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People should consider finding someone to be their spokesperson in health-care decision planning. This would help someone ensure their care wishes are carried out if or when they cannot speak for themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Health care decision planning important for CT residents

With Alzheimer's cases on the rise in Connecticut, experts say people should consider early health care planning. A new report shows around 77,000 …

The United Way's 2024 Child Care Snapshot shows Marlborough has the most child-care spots available in Connecticut with more than 44%. (Adobe Stock)

New tool examines CT child care access, plans of action

A new tool is examining child care availability in Connecticut. United Way of Connecticut's tool shows the actual number of offered child care …

Report: More than 119,000 young adults in CT 'disconnected' or at risk

Connecticut has what one group sees as an overwhelming population of "disconnected" young people, from ages 18 to 26, who aren't in school and aren't …

Although Connecticut's rankings in most health-related areas declined in the latest Kids Count Data Book, the state saw minor improvement in the number of children with health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Children Need Health, Education Investments

Investments in education and health are needed to bolster Connecticut's children, a new annual report found. In the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids …

A 2023 AARP report finds Connecticut's 420,000 unpaid family caregivers in Connecticut provided care valued at $7.2 billion in 2021. Nationally, these caregivers provided over $600 billion in care during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

CT Unpaid Family Caregivers Working In Strained Conditions

The ongoing healthcare workforce shortage in Connecticut and across the U.S. is straining unpaid family caregivers. A 2023 AARP report finds they …

Un informe de AARP de 2023 encuentra que los 420,000 cuidadores familiares no remunerados de Connecticut brindaron atenci�n valorada en $7,200 millones en 2021. A nivel nacional, estos cuidadores proporcionaron m�s de $600,000 millones en atenci�n durante el mismo per�odo. (Adobe Stock)

CT Cuidadores familiares no remunerados que trabajan en condiciones difíciles

La actual escasez de personal sanitario en Connecticut y en todo EE. UU. está poniendo a prueba a los cuidadores familiares no remunerados…

Since February 2020, more than 88,000 child-care jobs have been lost nationally. (Adobe Stock)

CT United Way Working on Family Child-Care Network Hub

United Way of Connecticut is launching a network hub for family child care providers. The new hub, created in partnership with the Connecticut Office …

According to a 2020 Gallup poll, there's only been a five percent increase in the number of people who have a living will from 2005 to 2020. Most of those people are 65 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Procrastinators' Alert: Time to Start End-of-Life Planning

August is National Make-a-Will Month, one of many opportunities for Connecticut residents to begin end-of-life planning. Only around 46% of …

April to October 2020 saw a 31% increase in emergency department visits for mental health concerns in pre-teens and teens, ages 12 through 17. (Adobe Stock)

More Can Be Done to Boost Youth Mental Health in CT, U.S.

Connecticut ranks among the top 10 states in offering access to mental health services for its youth population, according to the latest report from …

According to CWEALF, Connecticut's family and medical leave program is the strongest and most comprehensive in the country, from broadening the definition of

Advocates: Privatization of Paid-Leave Claim Services Raises Red Flag

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Campaign for Paid Family Leave has been raising concerns about outsourcing of the state paid leave program's …

The new administration will review former President Donald Trump's

Biden Orders Review of Trump Immigration Policies

HARTFORD, Conn. - Several hardline Trump-era immigration policies appear headed for the chopping block, after President Joe Biden issued more …

Connecticut nursing homes no longer are required to test their staff members weekly for COVID-19 exposure. (Renowned Skilled Nursing)

Senior Advocates Urge Governor to Require More Testing in Nursing Homes

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Senior groups are pleading for increased COVID-19 testing at Connecticut nursing homes, because residents of these facilities make …

New research confirms that placing children in kinship care with grandparents or other family members improves outcomes. (Aline Dassel/Pixabay)

Connecticut Setting Trend in Foster-Care Placement

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut is making great progress in placing foster children in family settings and kinship care, according to a new …

In Connecticut, only 24 percent of young parents have an associate degree or higher. (peterjamesanthony/pixabay)

Report: Connecticut Needs to Help Young Parents Succeed

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut is missing opportunities to help young parents succeed, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey …

Nelson Omar Rosales Santos, center, his wife and three children. (Photo courtesy the Rosales Santos family)

Deportation Order a ‘Death Sentence’ for CT Man

HARTFORD, Conn. — Immigrant-rights advocates are calling a judge's deportation order a de-facto death sentence. Nelson Omar Rosales Santos …

A permanent connection with a caring adult is important for a young person's development. (Free-Photos/Pixabay)

