Eleni Kavros DeGraw

This time of year always signals the start of a busy season: fall festivals and Halloween, our annual Election Day, Thanksgiving and a very busy December filled with holidays.

As you probably saw yesterday, the FDA met to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine for ages five to 12 and I know the White House put out guidance saying the shot could be available as soon as November 3, depending on when the final emergency approval occurs. I know this option will ease the minds of many anxious parents.

Today, the Children's Committee held an open forum you'll learn more about below for parents on how to get their children mental health help. The legislature is focused on finding solutions to assist children and their families in their time of crisis.

Also included below, you'll find the video from last week's successful BikeWalkAvon/Canton event. I learned a lot about how connected our Greenways are and the areas we still need to connect. Stay tuned for information on an Environmental event in the near future as well as an event with Attorney General William Tong on his Elder Justice hotline.

Have a great week!

CT Mirror: Just four years after the cupboard was bare, CT is a national leader in budget reserves

Good news Connecticut! We're still moving in a positive direction.

From the article:

"Connecticut's $3.1 billion rainy day fund  — which would allow the state government to operate for nearly 70 days — has been amassed almost entirely over the past four years, due to an aggressive savings program and a surging stock market, as well as federal coronavirus relief.

That 70-day estimate places Connecticut fifth overall behind only Wyoming (301 days), North Dakota (105.6), West Virginia (75.8) and Alaska (73.4), according to Pew."

To read the article in its entirety please click on the image below.

Connecticut Children's Vaccine FAQ Resources for 5-11 year olds

A Food & Drug Administration advisory committee has recommended lower doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11-year olds. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have to authorize distribution of the vaccine which could happen by early next month.

In light of these welcomed developments, I am providing a FAQ Resource Sheet entitled: The COVID-19 Vaccine and Younger Kinds: When Can Ages 5 to 11 Get the Shot? Is it Safe? Please click on the image below to access the FAQ Resource Sheet.

The document answers some of the questions that are likely on parents’ minds, answered by Connecticut Children’s Infectious Diseases Specialist, Dr. John Schreiber, MD, MPH.

Children’s Mental Health Resource, Forum Today

All too often we learn about the increase in mental health issues, especially among children. Factors such as the pandemic, remote learning, and social media have all affected our children and their mental well-being.

As a parent it can be an overwhelming and emotional task to ensure your child gets the help they need.

Below I have highlighted some resources, including an upcoming mental health forum, for parents with children who are struggling:

Immediate Assistance:

• Mobile Crisis Service 2-1-1: If your child is actively harming themselves, having suicidal thoughts, or planning to hurt others, call 9-1-1, or 2-1-1 and press option 1 for the Mobile Crisis Service. This is a 24/7 free service for the immediate evaluation of your child by a mental health professional. From a mobile phone, 2-1-1 can be reached toll-free at: 800-203-1234.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628- 9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chat.
• Crisis Text Line - Text "HOME" to 741-741, or visit www.crisistextline.org for more info.

NAMI Education Courses: The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers online education programs for parents and caregivers to learn more about supporting youth who are experiencing mental health symptoms. NAMI's Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session program that can be completed on-demand, at your pace.

The legislature's Committee on Children hosted a roundtable discussion this morning designed for families in crisis and offered practical advice for parents of children who are depressed, anxious, suicidal, or engaging in self-harm. Highlights included how to locate counselors for your child, development of a family plan, and use of school resources. It also covered alternatives to the Emergency Room and specialty LGBTQ+ outreach for kids. You can watch the video here.

Access Health CT Open Enrollment Period Begins Nov. 1

Good news! If you are looking for good, quality, healthcare the annual Access Health CT Open Enrollment Period begins this Monday, November 1 and runs through January 15, 2022. Residents can shop, compare, and enroll in health insurance coverage for the 2022 plan year.

To ensure your coverage starts on January 1, 2022, residents must enroll and complete their application by December 15, 2021. You can still enroll between December 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 and apply for coverage that will start on February 1, 2022.

