Elder Justice Hotline, Message from the Hub and One Community

October 1, 2021
Below you will find information about CT's Elder Justice Hotline, and a message from One Community and The Hub.

Connecticut has launched an Elder Justice hotline to provide seniors with a "one stop shop" for information on several resources.

Hotline: 1-860-808-5555

Have you been the victim of a fraud? Received a message demanding immediate payment and aren’t sure if it’s legitimate? Have you or your loved one been the victim of abuse or neglect? Do you need help accessing benefits or assistance? If so, contact the Elder Justice Hotline. 

The hotline will be staffed by the Attorney General’s Office Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. If you are calling after hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

 

A Message from One Community 

Upcoming October Programs & Services

Global Diversity Awareness Month

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month - a time to celebrate the positive impact diverse voices can have on a company, its community, and society at large. It’s also a time to reflect on the obstacles and barriers present in the workplace today and the steps we can take, as companies and as individuals, to overcome them. 

Let's keep promoting #BelongingBeginsWithUS

Follow us on social media as we continue to promote diversity.


What's Happening at B1C?
Discover our featured programs and events for October. Don't forget to share this booklet with friends and family. 

 

Learn More


Metamorphosis Art Show

You are invited! Please join us for this special exhibit. An artistic expression that portrays personal metamorphosis as it relates to social justice and the immigrant experience. for this special art show. Let us introduce our artists - click here.

 

Register to Attend Today!


Buy Your Pumpkin at St. John's Lutheran Church!

Our friends at St. John's Lutheran Church in Stamford are hosting a pumpkin sale to benefit Building One Community! The patch is open the entire month of October. St. John's Luthern Church at 884 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. 

Please consider supporting B1C by purchasing your pumpkin from the church. 

 

We are also looking for volunteers to help sell! 

Sign Up Here!


Winter Essentials Drive!

Please help us to keep our day workers warm through the winter season! Donate winter essentials (Coats, Gloves, Scarfs, thermal clothing). If you would like to participate in our winter essentials drive, please find information on Amazon Wishlist below. Items from the Wishlist will automatically be shipped to B1C!

If you have further questions please contact Daniel De Andrade at 203.6748585 Ext 102 or by email at ddeandrade@b1c.org

 

Amazon Wish List


Our Immigration Legal Services Team is Expanding!

We are thrilled to add new members to our Immigration Legal Services team: Jennifer Williams, Esq., Removal Defense Director, Lauren Hughes, Esq., Immigration Justice Corps Fellow, and Paula Idrovo, Esq., Immigration Justice Corps Fellow. Join us in welcoming our expanding team!

 

Did you miss our September Colloquium - Immigration Today - From the Border to D.C. & Fairfield County? Click here to see the entire discussion. 


 

Wednesday, October 13th

Immigration Legal Services Q&A

Join us for a virtual Q&A with our immigration attorney to ask questions and learn more. 

 

Click here to hear a video message from our Immigration Legal Services Director.

 

Learn More!


B1C in the Press!
New community initiative brings drug addiction services...

STAMFORD - Bonnie Kim Campbell looks out at the city's West Side, where she's lived all 66 years of her life, and sees a diamond in the rough. To her, the West Side is a tight-knit, diverse community of people, many of whom have called the...

Read more
www.stamfordadvocate.com

Westporters Help Afghans. You Can, Too.

The news from Afghanistan - though horrifying - can seem thousands of miles away. For Westport attorney Sam Leaf, it's right next door. He and attorney Jennifer Williams of Stamford-based Building One Community have teamed up to help a...

Read more

 
A Message from The Hub:
 

"You Think You Know," is a New Campaign That Aims to Educate and Prevent Deaths from Counterfeit Prescription Drugs 

Check it out and share it with your network!

The five regional behavioral health action organizations (RBHAOs) in the state including, The Hub, as well as other local prevention groups and state agencies, have created You Think You Know. This is a new public awareness campaign targeting teens, young adults and caregivers to educate them about the dangers of counterfeit prescription drugs.