Report: Adolescents in Foster Care Need Opportunities to Thrive

HARTFORD, Conn. – Positive interactions with the child-welfare system can be particularly critical for adolescents, according to a recent …

Nationwide, the bill would cut federal health care funding $124 billion by 2026. (CORIGLIANOADV/Pixabay)

New ACA Repeal in Works; Advocates Say CT Would Suffer

HARTFORD, Conn. — Two Republican senators are working on a new bill to "repeal and replace" Obamacare, and analysts say it would hit …

Budgets proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy and state legislators all cut spending on children's programs and services to record lows. (Dannel Malloy/Flickr)

Analysis Says CT Budget Proposals Hurt Kids

HARTFORD, Conn. – An analysis of four proposed state budgets finds they all would cut critical spending on programs for children to record lows …

The ACA mandate gave 55 million women access to birth control with no out-of-pocket costs. (ParentingPatch/Wikimedia Commons)

Draft Rule Called Threat to Birth-Control Access

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Reproductive-rights advocates say a leaked Trump administration draft regulation threatens birth control insurance coverage for …

Limiting access to homecare services would force some seniors into expensive nursing homes. (geralt/Pixabay)

Proposed Budget Erodes Critical Services for Seniors

HARTFORD, Conn. – Advocates for seniors say Gov. Dannel Malloy's proposed budget would put Connecticut seniors at risk. According to AARP…

Nationally, African American children are six times more likely to have a parent in jail than are white children. (Amanda Mills/pixnio.com)

Ending Mass Incarceration to Close the Racial Achievement Gap

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Mass incarceration of African Americans has contributed significantly to the racial achievement gap in the nation's schools…

TANF core activities include job programs. (Flazingo Photos/flickr.com)

Fewer TANF Dollars Going to Neediest

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new study shows that Connecticut uses only 30 percent of its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for basic …

Child care and housing make up almost half of the household survival budget for a family of four in Connecticut. (USMC/Wikimedia Commons)

More CT Families Struggling to Get By

HARTFORD, Conn. – More than a quarter of Connecticut households have jobs but still have trouble making ends meet, according to an updated …

Many people with developmental disabilities have spent their entire lives in the same group home, so changes proposed by the state are bound to be challenging. (NCVO London/Flickr)

Connecticut to Privatize Group Homes

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) says privatizing group homes for people with developmental …

Public sector workers in Connecticut have greater family leave protections than federal law. (publidomainpictures/pixabay.com)

CT Family Workplace Policies Need Improvement

HARTFORD, Conn. - A state-by-state analysis of workplace policies that support families showed Connecticut has better protections for working …

The Summer Food Service Program is open to all children 18 and younger. (Amanda Mills, USCDCP/public-domain-image.com)

Summer Food Program Picks Up Where School Leaves Off

HARTFORD, Conn. - The end of the school year doesn't mean low-income children need to go hungry. Thousands of children in Connecticut rely on free …

Connecticut's prison population fell 17 percent and crime decreased by 25 percent between 2006 and 2014. (my_southborough/Flickr)

Crime Falls as Incarceration Rates Decline

HARTFORD, Conn. - States that reduce their prison populations are seeing their crime rates go down, too. In the 1990s, getting "tough on crime" led …

Parents losing HUSKY A coverage should schedule medical appointments before July 31. (Ilmicrofono Oggiono/flickr.com)

Thousands May Lose Health Insurance in August

HARTFORD, Conn. - Thousands of low-income parents in Connecticut who will lose access to Medicaid in August need to start planning now. On August …

Older Americans have an estimate $7 trillion retirement savings deficit. (<a href=

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High Praise for CT Retirement Program

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's new Retirement Security Program is drawing high praise from advocates for seniors. Some 600,000 Connecticut workers …

The planned DHS raids will target women and children for deportation. (ICE/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Call for End to ICE Raids

HARTFORD, Conn. - Immigrant advocates are rallying in front of the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building in Hartford today to demand that the …

The Connecticut State Capitol building where legislators passed new state budget cuts of $233.6 million from critical programs for children and families. (John Phelan/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Say Budget Continues Disinvestment in Children

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The budget passed by the legislature cuts investment in children and families, undermines transparency and jeopardizes future …

The number of homeless in CT has dropped 4 percent since 2007. (Ed Yourdon/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Homeless Count Continues to Fall

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut continues to make progress toward ending homelessness, according to the latest count. The annual survey, released …

A parent's incarceration can have the same emotional impact as abuse, domestic violence or divorce on a child. (bluemix/pixabay)

