As May quickly approaches, I wanted to alert you to a few opportunities happening during Mental Health Awareness Month. There is also information below about an opioid bill we passed yesterday in the House and an invitation to join me Friday morning from 9AM - 10AM at Blue & Berries. I welcome the opportunity to hear directly from you as we head into our final two weeks of session. I hope to see you at some of the upcoming events.
| Starting Wednesday, April 27, LifeBridge's Behavioral Health Program, which includes Fairfield Counseling, will host a series of eight workshops - "AM I THE ONLY ONE?" - at The Fairfield Library. The workshops will offer guidance and resources to help parents and caregivers adjust to a post-COVID world. Workshops are free, open to the public and scheduled from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. Registration is not required. |
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| The Fairfield Rotary Club, Bridgeport Hospital, and the Pequot Library are hosting the first of their Mental Health and Wellness Speaker Series on May 5.
The first event will focus on Youth and Adolescents and features Barbara Stoudmire, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner whose focus is Psychiatric/Mental Health. There will be an opportunity to ask questions, both anonymously in advance, or during the event.
Please RSVP and send any questions in advance by clicking the button below: |
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| I am thrilled that on Wednesday, May 18 at 7PM, Fairfield CARES Community Coalition annual meeting will feature Marc Brackett, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of the acclaimed book "Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive.” I was grateful that Professor Brackett agreed to join us, as he is a internationally recognized author and researcher whose RULER program is utilized in over 50% of Connecticut schools. The event will be held in person at the RLMS Auditorium.
Click the button below to register in advance for the event: |
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| National Prevention Week (NPW) runs from May 8-14 The statewide prevention week event will be held at the Discovery Museum on Park Avenue from 10-3. Events, information, and resources will be available for parents and children throughout the day. I hope you will come take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen community, build resilience, and create hope. |
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| During Session yesterday, the House passed one of the opioid bills being considered this session, HB 5430, An Act Concerning Opioids. From prevention, to intervention, and treatment, we need to do everything we can to address the epidemic. Accidental overdoses in Connecticut were at an all time high in 2021, with 93% involving an opioid and fentanyl included in 86% of those deaths.
This bill takes a number of steps to continue the state's effort in fighting the opioid epidemic including access to alternative forms of treatment and treatment plans, harm reduction strategies, including the use of fentanyl testing strips, and updates to a number of treatment services.
Each step we take to raise awareness about the opioid crisis is a step in the direction of ending this growing epidemic. You can learn more about the state’s efforts to combat opioids and reduce stigma by clicking here. |
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