Michelle L. Cook

Happy Holidays! I have a lot of information and good news to share with you in this update. Friendly Hands Food Bank is receiving $2 million in state bond funds to purchase a new building, we have a new Eagle Scout in Torrington, college admission options for Connecticut high school seniors, and new laws on the books as of January 1, 2024.

Funds will help purchase a new building to allow the food bank to expand its services.

Sunday is the Torrington Christmas Parade and the Christmas Village opens for its 76th year following the parade.

The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, a statewide organization committed to improving outcomes in the areas of learning, health, safety, and economic security, for children ages birth to eight, has released the results of a recently conducted survey of 200 childcare providers across Connecticut. 

We have a chronic problem - funding and staffing issues. 

Read more about it in this update.

The O­ffice of Early Childhood’s (OEC) Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care is developing a 5-year plan for an accessible, high-quality state childcare system. This plan will support families, providers, and Connecticut’s economy to make sure every child has the best educational foundation to grow, learn, and succeed.

The application period for the 2023-2024 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is open. CEAP provides vulnerable state homeowners and renters with crucial support for the associated costs with heating their homes.

Earlier this summer, I had the honor of attending the bill signing for Public Act 23-44, AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM AGE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO MARRY. This law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from receiving a marriage license. I was proud to support this legislation in the House and am thrilled that it has been signed into law.

In July, I visited Washington D.C. for the White House States Convening on Child Care. I joined nearly 100 state legislators from 41 states, including a few from Connecticut, to discuss childcare policy achievements from our respective legislative sessions. We explored different legislative strategies to make childcare more affordable for working families, increase childcare provider supply, and improve job quality for childcare workers. It was an absolute joy to be surrounded by likeminded lawmakers from around the country and I was honored to be invited.