop designed to explore how race and racism are constructed and maintained in our society and how we can challenge the systems that uphold them. Participants will analyze class, power, and institutional dynamics while developing the tools to be more effective organizers for justice. The workshop will be held June 27-29th. For more info, contact srabera@universalhealthct.org. |
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| | | 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: |
| - From taxes to housing, how can Connecticut inequality be addressed? Here are some possible solutions: Connecticut grapples with deep economic disparities, prompting experts and community leaders to propose multifaceted solutions. Recommendations include implementing rent caps, mandating affordable housing in new developments, and reforming the tax system to be more progressive, particularly by increasing taxes on capital gains. Enhancing educational equity through early education initiatives and diverse learning pathways is also emphasized, alongside broader support measures like earned income tax credits and universal basic income, all aimed at fostering a more equitable and affordable state. Read the full story HERE.
- Judges warn Trump’s mass deportations could lay groundwork to ensnare Americans: Federal judges are raising alarms over the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies, warning that the erosion of due process protections for immigrants could set a dangerous precedent affecting all Americans. The administration's use of expedited removal and wartime powers has led to deportations without proper hearings, prompting bipartisan judicial concerns about potential overreach and constitutional violations. Read the full story HERE.
- Medicaid Cuts Would Reduce Access to Health Care for Entire Communities: Proposed Medicaid cuts would not only strip coverage from millions but also destabilize entire communities' health care systems. As providers face reduced funding, many may be forced to scale back services or shut down, leaving both Medicaid recipients and privately insured patients with diminished access to care. The ripple effects could be especially severe in rural and underserved areas, where Medicaid plays a critical role in sustaining clinics and hospitals. Read the full story HERE.
- Some new Connecticut mothers are going home with orange bracelets. Here’s why: Trinity Health of New England has introduced a program where new mothers receive orange bracelets reading “I gave birth” to help identify postpartum health risks after leaving the hospital. The bracelets alert medical personnel to potential maternity-related complications, such as high blood pressure or excessive bleeding, within the first 12 weeks post-birth. This initiative aims to ensure quicker, more informed care in emergencies. Read the full story HERE.
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| | Health Equity Solutions 53 Oak Street | Hartford, Connecticut 06106 860.461.7637 | info@hesct.org |
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