Helping At-Risk Youth, Funding for Norwalk Schools, and More!

October 20, 2023


 
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Dear Neighbor,

The winds of change are blowing! Earlier this month, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced the first-of-its-kind effort in the United States to coordinate their offshore wind efforts, which opens up the potential to procure clean energy together at more competitive and affordable rates.
 
The three states will work collaboratively to amplify all the benefits of offshore wind, which also include regional economic development opportunities, healthier communities, lower energy bills and advantages to environmental justice populations and low-income ratepayers.

In addition to the multistate regional collaboration, Connecticut also announced its first-ever strategic roadmap for economic development in the offshore wind industry supported by a newly formed public-private nonprofit group of experts and stakeholders known as the Connecticut Wind Collaborative (CWC).
 
Connecticut’s deepwater ports, direct water access, and long history of advanced manufacturing make it a natural hub for offshore wind development.
 
Offshore wind is a vital part of the process geared toward providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy to Connecticut, which has a statutory target of 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040 that we passed during the 2022 legislative session. The new collaborative and strategic roadmap will further the effort to reach that goal.
Disconnected & At-Risk Youth & What Connecticut is Doing to Support Them

Connecticut-based Dalio Education recently released a report it commissioned that focused on "disconnected and at-risk youth" and found more than 63,000 young adults were disconnected, and 56,000 students were at risk between 2021 and 2022, according to the compiled data.

These are young people who have either dropped out of school or are in danger of dropping out of school, and who are, for those aged 18 to 26, unemployed and in many cases unemployable. 

A number of laws were passed in the last two legislative sessions meant to help disconnected and at-risk youth.

2022 Legislation - School-Based Health Centers (HB 5001, SB 1, HB 5506)

  • Provided grants to local schools to hire more support staff, including in the areas of mental health like social workers, psychologists, and counselors
  • Funded the expansions of school-based health centers and the services they provide
  • Created new walk-ins for mental health emergencies
  • Initiated a new position at the Office of the Healthcare Advocate to help families navigate care for children and adolescents
  • Expanded 24/7 emergency mental health response
  • Established state oversight and coordination of state response to kids' mental health needs
  • Expanded mentorship opportunities
  • Helped school-based health centers develop new mental health programming
  • Assisted local schools in expanding mental health staff and access to care
  • Provided mental health training to parents, students, and pediatricians
  • Established the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (legislation passed in 2022; updated in 2023 with PA 23-90)

2023 Legislation - State Budget (HB 6941)

  • Prevented any town from receiving a funding cut to their local schools
  • Ensured more districts will meet eligibility requirements for the federal School Breakfast Program 
  • Doubled grants to school districts for bilingual education

This report shines a light on critically important data that shows elected officials, state agencies, and branches of government must collectively work better together to bring more stakeholders into this conversation, so that "at-risk and "disconnected" youth do not become "lost" adults.
Statewide Gun Buyback and Safe Giveaway

Join NPD as we take part in the 3rd Annual Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback. Contact Sgt. Ryan Evarts or Lt. Tom Podgorski for more information at Revarts@norwalkct.gov or Tpodgorski@norwalkct.gov
Fire Prevention Week
Last week was Fire Prevention Week. As home fires are the most common disaster in the United States, it’s important to make sure your home, and loved ones, don’t fall victim to bad situations. As this is a time when people are spending more time indoors and heating sources will begin being used in coming weeks.

Make sure to test your smoke alarms, be careful in the kitchen and avoid leaving stoves unattended and be careful when furnaces kick on and when making fires. The Red Cross’s Home Fire Safety Program installs smoke alarms for free to anyone needing them; for details, visit www.redcross.org/CTprepare to make an appointment.
As a reminder, I-95 will be severely restricted from this evening, Friday, October 20 at 8 PM until Monday, October 23 at 6AM due to the replacement of the bridge at exit 17 at Saugatuck. Exit 17 will be closed and you will only be able to use exits 16 and 18. Please avoid using this part of the highway in Norwalk and Westport if you can. I hope you have a good weekend!

Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative
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