Jennifer Leeper

I hope you're enjoying your summer and staying cool. 

In this week's email, you can find information on:

• Bill Signing for Legislation Addressing Motor Vehicle Theft
• Food Drive Next Saturday July 30
• New Technology Education Programs at Connecticut Colleges and Universities
• Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Extended Heat Wave in CT Forecast
• CT CHOICES Program
• 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Offers 24/7 Support

On Tuesday, I was honored to join the Office of Governor Ned Lamont, law enforcement from around the state, and several colleagues as he signed into law the bipartisan legislation we passed this session in response to the concerns we heard from law enforcement and our communities about juvenile crime.

This legislation allows for law enforcement to access juvenile records, modestly extends their ability to detain juveniles while they collect records and await orders from a judge, allows for ankle monitoring for repeat offenders, and expedites arraignments for crimes involving guns or car thefts. In the budget this session, we also increased funding to the judicial branch to hire the staff they need to speed up court proceedings- a major cause of juveniles being released during the pandemic.

But perhaps the most significant component of this legislation is the investment in makes in our most at-risk youth, whose needs only increased throughout the pandemic. These investments help provide our young people positive opportunities, healthy and productive outlets, and support their mental health needs. This is the work that is most impactful and effective to reducing crime- a goal we all share. I’m so glad I could attend this event on Tuesday to show my very strong support for this work. 

The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF), in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, awarded grants to seven business-higher education partnerships in Connecticut as part of the Tech Talent Accelerator initiative. This initiative's goal is to rapidly increase the competitiveness of the state’s colleges and universities, as well as meet growing business demand for tech skills.

It is crucial that businesses and educational institutions are in constant conversation. If businesses are able to articulate what types of skills they need, Connecticut’s best educational institutions can  create new programs that prepare their students for high-quality careers.  

Connecticut needs to be proactively planning the growth of our 21st century workforce, and forming partnerships between tech employers and postsecondary institutions is a seamless way to ensure we are creating organic talent pipelines that grow our economy

Click here to learn more about the programs. 
 

The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from hot conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available statewide, providing a location to get some relief from the hot conditions.

Anyone in need of a cooling center should call 2-1-1 or look online at 211ct.org to find their nearest location.

Heat-related illness can affect anyone, though some people are at greater risk than others, including infants and young children, people 65 years of age or older, those who are overweight and anyone who overexerts during work or exercise or is physically ill with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.

Check out the graphic above for some additional tips to stay safe in extreme heat.

Free and unbiased services are provided to Medicare-eligible individuals, families, and caregivers of all ages and income levels. CHOICES provides the following services, in-person, by phone, by email, and through other accessible means, depending on the needs and preferences of the consumer:

• Free, unbiased, one-on-one benefits counseling on all parts of Medicare, including Original Medicare (Parts A and B) Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)
• Enrollment assistance and plan comparisons for Medicare Advantage and standalone Part D plans
• Eligibility Screening and application assistance with cost-assistance programs including Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program, the Low-Income Subsidy/Extra Help Program
• Information on Medicare Preventive Benefits

• Information and referral for other state benefit programs, as well as other Long Term Services and Supports throughout the aging and disability services network
• Provider and caregiver education      

Click here to learn more here.

Those who are experiencing a mental health crisis no longer need to remember 1-800-273-8255 or wait hours for help. They can now call or text the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, to connect with mental health professionals who are trained to respond to these emergencies.

The three-digit number replaces the 10-digit 800 number to the Lifeline. Individuals can call, chat, or text 988 to reach free and confidential emotional support around the clock, seven days a week.

The Lifeline consists of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers to get people the help they need, when they need it. Last year, one in five calls to a suicide crisis hotline resulted in a dropped call while others waited hours for assistance.

The three-digit Lifeline is a step forward in transforming America's mental health response and suicide prevention. You can learn more about the Lifeline here.

For further crisis intervention resources available here in Connecticut, click here.