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| Dear Neighbor,
Thank you to everyone who participated in Tuesday's virtual conversation on Connecticut's landmark Paid Family and Medical Leave Program and what it means for your family.
If you missed the discussion, click the image below to watch a recording of it. |
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| For more information about the program and how you can apply for benefits for eligible absences starting on or after January 1, 2022, please visit ctpaidleave.org. |
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| The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is holding a walk-in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at Carmen Arace Intermediate School, 390 Park Ave in Bloomfield from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is a walk-in vaccine event. While pre-registration is not required, it is recommended to register through your VAMS account. For more information and items to bring to the clinic, please call 860-561-7900.
The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is also offering booster shots and additional doses for adults age 18+ by appointment every Wednesday and Thursday beginning December 8th at the Health District office, 580 Cottage Grove Road. Call 860-561-7900 to schedule yours.
For additional clinic dates and vaccine sites, visit the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District website here.
For additional resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit Connecticut's Vaccine Portal here. |
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| The safety and economic stability of our residents and businesses is essential for our communities to thrive. I’m pleased Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong are being proactive to thwart any organized retail crime with a statewide task force that coordinates government and the private sector. We need our online retailers - especially Amazon and eBay - to do more to identify those who are selling stolen goods and alert authorities. You can watch the full press conference from CVS on New Britain Avenue here. |
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| Prior to the pandemic, crime in Connecticut was at a 30-year low. Since the start of the pandemic, car thefts and other violence crime has trended upward. To address this rise and keep communities safe, our state has worked in a bipartisan manner to develop solutions. We updated our laws to include new penalties against adults that entice minors, updated administrative procedures so police departments have 24/7 access to juvenile arrest records, increased funding for new high at-risk youth programs, and more. These efforts and a new regional law enforcement task force are seeing success.
With assistance from police departments in West Hartford, East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Windsor, among others, the Greater Hartford Regional Auto Theft Task Force formed in October has recovered 72 stolen cars, arrested 46 people, seized 10 firearms, and served over 30 arrest warrants.
There continues to be immense economic strain and a mental health crisis from this pandemic. As we take proactive measures to prevent crime we can’t forget to also address its root causes - inequality and poverty in our communities. Read more about the task force on the WFSB website here. |
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| After a nearly two-month strike, a health care workers union, SEIU affiliate district 1199 New England, has reached a tentative contract agreement with Sunrise Northeast, Inc. The contract will provide historic wage increases, retirement benefits and affordable health care to workers who have been chronically underpaid and overworked.
We worked together as workers, unions, legislators and state officials to stand strong for fair wages, affordable health care and retirement. Thank you SEIU District 1199 New England for continuing to advocate every day for our state's workers and families.
Read more about this on the Hartford Courant website here. |
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| Connecticut residents have more time to enroll in a health insurance plan through Access Health CT for coverage starting with the new year!
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.
Connecticut residents can get free help with enrollment through the following:
- 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.
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| The Playhouse on Park Theatre is hosting a book drive to benefit The Hillcrest Area Neighborhood Outreach Center's (HANOC) Homework Program!
New books for children and teens can be dropped off at the Playhouse on Park box office through December 23rd. Donations can be brought Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also be dropped off during performances of “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley." |
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| December is National Identity Theft Prevention Awareness Month. If you've found yourself logging online to do some or all of your holiday shopping, make sure you're taking the necessary precautions to keep your personal information safe. Identity theft can have significant impacts. Learn more about identity theft and steps you can take to reduce the risk here. |
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| As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov. Follow @KateforCT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol!
Sincerely,
Kate Farrar
State Representative
she/her/hers |
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