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I had a great time seeing my colleagues and celebrating Peruvian Independence Day during the annual flag raising event at the state capitol.
I want to thank the to the Consulate General of Peru in Hartford, Milagros Acosta , and all of my colleagues for your fellowship, participation, and leadership.
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All children deserve to start the school year well supplied and confident!
And last week, I joined Back to School Shop’s annual volunteer event!
Parents and activists from across Stamford worked together to provide free books, backpacks, clothes, and shoes for over 400 children.
I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Jane Levene, Charlesanna Ecker, and a back to school shop for organizing such a special and generous event. And I would also like to also thank Secretary of The State Stephanie Thomas, Senator Miller, and all of the legislative colleagues who joined me in volunteering.
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Did you know residents in every town in the state have applied for CT Paid Leave? Approximately 66,000 workers in Connecticut have received over $375 million in benefits when they were unable to work due to qualifying health or family reasons.
On June 25, 2019, Governor Lamont signed P.A. 19-25 into law, creating CT Paid Leave, and employee payroll contributions began in 2021. One year later, on January 1, 2022, benefit payments began for qualified applicants.
Families in Connecticut shouldn't have to worry about whether they can balance taking care of family needs or paying the bills. With this program, both can happen, as it offers partial income replacement benefits.
What qualifies for eligible leave?
- Parental bonding - the birth of an employee's child or placement of an adopted or foster child with the employee
- Serious health conditions - for the employee or a family member of the employee
- Donors - to serve as an organ or bone marrow donor
- Armed Forces - for family members in the armed forces undergoing treatment for an injury or illness incurred in the line of duty or being deployed to a foreign country
- Family violence - for family violence victims to seek medical care or counseling, obtain services from a victim services organization, relocate because of family violence, or participate in civil or criminal proceedings related to the family
Connecticut is one of 13 states in the nation to pass paid family and medical leave legislation, along with California, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as Washington D.C. States including New Hampshire and Vermont have enacted voluntary programs for employers who want to opt in.
Connecticut should be proud of its paid leave program. It is held up as a national model for other states to emulate. |
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Resources for Veterans
We all know veterans make Connecticut stronger! Below are some important links you should know -
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MEDICADE AND CHIP COVERAGE |
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Make sure your family stays covered! If you or your children have Medicaid or CHIP, it’s time to pay attention to your health coverage! If you receive a renewal notice from your state, complete the forms & send them back right away. For state info, visit Medicaid.gov/renewals |
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Ferguson Library is hosting all kinds of fun events, programs, an exhibit, and concert this week. Look below to make sure you don't miss anything!
SPECIAL EXHIBIT: Who Can Vote? A brief history of voting rights in the United States
This exhibit examines voting rights with an emphasis on the role of the U.S. Constitution and the interplay between the states and federal government in determining who has been allowed to vote through history. This display, which continues through August 21, is part of the library's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. You can find the exhibit on the first flood of the Main Library (DiMattia Building).
Canasta Club:
- Wednesday, August 2
- 11:00 A.M - 1:00 P.M.
- Harry Bennett Branch
Come out and play canasta at the library. Canasta is popular due to its use of wild cards, which makes it high scoring and unpredictable. Canasta is also one of the few partnership games where players can work in unison. All levels are welcome.
Bomba Music & Dance Workshop:
- Saturday, August 5
- 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
- Harry Bennett Branch
Celebrate the end of our kids' summer learning club with face painting, lawn games, refreshments and a workshop about Puerto Rican bomba music. You'll learn about its unique rhythms, instruments, costumes, storytelling traditions and basic dance steps. |
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Farmers' Market Food Assistance
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Local farmers' markets are one of the best ways to eat Connecticut grown food in your home. We have so much local fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and much more available in our great state. Many farmers' markets now accept the EBT card or SNAP benefits.
Simply bring your EBT card to the table with the sign that says "SNAP/EBT accepted here" at participating Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands. The Market Master will swipe your card for the amount that you want and give you Market Tokens that can be used at all the stands at that market. |
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GRANTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED
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Many families in our state are feeling the financial pain of inflation. Probate Court-appointed kinship guardians caring for children may be eligible for thousands of dollars in grants. They can use this money on housing, food, clothing, child care, transportation, glasses, summer camp, and other enrichment activities.
Local Probate Court have annually awarded $2 million in grants from the state Kinship Fund and Respite Fund to guardians of low-income children. The Kinship Fund awards grants up to $550 per child or $2,200 a family per year. The Respite Fund is also capped $2,200 per year.
Guardians can apply for both funds, though a separate application for each is required.
Residents can find grant applications online or by contacting their local Probate Court. |
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If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov
Sincerely,
Hubert Delany |
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