Food is Medicine: The Essential Connection Between Food Security and Health
Advancing Kids April 1, 2022
[Excerpt of article by Nancy Trout, MD, MPH] For more than two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought devastating loss along with political, economic and social disruption to our nation. While we no longer see televised images of snaking lines of cars containing food insecure families lined up for assistance, food and nutrition insecurity rates remain high. As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, we must look for opportunities to change structures and policies to promote food justice. Access to nutritious food must be viewed as a fundamental human right. [....]… Read More
Data demonstrates how pandemic exacerbated New Haven’s wealth disparities
Yale Daily News February 24, 2022
[Excerpt of feature article by Sophie Bograd and Sylvan Lebrun, February 23, 2022] More than four in 10 New Haven residents lost their job, used emergency food services or suffered financially during the pandemic. … Read More
Connecticut’s richest residents got richer while poorest residents got poorer during pandemic, survey finds
Hartford Courant February 17, 2022
[Excerpt from front-page feature by Alex Putterman, February 13, 2022] The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly difficult for Connecticut residents in the state’s poorest cities, a large statewide survey has found. While 19% of Connecticut adults say they are worse off financially than they were two years ago, according to the survey, that number was 31% in Hartford, 29% in Bridgeport, 20% in New Haven and 28% in Waterbury.… Read More
Survey results quantify how each Connecticut town experienced the pandemic throughout 2021
by Mark Abraham February 12, 2022
PRESS RELEASE - February 13, 2022 Since February 2020, nearly a quarter of Connecticut households had a member lose a job, but about one-third of households in Bridgeport, Stamford, and Waterbury faced that outcome. But even in towns like Milford and Greenwich, about one in seven households were affected by job loss.… Read More
Access Health CT program aims to reduce uninsured rate, health disparities
Record-Journal February 5, 2022
[Excerpt from article by Karla Santos, 2/4/2022] MERIDEN — The state’s health insurance exchange recently launched a free program to help individuals become licensed insurance brokers with the goal of reducing the uninsured rate and addressing health disparities. An extensive study revealed significant disparities in health care in the state, according to Tammy Hendricks, director of health equity & outreach for Access Health CT, the state’s insurance marketplace. Her department was created to address the issue. [....]… Read More
Leading a Medicaid Program During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Milbank Memorial Fund January 29, 2022
[Excerpt from article by Kate McEvoy, January 10, 2022] What was it like to be a Medicaid director during the COVID-19 public health emergency? First, there was an all-too-slow dawning realization. Then a huge wave of activity, followed by just enough critical distance for some observations. [....] Around late August 2020, lower rates of infection buoyed hope. The brief reprieve gave us a bit of distance to think and evaluate. While gaining perspective remains a work in progress, here are a few observations:… Read More
