Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Fall is in the air this week and I'm sure you've noticed the leaves are beginning to change their hue.

Since I added the earlier update this week, we don't have quite as much to share as we normally do on a Wednesday, but I want to call attention to National Voter Registration Day yesterday. There's information included both on how to register to vote and how to obtain an absentee ballot for the Nov. 2 municipal elections.

There are also some small business resources included, some background and an event for Banned Books Week taking place tonight, and as we are almost in October, a reminder that it's Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Wishing you a great week.

Paid Family Leave Online Portal

In 2019, Connecticut was one of the first states in the nation to pass paid family and medical leave to provide working parents with the support they deserve. As our state begins to roll out these benefits this January, the CT Paid Leave Authority has developed several resources to assist small businesses throughout this transition.

Beginning January 1st, there will be significant changes to the CT Family and Medical Leave Act. Income replacement benefits will be available for Connecticut workers who need to take unpaid time away from work to attend to their personal — or a loved one’s — health needs.

Previously, Connecticut’s Family and Medical Leave Act only applied to workplaces with 50 or more employees, but as of January 1st, the CT FMLA's job-protections will apply to workplaces with one or more employees to ensure all workers in Connecticut receive the assistance they need.

It is equally important that we support both families and small business owners throughout the state. While these benefits begin in January, applicants may begin to file before the start date. In preparation, the CT Paid Leave Authority has put together the following webpage to guide businesses as they navigate this shift.

Resources For Small Businesses

Additionally, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center will host a series of webinars on the subject. I will continue to provide updates about these resources as they roll out.

If you have any questions about these resources or the CT Family and Medical Leave Act, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Eleni.KavrosDeGraw@cga.ct.gov.

It's Banned Books Week

While the concept of banned books may seem like something out of another time, as a writer and an avid reader, unfortunately, we still see books banned regularly in areas across the U.S. Some, like To Kill a Mockingbird, you might find as a surprising choice, especially as it's such a recognizable title and many of us read it in school.

To learn more about this week, please check out the event below.

"Join One World on Wednesday, September 29 at 8:00 PM ET on Zoom for a special Ideas & Action virtual event where we investigate—and celebrate—Banned Books Week, the freedom of ideas, and the necessity and power of even the most discomforting truths."

To learn more and register please click on the image below.

National Voter Registration Day Was Tuesday, But...

I had the chance to sit and write notes to newly registered voters yesterday in CT-17 to thank them for registering. Sure, National Voter Registration Day was yesterday, but check in with your friends anyway to make sure they are ready to vote this November and every November.

Maybe you have a new neighbor in the district or maybe you have a child turning 18 by 11/2.

Share this info with them! To register to vote in CT, please click here and to print out an absentee ballot application for November 2.

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

As you may already know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV), "Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse. It is a pervasive, life-threatening crime that affects thousands of individuals in Connecticut regardless of age, gender, economic status, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or education."

As you know, we passed Jennifers' Law earlier this year to address the coercive control aspect of domestic violence. Financial abuse is one of the challenges many women face and I recently spoke with Yahoo! Money on this topic.

We all can be allies in this fight. If you are the loved one of someone you suspect may be in a dangerous intimate relationship, the Safe and Together Institute (based in Canton), has a wonderful Ally Guide to help you assess how best to help.
 
If you or someone you know needs help, CCADV can be found at CCADV.org or by using their CT Safe Connect tool at 1-888-774-2900 by phone or text 24/7.

Eleni In The News

I was recently interviewed for an article that appeared in Yahoo! Money penned by Marissa Gamache and Janna Herron entitled "Expanded definition of domestic violence could help survivors recover from financial abuse." Please click on the image to read the article.

Elder Justice Hotline

Over the summer, Attorney General William Tong, along with the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut and Departments of Aging and Disability Services and Consumer Protection launched the Elder Justice Hotline – a “one stop shop” for older in adults in Connecticut in need of information, aid, and justice. Please click on the flyer for more details.