Counterfeit prescription pills are produced to look almost identical to the real thing. Often, you can’t tell the difference without lab tests. That is where the campaign name came from; You Think You Know what you’re taking, but unless it comes from a retail pharmacy, you can’t be sure it’s safe.

Why It's Important
This campaign came about after we began hearing more about young people dying from these pills. The issue made national news when TV therapist Laura Berman's 16-year-old son died after getting a counterfeit Xanax on Snapchat. Locally, a Trumbull family lost their 25-year-old son who got what he believed was Xanax from a longtime acquaintance, but it was laced with Fentanyl.

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, there were 1,378 overdose deaths in 2020, which was a 14.3% increase compared to 2019. As of the second week of August 2021, there have been 878 confirmed overdose deaths. About 84% of these deaths involve fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is being added to counterfeit prescription pills, which are bought on the street, social media or the dark web. Depending what’s inside, one pill can be deadly.

On Monday, the DEA issued a public safety alert that warned Americans about counterfeit pills "flooding" the U.S. They stated that more than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined. 

So What Can You Do? 

Visit YouThinkYouKnowCT.org to educate yourself about counterfeit drugs, where young people are getting pills and get tips for talking about this issue with young people in your life. You will find a variety of resources for teens, young adults, parents and educators.


As Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, we want to remind you that you can always find resources on our website. You can also refer to our past newsletters for resources. Below you will find a suicide prevention flyer in Spanish. Please share with your network. Also consider joining the Southwest Prevention Team in the AFSP walk on October 24th
Recovery Resources

Visit our Recovery page to find local resources to support you in recovery. You can always find additional resources in our Resources Guides, which are available in English and Spanish. 

You can also request printed guides.

Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative

When substance use affects the health of your organization, there’s a new direction in how to handle it. It’s called the Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative – and it can take your business to better morale, better bottom-line performance, and happier, healthier, loyal, long-term employees. Being a Recovery Friendly Workplace is good economic policy. It’s also good HR and healthcare policy.

Substance use disorders (SUD) impact all workplaces. According to the National Institutes of Health, 75% of adults with untreated SUD are part of the US workforce – and they miss around 50% more workdays than their fellow employees.

Learn more about the five key principles and find out what we're doing in our region to support and promote this initiative.

If you're interested in becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace, Jeremy Kosbob.

Save the Dates for These Events

Announcements

Help Support TPAUD, Trumbull's Prevention Partnership
In collaboration with Jackson Scott Conroy Foundation, Progressive Institute and TPAUD are promoting the film Hooked during September for National Recovery Month.

Hooked was created to tell the story of Jackson Scott Conroy. This film highlights his tragic battle with addiction, and how his family was there to help him with his struggles up until the very end. We want to help other families struggling with substance use disorders.

Register to watch the film. A minimum donation of $5 which is requested and will go to the the Foundation and TPAUD.

Now Hiring: Director of the Center for School Safety & Crisis Prevention
Western Connecticut State University is pleased to announce applications are being accepted for the position of Director of the Center for School Safety & Crisis Prevention. Applications accepted until October 22nd. Learn more and apply.

Now Hiring: Executive Director
The Executive Director is a part-time position responsible for the day-to-day administration, management and operations of Wilton Youth Council, Inc. The Executive Director works with the Board of Directors to share the responsibilities related to administering and sustaining Wilton Youth Council’s youth, parent and community programs. This position is also responsible for working with the Board of Directors on fundraising, marketing and awareness activities, as well as collaborating with other youth-serving organizations. Learn more and apply.

Paid Teen Internship 
The Norwalk Partnership is looking for a motivated high school student from each HS building in Norwalk to gather peers together for weekly meetings of a prevention club to learn about substance use and mental health in our community and plan activities and events to raise awareness and provide support. You will develop leadership skills, learn about behavioral health, get trained in suicide prevention, and make a difference in your community! 5 hours a week, $15/hour. Apply now.