Kara Rochelle

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my Community Conversation this past Saturday and for everyone who has reached out to my office these past few days and weeks, which have been especially difficult in light of recent events, including the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

On Sunday, Ansonia Police Chief Andrew L. Cota III penned a poignant letter to the community condemning the actions of the officers responsible for Floyd's death and expressed his commitment to dignified and respectful services to all Ansonia residents. 

Thank you Chief Cota for setting this tone, and for showing up to support our community in a meaningful way. We are going to have to have hard conversations and come together with grace, humility, and an honest desire to listen to one another so we can build something better. Every person deserves dignity and respect and our police have a responsibility to carry these principles into every interaction in our community. Where we go from this tragedy, and the tragedies before it, depends on all of us. 

State and local leaders must have these discussions because it is incredibly important that every member of our community is heard in an open and honest way. Your feelings and voice matter, and I hope you will reach out to my office so we can have these conversations and build a better path together.

In this email, I have included information on the following:

• COVID-19 Update
• Volunteering Opportunities
• Health Insurance Enrollment Deadline Approaching
• Spotlighting Local Excellence

COVID-19 Update

 

 

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As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, a total of 42,979 COVID-19 cases have been reported among Connecticut residents. This includes 40,941 lab-confirmed and 2,038 probable cases. To better measure the burden and impact of COVID-19 on Connecticut communities and conform with CDC reporting guidance, the state Department of Public Health is reporting cases and deaths as "confirmed" or "probable." Previous reports presented these as a combined number. For more information, and to view a county-by-county breakdown of cases or additional data, please click the image above. 

Governor Signs 49th Executive Order

Tuesday the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7VV to mitigate the spread of the virus, facilitate the opening of the economy, and aid the state's health care system. The Executive Order enacts the following provisions:

• Amends the limitation on the number of children a child care program can serve during the COVID-19 emergency from 30 to 50 without needing to obtain approval from the Office of Early Childhood.

Click here to read Executive Order No. 7VV.

Governor Signs 48th Executive Order

Monday the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7UU which enacted the following provisions:

• Mandatory COVID-19 testing for staff of private and municipal nursing homes, residential communities and assisted living agencies
• Allows the Connecticut Department of Labor to consider, when determining a worker’s eligibility for unemployment benefits, whether COVID-19 means returning to work would pose an unreasonable risk to the health of a member of that worker’s household

Click here to read Executive Order No. 7UU.

FEMA Approves Funding for Crisis Counseling in Connecticut

The State of Connecticut has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide crisis counseling to those who have been impacted by COVID-19. The program will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in cooperation with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The $669,404 grant will provide the following services:

• Crisis counseling to persons experiencing homelessness who are in shelters, hotels, and in the community, as well as staff in these facilities;
• Crisis counseling to senior citizens in congregate care settings and the community; and
• Enhancement of crisis counseling call-line services provided through United Way 2-1-1.

Additional Emergency SNAP Benefits to be Delivered to Over 108,000 CT Households June 18

The state Department of Social Services announced it will provide $16.3 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to nearly half of Connecticut's SNAP participants by Friday, June 12, 2020. This is in addition to the $50.2 million in emergency benefits disbursed in April and May.

The extra food benefits will go to over 108,000 households in Connecticut currently not receiving the maximum allowed for their household size. 

Online Purchasing of Food with SNAP Benefits Begins June 2, 3

Today, participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were able to use their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) to purchase food online from select retailers in Connecticut. All other participating stores will launch online SNAP purchasing on Wednesday, June 3. Approved retailers for the initial launch include Amazon (including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh), 12 Walmart stores, and 22 ShopRite stores.

Online SNAP purchasing will begin today at the following stores:

• ShopRite in Canton and Waterbury beginning at 5:30 a.m. 
• Walmart in Cromwell and Manchester beginning at 3 a.m.
• Amazon beginning at 2 p.m.

For more information about this new online tool, click here. Read more about SNAP benefits in Connecticut here.

CTDOH Announces Federal Approval of CARES Act Dollars

The Connecticut Department of Housing has gained approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding federal funding the state receive from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

The funding breaks down as:

• $8.1 million in CDBG-CV funding
  • Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
    • Temporary improvements on private properties to quarantine an individual patient
    • Provide test diagnosis or services at a fixed mobile location
    • Delivering meals on wheels to quarantined individuals or those with medical vulnerabilities
• $8.1 million for ESG-CV funding
  • Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
    • Expansion of rapid rehousing
    • Expansion of shelter operations
    • Establishing an eviction prevention program
    • Telehealth

CT Attorney General, CT State Police Encourage Residents to Fact Check COVID-19 Information

Attorney General William Tong and the Connecticut State Police release a public service announcement encouraging residents to fact check information they receive about the COVID-19 pandemic and to beware of scam artists attempting to spread false information.

Watch the PSA here.

File a scam complaint on the AG's website, here.

Read more about the initiative here.

Click here to read Tuesday's full news brief.

For all of the emergency orders issued by the Governor and state agencies, click here. Watch the news conferences here, and read the press releases here.

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Opportunities to Volunteer

Many people are struggling in the face of this pandemic. The state is looking for medical and non-medical volunteers.

If you would like to help out your community and state, click here to learn more.

Enrollment Deadline Is Approaching

Time is running out as Access Health CT deadlines approach for residents that lost health insurance due to job loss. People can enroll any time within 60 days of losing their job, but the deadline to enroll is approaching fast for those who lost their health insurance in early April.
 

Who is Eligible?	ONLY qualified individuals who are Uninsured, lawfully present and not incarcerated.
When can I enroll?	Within 60 days of losing your job.
How can I enroll?	PHONE ONLY: 855-805-4325 (TTY: 1- 855-365-2428) 8AM – 5PM  |  Monday – Friday

You can find more information and videos that describe in detail how to enroll on the Access Health CT website.

Make sure to also compare coverage to COBRA, the marketplace may offer a better, less expensive choice. For more information, click here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

The Valley United Way and Massaro Community Farm of Woodbridge are teaming up to ensure our neighborhoods have plenty of free community gardens. Now more than ever, with the COVID-19 crisis leaving so many in financial turmoil, these gardens will ensure fresh and healthy food options are easily accessible for all. Read about it in the Valley Independent Sentinel.