|  | | "Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls." ― Nanette L. Avery | | | Dear Friend, welcome to Health Equity Solutions' monthly newsletter! 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! | | | | | | |  | | | 40 Days Until the Next Presidential Election! Register to Vote. We celebrated National Voter Registration Day earlier this month, but it’s not too late to check your voter registration status! Take a moment to ensure your information is up-to-date and ready for the upcoming elections. Your voice matters—make sure it’s heard! Connecticut Voter Registration Deadlines for the 2024 Election: -
Online: October 18th -
By Mail: October 18th -
In Person: November 5th Click here to learn more about voting eligibility in our state. ICYMI: Health Equity Tools for advocates and decision-makers. Earlier this year, we released two health equity tools in collaboration with the State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS). Special thanks to Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette, Dashni Sathasivam, and Karen Siegel for all their hard work and contributions. Check them out here: -
The Health Equity Impact Tool is a multi-part online evaluation tool that allows state agencies and institutions to examine their equity work at a high level. -
The Health Equity Policy Tool is a framework for reviewing and evaluating the equity impact of current or proposed policies and projects that an organization may pursue internally or externally. Watch this webinar on how and why the tools were created and how to use the tools to understand the scope of equity work for a state agency. It also provides an overview of what to expect when completing the tools and how to leverage findings to develop goals and strengthen equity-focused policies and practices. | | | | THANK YOU for joining us! We recently concluded our 2024 Community Conversations. Thank you so much for taking part in our 2024 Community Conversations. We are thrilled to engage with community members, advocates, and community-based organizations each year to learn about their health equity priorities. Stay tuned for the final report! In the meantime, you can take a look at our past Community Conversations and see how they've influenced previous HES policy priorities. Questions? Email Katia Daley at kdaley@hesct.org Pictured: Our Director of Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager tabling earlier this month at the New Haven Pride Center's 28th Annual Pride Block Party! | |  | |  | | | | | In honor of our 10th Anniversary, Health Equity Solutions is hosting a one-of-a-kind event featuring the art and activism of Michelle Browder! Join us as we forge a collective path to advance equity, ignite change, and celebrate a special milestone in our work towards the vision where all people in Connecticut have access to equitable healthcare regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We are honored to recognize the many partners who have engaged, organized, and advocated with us over the past 10 years. Together we will acknowledge our collective achievements and shine a light on the hard work still yet to be done. We hope you will join us for an evening of meaningful connections, inspiring conversations, and shared aspirations delights! For more information, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, CLICK HERE. | |  | | 👏 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT 👏 | |  | We are excited to welcome Jason Bedford as our newest Board Member. Jason transitioned from a career in finance after a near-death experience dramatically realigned his priorities, and led him to return to graduate school, earning an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Grand Canyon University. Currently, he serves as a licensed psychotherapist in a private practice in Madison, CT. Learn more about Jason here. | |  | | | | | Announcements/Upcoming Events: TODAY! United for Health Justice Election Planning Scenario Join Community Catalyst TODAY for a webinar to discuss potential scenarios for the upcoming election and their possible outcomes. They will explore the specific threats and opportunities that may arise from a Trump or Harris presidency, as well as how a unified or divided Congress could influence these dynamics. Register here. | | Connecticut Affordable Housing Conference The Partnership for Strong Communities invites you to attend this year’s Connecticut Affordable Housing Conference (CAHC) on November 18-19, 2024. This year’s theme is "Here for Housing." The CAHC is a valuable opportunity to come together, collaborate, and drive meaningful change in housing affordability, creation, choice, and stability throughout our state. Register here. | |  | | | | | 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: - Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Help Older Adults and Those in High-Premium States Afford Coverage: “Among people with annual incomes of approximately $60,000 or more (400% of the federal poverty level), those aged 50+ stand to see the greatest cost-savings from healthcare tax credits that lower monthly payments to insurers.” https://www.rwjf.org/en/insights/our-research/2024/09/enhanced-ptc-help-older-adults-and-those-in-high-premium-states-afford-coverage.html
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Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022: “If the United States wants to make good on its foundational claims of a democratic system of governance open to all citizens, it must find ways to close the racial turnout gap.” https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/growing-racial-disparities-voter-turnout-2008-2022 -
No One Wants To Talk About Racial Trauma. Why My Family Broke Our Silence: “As a society, we’re still learning how to talk about the anxiety, stress, shame, and fear that comes from the heavy burden of systemic racism. We all have a responsibility to confront it — not just Black families.” https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/silence-in-sikeston-racial-trauma-black-families/ -
Doctors more likely to perform unnecessary C-sections on Black mothers, study says: “According to the New York Times, some experts speculate that doctors may rush Black women to C-sections due to concerns about racial bias, or that Black women may be less likely to advocate for themselves, or if they do express concerns, they may be taken less seriously.” https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/c-sections-black-mothers-new-york-times/ | | | Made it this far? Thank you so much for reading our updates! We appreciate your support. If you have any questions, please email info@hesct.org. Best, HES Team | | | | | Health Equity Solutions 53 Oak Street | Hartford, Connecticut 06106 860.461.7637 | info@hesct.org | | | | | | | | | | |