HOUSE DEMOCRATS • GAIL HAMM • NEWSROOM - 2006
Newsroom - 2006
September 25, 2006
Representative Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton, Middletown) and House Speaker James Amann (D-Milford), urged parents of newborns to take advantage of the Connecticut Optometric Association’s InfantSEE program, a no-cost public health service that provides early detection and treatment of vision impairments in infants.
Under InfantSEE, optometrists provide a free comprehensive eye and vision assessment to infants up to age one.
“We need to get the word out about this important program,” said Rep. Hamm “Early detection and prevention are the keys to a healthy future, but most parents don’t even know the InfantSEE program exists. We want to make sure all parents of infants take advantage of this free vision screening.”
Last year, Speaker Amann convened ‘Healthy Kids CT’, a long-term public/private initiative with a mission of ensuring that all children in Connecticut have access to healthcare. According to the American Optometric Association’s National InfantSEE program, only 13 percent of mothers with children younger than 2 years of age have taken their babies to an eye care professional for a regular check-up or well care visit.
“We can, and should do better here in Connecticut. Early detection of vision problems in infants and children is critical and will go a long way to enhancing their lives,” said Speaker Amann, who last year introduced legislation that calls for using 10 percent of all state funding that is spent on children to go to programs that promote prevention. “Prevention is always the best approach to better healthcare.”
Parents can locate participating optometrists and schedule an appointment by calling 1-888-396- EYES (3937) or by visiting www.infantsee.org.
Rep. Hamm is a member of the ‘Healthy Kids CT’ working group. She also serves as the Human Services Subcommittee Chair under the Appropriations Committee. Representative Hamm is a member of the Education and Judiciary Committees.
August 15, 2006
Recently, Representative Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton and Middletown) was selected as one of four state lawmakers to serve on the state Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee. The task force, authorized by the General Assembly during the 2006 legislative session, is responsible for studying the “raise the age” issue.
The task force will focus its sights on whether sixteen- and seventeen-year-old children should continue to be charged with crimes as adults or whether the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system should be expanded to cover offenders of up to eighteen years of age. The committee is charged with producing recommendations for the 2007 legislative session for any changes to current law.
“Representative Hamm came to mind as a clear favorite when I set out to make this legislative appointment,” House Majority Leader Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) said. “As one of the legislature’s leaders on matters involving juvenile offenders, as well as an attorney with expertise in the area of family law, juvenile justice, and the rights of children, Representative Hamm is an excellent choice for this task force. Her breadth of knowledge and experience will benefit the group’s work from the beginning.”
“Addressing the problems caused by Connecticut’s juvenile justice policy, which considers sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds as adults regardless of the offense committed, has been a legislative priority since I was first elected,” Representative Hamm said. “My appointment to this task force is a crucial opportunity to shape juvenile justice policy in a manner that takes into account public safety and the well-being of youth in crisis.”
Connecticut is one of only three states that consider all 16- and 17-year-olds, regardless of offense, to be adults in the criminal justice system. The new task force, whose next meeting is scheduled for September 7, will examine changes necessary to raise the age for delinquency matters to 18.
State Representative Gail K. Hamm was first elected State Representative for the 34th House District, which consists of East Hampton and a portion of Middletown, in 1998. In addition to serving as Human Services Subcommittee Chair under the Appropriations Committee, Representative Hamm is a member of the Education and Judiciary Committees.
June 7, 2006
State Representative Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton and Middletown) is pleased to announce the inclusion of close to $500,000 in state funds for East Hampton under the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP).
Funds for implementation of the Phase 1 of the Route 66 Streetscape Project were added to the State Bond Commission’s monthly agenda, on which it is expected to vote on Friday, June 9. The commission, a ten-member body of state officials, convenes once a month to allocate bond funds to finance specific projects and projects.
“Town officials, members of the Economic Development Commission, and East Hampton residents have devoted significant amounts of time and energy to this project. They should be applauded for their efforts,” Rep. Hamm said. “I am pleased to help contribute this much-needed support from the state for a project that addresses many of our citizens’ concerns about development along Route 66.”
