Eleni Kavros DeGraw

This time of year is filled with happy memories of years past and the hustle and bustle of the season. But, for some, it’s also a tough time of the year missing loved ones and sometimes, being alone. I hope that you will reach out to your friends, families, and neighbors to check on them and make connections that for some people, could be life-saving.

To that end, I’m sharing a mental health resource for kids in this issue because, as we gear up to focus on more mental health resources for children next session, “Paws Up for Mental Health,” is a great way to check in with your kids and help younger children understand what mental health is and how they can take care of theirs with the help of a trusted adult.

More information on Access Health, the Town Bridge in Canton reopening, and an awesome new Neighbors in the News!

Pawesome Pledge For Mental Health

We know that our children are struggling with their mental health and that's why the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) created a great resource for parents and kids. Gizmo the dog provides ideas and resources for taking care of your mental health the way you take care of your physical health.

Gizmo says, “Did you know you can take care of your mental health. AND there are things you can do to help yourself when you feel sad, mad, or worried? This is good news…that’s what this book is all about!”

Join Gizmo in saying “Paws Up for Mental Health!” To take the youth pledge please click here.

Rewind: Environmental Roundtable Discussion

The Environmental Roundtable discussion I co-hosted on Facebook Tuesday night went very well. Special guests included DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, Sarah Bailey, State Program Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program and Samuel King, part owner of Blue Earth Compost. In case you missed it, I have included the discussion below. Topics ranged from composting to electric vehicles to pollinator pathways. Enjoy!

Sycamore Hills To Receive $60K Grant-in-Aid For Renovations, Upgrades

I wanted to share a press release I had distributed this morning regarding reconstruction of Sycamore Hills that will make it ADA-compliant as well playscape improvements:

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAVROS DEGRAW APPLAUDS $60K FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF SYCAMORE HILLS, IMPROVEMENTS TO PLAYSCAPE ON DEC.21 STATE BOND COMMISSION AGENDA

State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D-Avon/Canton) is praising the placement of a $60,000 grant-in-aid placed on the Dec. 21 State Bond Commission's agenda for reconstruction of the Sycamore Hills Playground to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, along with playscape improvements (see Item #53).

Special thanks to Governor Ned Lamont, Bonding Chair Dorinda Borer, and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter for ensuring Avon was on the agenda.

(Sycamore Hills Recreation Area avonct.myrec.com)

The funding is expected to be approved during a special meeting of the State Bond Commission, of which Governor Lamont is chair, on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

“It's truly wonderful that we were able to have the playground placed on the State Bond Commission's Agenda, as we know it has needed an ADA-compliant update that will make the playground a destination in Avon for all young children and their parents," State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw said. "Close proximity to both the Senior Center and the Sycamore Hills Pool make it a great addition to the recreation facilities available there for multiple generations of residents in our community.”

Town Bridge in Canton Reopens

It was a truly special day in Canton to celebrate the reopening of the Town Bridge. The weather cooperated on Sunday to provide a spectacular backdrop to thank all of the public servants who had the foresight and fortitude to see this project through well over a decade.

Part history and part necessity, this bridge stands as a testament to engineering, ingenuity, and the critical value of good infrastructure. Bravo to all those who had a hand in making this day possible! I was proud to share a few words.

Protect Your Identity

December is National Identity Theft Prevention Month! Are you taking these steps to keep yourself safe?

Access Health CT Enrollment Period Deadline Extended To December 31st

Access Health CT has extended the deadline to obtain good, quality, affordable healthcare to December 31, 2021. The original deadline was December 15th. Customers who enroll between December 16 and December 31, 2021 will have the option to choose whether their coverage begins on January 1, 2022 or February 1, 2022.

Customers who enroll between January 1, 2022 and January 15, 2022 will have coverage beginning February 1, 2022.

Access Health CT is the only place to qualify for financial help to lower costs. Some Connecticut residents may be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through the HUSKY Health Program (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Plan) and the Covered Connecticut Program.

