Community Partner Newsletter Volume Four
Community Affairs and Engagement Newsletter
Volume 2 Spring 2022
A Message from HUSKY Health and Access Health CT Please share with your clients as we help Access Health CT and the Connecticut Department of Social Services obtain up-to-date mailing addresses and phone numbers for HUSKY Health members.
Table of Contents:
Community Engagement During the Pandemic.......................................1 Community Transition Program.....................2 COVID-19 UPDATES.........................................2 Peace At Home Parenting Solutions: New Parenting Videos Alert. .........................2 Youth Summer Programs...............................3 Individual Educational Program (IEP)............4 Sugar Rush .....................................................4 Healthy Eating.................................................5
Community Engagement During the Pandemic
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Engagement team at Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) exhibited HUSKY Health information tables (including Health & Wellness programs) at various community events and HUB sites throughout the state. These outlets allowed the team to educate HUSKY Health members on how to utilize their benefits, provide
members with nutritional information, and connect them to resources that help with their social determinants of health (SDOH).
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All community events, fieldwork, and HUB participation were suspended in March 2020. Despite this, the Community Engagement team continued assisting HUSKY Health members by telephone and providing resources via text messaging and email. The team also offered virtual health and wellness workshops in an effort to promote better health outcomes. HUSKY Health members welcomed the text messages and the virtual workshops. We resumed all community engagement
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activities in April 2022. We continue to offer in-person or virtual health and wellness workshops, and provide community resources via telephone, text messages, email, and regular mail.
Stay Informed! Visit the HUSKY Health website to see all upcoming events and to speak with a HUSKY Health representative regarding your health, benefits, and community resources: https://www.huskyhealthct.org/members/health-events.html .
Community Transition Program CHNCT recently launched a Community Transition Program (CTP) for members recently released from prison. This program will allow CHNCT staff to help these HUSKY Health members with their needed medical and SDOH support to maximize the opportunity for a successful transition back into the community. By creating the CTP and working closely with reentry programs, CHNCT will effectively provide ongoing support for HUSKY Health members reentering the community, ensuring they have access to the equitable healthcare services and community resources they need to support their transition. COVID-19 UPDATES
For more information on this program, please call the Community Engagement team at 1.888.786.2345.
As we emerge from the latest COVID-19 wave, there are strategies to help further prevent the spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all individuals who can be vaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccine is available for those over the age of five years old. If you have been vaccinated, it is recommended that you receive a booster once eligible. Boosters are currently available for those 12 years and older. More information on vaccines can be found on the CDC’s website.
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Looking for a vaccination site? Simply text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish.
If you start to feel sick and develop symptoms of COVID-19, the CDC recommends staying home except to get medical care, getting tested as soon as possible after symptoms start, and monitoring your symptoms. Guidance and recommendations are rapidly changing. For the most up-to-date information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions: New Parenting Videos Alert The HUSKY Health program has partnered with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, and offers brief, pre-recorded parenting classes that focus on a wide range of topics, including child development, positive reinforcement, co-parenting, and much more. These classes and handouts are provided by a team of expert professionals who have worked with diverse children and families, and offer practical and successful solutions.
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Check out our newest videos, “LGBTQ+: What Do All Those Letters Mean” and “How to Help Your LGBTQ+ Child Thrive.” These videos can help families find answers to questions they may have about topics such as understanding the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, and learning how to identify increased risks faced by the LGBTQ+ youth.
The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions videos and handout materials offer an understanding of how to support your child by making a meaningful positive connection that will help keep them safe. The classes also highlight the signs of peer pressure and bullying, and the warning signs that your child may need more help
For additional information, please visit the HUSKY Health parenting library at: www.peaceathomeparenting.com/husky-health/. Classes and handout materials are also available in Spanish.
