Disconnected & At-Risk Youth and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 24, 2023


The pandemic has stunted the growth of children and teens all over Connecticut. As a result, we are seeing an alarming amount of young people struggling with their education. I will break down how the state is helping those who are at risk of or dropping out of school.

As a nurse anesthetist, October holds a special place in my heart since it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is no secret that mammograms save lives. Keep scrolling to learn when most patients should start getting mammograms and where to find a screening center near you.

Below you will find the following sections in today's email:

  • What Connecticut is Doing to Support Disconnected & At-Risk Youth
  • Coffee & Conversation in Wilton
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
     
    What Connecticut is Doing to Support Disconnected & At-Risk Youth

    Connecticut-based Dalio Education recently released a report it commissioned that focused on "disconnected and at-risk youth" and found more than 63,000 young adults were disconnected, and 56,000 students were at risk between 2021 and 2022, according to the compiled data.

    These are young people who have either dropped out of school or are in danger of dropping out, and who are, for those aged 18 to 26, unemployed and in many cases unemployable.
    Read the Report
    A number of laws were passed in the last two legislative sessions meant to help disconnected and at-risk youth.

    2022 Legislation - School-Based Health Centers (HB 5001, SB 1, HB 5506)
    • Provided grants to local schools to hire more support staff, including in the areas of mental health like social workers, psychologists, and counselors
    • Funded the expansions of school-based health centers and the services they provide
    • Created new walk-ins for mental health emergencies
    • Initiated a new position at the Office of the Healthcare Advocate to help families navigate care for children and adolescents
    • Expanded 24/7 emergency mental health response
    • Established state oversight and coordination of state response to kids' mental health needs
    • Expanded mentorship opportunities
    • Helped school-based health centers develop new mental health programming
    • Assisted local schools in expanding mental health staff and access to care
    • Provided mental health training to parents, students, and pediatricians
    • Established the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (legislation passed in 2022; updated in 2023 with PA 23-90)

    2023 Legislation - State Budget (HB 6941)

    • Prevented any town from receiving a funding cut to their local schools
    • Ensured more districts will meet eligibility requirements for the federal School Breakfast Program 
    • Maintained funding to support our bilingual students

    This report shines a light on critically important data that shows elected officials, state agencies, and branches of government must collectively work better together to bring more stakeholders into this conversation, so that "at-risk" and "disconnected" youth do not become "lost" adults.
     
    Coffee & Conversation in Wilton
    It was great to hear from passionate students at Wilton High School as we talked about environmental, local, and state issues with the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. Senator Ceci Maher and I were impressed with some of the questions and the level of knowledge these scholars possess!
     
    Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    This month and all year long, I'm committed to fighting for those affected by breast cancer here in Connecticut. We will never stop working to find cures, address the needs of patients and their families, and make treatments affordable.
     
    We have many more tools at our disposal to fight this awful disease. Doctors use mammograms, which are x-ray exams used to detect breast cancer in those who may not be showing or be aware of breast cancer symptoms.

    You can find a screening center by RIGHT HERE. Anyone who needs assistance obtaining a mammogram can find resources available online at ct.gov/dph/screening or they can call (860) 509-7804 for more information. It's important for women to begin discussing getting baseline mammograms around the age of 40 especially if there is a family history of breast cancer.
    Your risk of breast cancer increases if your mother, sister, or any close relatives have or had either breast or ovarian cancer. Thankfully, advanced technology has improved a doctor’s ability to detect cancer. If a doctor identifies cancer early, the survival rate increases dramatically.