For free online help, Connecticut residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com.

Live chat is available at AccessHealthCT.com by clicking the “live chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative in real time. Live chat is available Monday – Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and select Saturdays from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

For free in-person help, residents may work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find a certified broker or enrollment specialist, visit the Get Help webpage. In addition, residents may visit any of Access Health CT’s enrollment locations or either of the Navigator partner locations.

Residents may also contact the Access Health CT call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and select Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 15, the call center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to midnight. On Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, the call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.

Neighbors in the News

In this installment of Neighbors in the News I would like to introduce Kristen Marshall, a pediatric nurse at Connecticut Children's. She's also a Gala Ambassador charged with raising awareness and funds for some pretty special people and she has quite a story to tell.

Thanks for sharing, Kristen!

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Working directly with kids in an acute care pediatric facility over the last ten years has given me firsthand knowledge not only about the clinical aspect of working with children, but the physical, emotional, and sometimes even financial needs as well. I've built my entire nursing career within the walls of Connecticut Children's Medical Center and as I approach my ten year milestone I have felt deeply compelled to search for other ways to give back to our institution and the community we serve. This past summer I was approached with the opportunity to represent Connecticut Children's as a Gala Ambassador raising awareness and funds for the hospital and I truly felt there could be no better way to try to create an impact for the children I care for.

With my youngest sibling being born two months early, I had a very early life experience with pediatric care as our family spent much time in the NICU those first few months of my sister's life. Although I was only about seven years old, the memories took root in my mind and laid the groundwork for my love of the pediatric population and environment. Rotating through a range of ages including neonates through adolescents in nursing school solidified this for me. After graduating, I was truly grateful to be given the opportunity to join Connecticut Children's as a registered nurse, where I spent my first few years on the seventh floor before moving to the float pool where I now provide patient care throughout all units of the hospital. As a float pool team member I have a unique, birds eye view of the different needs and demands of all the units in the hospital. From the NICU to the PICU, all the Medical/Surgical Floors, and the Emergency Department, each unit operates slightly differently based on the patient population, but their need for support and a strong community remains the same.

Over the last six months I have been endeavoring to raise funds to help combat some of the greatest needs within our institution and will continue to do so through the spring months. I've focused my efforts on involving my own children where I can and utilizing social media as a powerful tool to market my fundraising efforts to create a larger impact. We began our summer months of fundraising with a lemonade stand that my four daughters and I rallied to put together. The stand was highly successful and not only served as the kickstart to working towards our financial goal, it also spurred the idea to host a subsequent charity stand event in the fall- this time inviting others to host cider stands in their own neighborhoods with proceeds circling back to Connecticut Children's. These stands were also highly successful and we were thrilled to be able to invite our community members to join us in our mission to raise funds for the children of our hospital! It has also been extremely important to me throughout the process to be able to organically share my story as a healthcare provider at our institution through social media. It is my hope that through sharing some of these most pivotal, raw and real experiences, community members might be able to better understand what is happening behind the scenes of the hospital, as well as the needs we face daily.

I have been humbled by the support I have received so far and I am truly blown away by the generosity that has been shown towards my mission. My fundraising goal is within sight and I aim to continue to push forward sharing my voice online and creating new and fun pop up events with my daughters over the coming months to reach it! If you feel moved to help us along the way, I invite you to join along the journey as I share some of the pediatric stories and experiences that have moved me most over the years and I encourage you to help support Connecticut Children's Foundation, Inc. by making a donation through my page. The process is fast, easy, secure and can make a world of difference in the lives of the children who will be on the receiving end. If you have been personally impacted by the need for pediatric care, or perhaps know of someone else who has then I am certain you know how valuable these gifts are.

With deep gratitude and appreciation, I thank you so very much for your support and I wish you joy and good health as we enter the new year!

To join Kristen in her fundraising efforts please click here and thank you!