Youth Summer Programs
Childcare and Summer Activities
Can you believe summer is almost here? If you need before/after school childcare assistance, daycare assistance, and/or assistance with summer camps, now is the time to apply for these services. The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood has programs and services including the Care
4 Kids program and state-funded early care and education programs that may be able to provide financial childcare assistance for low to moderate- income families. For additional program information, please visit www.ctoec.org/child-care-and-camps/. The Department of Labor and Connecticut Youth programs are now accepting applications for the 2022 Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program. The program serves the youth of Connecticut, between the ages of 14 and 24, with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience during the summer. Participants receive an opportunity to develop workplace skills, while also developing social, civic, and leadership skills to prepare them for the careers of the future. Job seekers and employers, please visit www.ctdol.state.ct.us/gendocs/youth.html to locate your local workforce development board for additional program information. For additional summer planning activities including summer camps, town programs, special needs programs, and volunteering opportunities, please explore the State of Connecticut’s “ Kid Stuff ” page at www.ct.gov/kids/cwp/view.asp?a=2574&q=437286/.
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Individual Educational Program (IEP)
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If you have children with special needs who are accessing their education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the state of Connecticut, and they have an Individualized Educational Program (IEP), here is what you need to know… A new IEP document will be implemented as of 7/1/2022. For information regarding the changes, the Connecticut State Department of Education has created an online training tool for educators, parents, and families, available in English and in Spanish, available at: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Special-Education/Bureau-of-Special-Education/New-IEP.
Navigating and understanding special education and how to tailor your child’s IEP can be very difficult and challenging for parents, caregivers, and families. YOU are an integral part of your child’s educational success, and you are not alone.
Below you can find some additional resources that may assist you with your child’s educational journey: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ https://uwc.211ct.org/special-education
Sugar Rush Sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet. Since added sugars are hidden in many drinks, we tend to consume more than the recommended amount without even realizing it. Excessive added sugar intake is linked to health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.¹ CHNCT has created the Sugar Rush program to educate HUSKY Health members on the growing problem of consuming excessive added sugar. Sugar Rush is a fun and interactive educational program that allows participants to spin a wheel and guess how many teaspoons of sugar are in various drink options and serving sizes. We then explore healthier alternatives to popular sugary drinks.
To book a virtual or in-person workshop, please contact: Kellie Gilbert kgilbert@chnct.org 203.303.3932
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Healthy Eating As the weather begins to warm up, many of us are starting to think about eating lighter. Cooking Matters’ Fruit Tarts make for a fun and healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert. It is a great recipe that can use canned or frozen fruit while we wait for Connecticut’s local produce to come back in season at the start of summer. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends people get at least 1 to 2.5 cups of fruit a day, depending on age, gender, size, and activity level. 1 This recommendation includes consuming produce in all five forms – fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice. 2 There are many misconceptions about which form of fruit is the healthiest.
References: 1 https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html
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All forms of fruit offer similar amounts of nutrients, but there are pros and cons to each form. When produce is in season, it is less expensive to buy fresh fruits. When they are out of season, frozen, or canned fruits will cost significantly less. Fruits are frozen or canned at their peak freshness and last much longer than fresh. Some nutrients may be decreased slightly, but many more are preserved from the processing and therefore have a slightly higher vitamin or mineral content because it did not diminish while traveling from farm or factory to stores.
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A con found more with canned than frozen fruits is that canned fruits often have a high amount of added sugar and other preservatives to keep them from spoiling. 3,4
The texture of canned or thawed out frozen produce will be different and less crisp than its fresh version. The softer texture works very well with the Fruit Tarts since it stays on the toast better and is easier to bite through. Another benefit of using frozen or canned produce is that it has already been washed and chopped up, so it saves time in the kitchen. With the combination of fruit and whole wheat toast (or another whole grain bread), this recipe provides a good amount of fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Fiber plays an important role in helping to maintain healthy weight and cholesterol levels. 1 Have fun and explore a variety of flavors and textures using different combinations of fruits on each tart.
References: 1 USDA. Fruits. MyPlate. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Retrieved from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits
2 USDA. MyPlate Plan. MyPlate. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan 3 HealthySD. Fresh, Frozen and Canned ALL Count. South Dakota Department of Health. Retrieved from https://healthysd.gov/fresh-frozen-and-canned-fruits-and-veggies/ 4 USDA. Shop Smart. MyPlate. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/healthy-eating-budget/shop-smart
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