Starting this year, Connecticut residents who meet specific eligibility requirements may be able to pay $0 for their health insurance coverage through Access Health CT. This is thanks to the state’s new Covered Connecticut Program. If you qualify, the state will pay your portion of your monthly premium directly to your insurance company and will also pay for certain cost-sharing amounts, such as deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket costs. To learn more about the Covered Connecticut Program, including eligibility requirements click here.

There are several ways Connecticut residents can get free help with enrollment, including:

• In-person: There are in-person enrollment locations and events taking place across Connecticut. Find more information at accesshealthct.com/enrollment-events/.
• Online: Visit accesshealthct.com. You can learn more about the different plans and find free help online using the "live chat" feature.
• By phone: Call 1-855-805-4325. Help is available Monday - Friday, 8:00 am- 5:00 pm. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1- 855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
• Work with a Broker: To find a Certified Broker or Enrollment Specialist, visit accesshealthct.com/get-help/

If you or your family need quality, affordable healthcare please don't miss this opportunity. Learn more at accesshealthct.com.

Have a great week!

Attorney General Tong Warns Against Unregulated, Illegal Cannabis Products Sold in Look-Alike Packaging

Attorney General William Tong is warning the public about the dangers of cannabis edibles and hemp derivatives in packaging designed to look like well-known snack foods and candy.

These products, according to a press release, are unregulated, illegal, and may be extremely dangerous.

Examples of some of these products, which were confiscated by law enforcement look like this:

You can read the full press release issued by Attorney General Tong by clicking on the image below. I just wanted to add that after reviewing marijuana legalization in other states, we knew that stricter packaging controls would be necessary in Connecticut to protect kids. Pursuant to that end, take a look at the legislative bill summary of Public Act 21-1, please click here, specifically Section 32.

Rewind: Facebook Live Event: Why Biking And Having Accessible Areas Are So Vital To Our Communities

If you didn't get a chance to join me, fellow State Representative Tammy Exum and our panelists for last week's informative Facebook Live Event: Why Biking And Having Accessible Areas Are So Vital To Our Communities, please take the opportunity to check it out below:

Working Together for Continued Sanctions Against the Turkish Government, Reject Military Assistance

State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-Beacon Falls/Derby/Seymour) and I have come together because we are in strong support of continued sanctions against the Turkish Government and pressure on the Biden administration to reject any and all military support to the dictatorial regime.

See the letter we penned below and shared with our federal delegation.

Reps. Klarides-Ditria, Kavros DeGraw Urge U.S. Reject Turkish Government Request for Military Assistance

HARTFORD – Unified in support of the people of the Eastern Mediterranean and against the violent Erdogan regime, State Representatives Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-105) and Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D-17) in a letter voiced their strong support for continued sanctions against the Turkish government and keep pressure on the Biden administration to reject any consideration to provide weapons systems or military support to the dictatorial regime.

The letter is in response to reports that Turkey has appealed to the U.S. to sell military F-16 fighter jets and repair parts for their existing military aircraft fleet. The Representatives noted: “Turkey was expelled from the F-35 fighter jet program after the Erdogan regime accepted delivery of the Russian S-400 missile system. Since that time, Turkey has been a destabilizing force in the eastern Mediterranean, seeking to intimidate its neighbors and playing the role of chaos agent in the region. The Erdogan regime has violated a United Nations arms embargo in Libya, deployed its troops and Syrian militias in the region and undermined U.S. security interest while threatening our NATO allies.”

S-400
xinhuanet.com

“Stopping these sales and preventing the Turkish government from accessing even more lethal armaments is vitally important to the people of the region and our federal delegation to stand firmly with America’s allies and defend their right to live free from terror,” Rep. Klarides-Ditria said. “Until Turkey ceases causing chaos in the region it would be unconscionable to provide them with any tool that allows for continued aggression.”

"It's critical that we support our allies in the Mediterranean against the ongoing bullish behavior of the Turkish government."  Rep. Kavros DeGraw said. “Further, it undermines the recent U.S.-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement renewed last week."

The World Justice Project recently ranked Turkey as 117 on a list of 139 countries for adherence to the rule of law, they wrote.