During the recently completed legislative session, Rep. Hamm pressed hard to ensure the funds were in place to assist East Hampton, which in 2006 was deemed eligible for STEAP funds for the first time, with costs relating to the streetscape project.
The STEAP funds were established specifically to help small municipalities fund economic development, community conservation, and quality of life projects.
“This completion of this project will enhance economic development, increase safety for pedestrians and drivers, and enrich the quality of life of our town,” Rep. Hamm continued. “As East Hampton continues to grow, the preservation of the character of our small-town rural community is crucial,” Rep. Hamm continued. “The streetscape project will help maintain a sense of place in our town.”
State Representative Gail K. Hamm was first elected State Representative for the 34th House District, which consists of East Hampton and a portion of Middletown, in 1998. In addition to serving as Human Services Subcommittee Chair under the Appropriations Committee, Representative Hamm is a member of the Education and Judiciary Committees.
March 1, 2006
On Monday, February 28, State Representative Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton and Middletown) joined Speaker of the House Jim Amann (D-Milford) in revealing a new initiative entitled ‘2020 Vision for Connecticut’s Children’, which sets benchmarks to direct state dollars spent on children away from crisis services and toward preventative programs.
According to the State Prevention Council’s “2002 Prevention Services Funding” report, only about 2% of state spending goes toward prevention. The 2020 Vision proposal calls for that amount to increase to at least 10% by year 2020.
“Today’s ‘2020 Vision for Connecticut’s Children’ proposal begins with advancing programs that support the emotional, psychological, physical, cognitive, and developmental well-being of our children, but it does much more by enriching communities across Connecticut,” Rep. Hamm said. “Investing in far-reaching and life-changing programs, such as early education, after school, and positive youth development, helps foster a more competitive workforce to compete in the 21st Century. This proposal is based on strong reliable outcome measures for the success of children and youth.”
“Focusing on prevention not only makes sense for the well being of our children, but also makes fiscal sense with future savings in areas such as juvenile justice and unemployment,” Speaker Amann said. “Whether it’s school readiness, after school programs and healthcare for children, these are all areas that deserve more resources and make a great long term investment for taxpayers.”
The bill (RB 5254), which was the subject of a legislative public hearing the following day before the Children’s Committee, also calls for a ‘prevention budget’ to be made a permanent part of the Governor’s proposed biennial budget, and strengthens the ability of the Prevention Council to track prevention dollars.
Speaker Amann announced the initiative at a State Capitol news conference with Rep. Hamm, members of the legislature’s Children’s Committee as well as the state Commission on Children, and Dr. Edward Zigler, Director of Yale University’s Center in Child Development and Social Policy, and retired CEO of People’s Bank David Carson.
"I thank Speaker Amann for his leadership in this area of children's policy,” said Elaine Zimmerman, Executive Director Commission on Children. “The successful growth of the child and the economy go hand in hand. All aspects of adult human capital, from work force skills to cooperative and lawful behavior, build on foundational capacities that are developed during childhood. Preventing failure and investing in success is the best stock portfolio for Connecticut."
Eight key state agencies are targeted under the plan to begin shifting more resources toward prevention. For example, less than one percent of the Department of Children and Families and Department of Social Services annual budgets are currently spent on prevention programs.
"Prevention efforts have the greatest fiscal and human benefits of any investment that society can make,” said Dr. Zigler. “Our knowledge base is large and the evidence is now clear that the greatest benefits accrue when our prevention efforts are directed at the earliest years of life, the period of very rapid brain development."
State statute defines ‘prevention’ as policies and programs that promote healthy, safe and productive lives, and reduce the likelihood of crime, violence, substance abuse, illness, academic failure and other socially destructive behaviors.
"Regardless of whether the issue is health, education or welfare, children respond to early intervention, and the costs are less than the costs of remediation," Carson said.
State Representative Gail K. Hamm was first elected State Representative for the 34th House District, which consists of East Hampton and a portion of Middletown, in 1998. She serves as Human Services Subcommittee Chair under the Appropriations Committee. She is also a member of the Education and Judiciary Committees. |