When Parents Go to Jail, Children Suffer

HARTFORD, Conn. – Thousands of children have experienced one or both parents serving time in prison and a new report by the Annie E. Casey …

Proposed cuts to the state�s health insurance program would affect about 9,000 Connecticut parents. (James Gathany, Judy Schmidt/piblicdomainimage.com)

Proposed Cuts to Health Coverage Raise Concerns

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Advocates are concerned that Gov. Dannel Malloy's proposed cuts to the state's health insurance program could leave thousands …

SB 221 would allow up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member. (Borya/flickr.com)

CT Voters Support Paid Family Leave

HARTFORD, Conn. - An overwhelming majority of Connecticut voters surveyed support paid family medical leave for caregivers. One thousand voters were …

On average, women in Connecticut are paid $10,679 a year less than men. (Cade Martin, Dawn Arlotta/public-domain-image.com)<br />

Women in CT, U.S. Still Paid Far Less than Men

HARTFORD, Conn. - The gender wage gap is costing women in Connecticut more than $5.5 billion a year, that's one finding of a study released today…

State workers rally at the Connecticut State Capitol on Tuesday, asking lawmakers not to cut their pension and health-care benefits. (Adavyd/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Public Safety Workers Rally to Save Jobs

HARTFORD, Conn. - Faced with layoffs and cuts, public safety workers are telling Connecticut legislators to find other ways to balance the state …

The bill would remove criminal history questions from job applications. (Kathryn Decker/flickr.com)

General Assembly Considering “Ban the Box” Bill

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The General Assembly is considering a bill that would remove barriers to employment for people with criminal records. Most job …

Access to safe, reliable child care helps homeless families secure jobs and housing. (USDA/flickr)

Bill to Help Homeless Families Find Child Care Gets a Hearing

HARTFORD, Conn. - Child care is a vital service, but particularly for homeless families, that's the message advocates will be delivering Tuesday to …

Domestic-violence shelter usage in Connecticut has doubled since 2008. (CMY Kane/flickr.com)

CT Domestic-Violence Shelters Overflowing

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's domestic-violence shelters are consistently full, according to a report released Tuesday. Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the …

Data shows Connecticut police fired stun guns at black and Hispanic suspects at higher rates than whites. (Junglecat/Wikimedia Commons)

"Don't Tase Me, Bro!" Racial Disparity Found in CT Stun Gun Use

HARTFORD, Conn. - Preliminary data shows racial disparities in the use of stun guns by police in Connecticut. Connecticut is the first state in the …

114,000 Connecticut children live in poverty. (Amanda Mills, USCDCP/public-domain-image.com)

Connecticut Child Poverty at All-Time High

HARTFORD, Conn. - New analysis shows that despite increases during the recession, the share of Connecticut's budget going to children has declined…

A lawsuit in Superior Court claims state funding treats low-income school districts unfairly. (US Dept. of Education/flickr.com)

Long-Delayed Challenge to CT School Funding Goes to Trial

HARTFORD, Conn. - A 2005 lawsuit challenging Connecticut's school funding formula has finally gone to trial. The suit, filed by the Connecticut …

Advocates will rally for immigrants� rights at noon on Wednesday in New Haven. (ULANewHaven.org)

Immigrants' Advocates Rally to Protest Family Deportations

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Advocates for immigrants in Connecticut will be using street theater to teach Central American refugees their rights if …

Nationwide, older Americans are facing a $6 trillion retirement savings deficit. (Candida Performa/Wikimedia Commons)

Board Recommends CT Create a Retirement Savings Program

HARTFORD, Conn. - Creating a voluntary retirement savings plan could help more than a half-million Connecticut residents who have no workplace …

Participating in activities with their peers helps foster children succeed. Credit: Lourdeslanote/Wikimedia Commons

Striving for Normalcy

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The federal Strengthening Families Act is helping children in foster care have some of the formative experiences that …

More than half the Syrian refugees heading to the United States are children. Credit: UK-DFID/Wikimedia Commons

As More Syrian Refugees Arrive, CT is Ready to Help

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The U.S will admit 10,000 refugees from Syria over the next year, more than five times the number admitted in the past 12 months…

School Attendance Awareness Month kicks-off in September and in Connecticut there is special emphasis in Hartford Public Schools where six-in-10 students are chronically absent from class. Credit: woodleywonderworks via wiki commons.

Connecticut School Attendance Woes

HARTFORD, Conn. – Nationwide, nearly one in 10 students is chronically absent from school, but as School Attendance Awareness month kicks off …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 19, 2024

2024Talks - April 19, 2024

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CT: Family/Father Issues