Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program (Healthy Homes) understands that the places and conditions in which children live shape their lives and their health. Toxins and hazards often found in older or poorly maintained homes, such as lead-based paint, mold, and unsafe windows or stairs, can cause children and their families to get sick or injured.

Recognizing the impact that housing has on children’s lives, Healthy Homes seeks to improve the well-being of children by constructing a strong foundation for them to thrive. With support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Connecticut Department of Housing, the program focuses on activities and initiatives that enhance the quality, stability and affordability of housing. The program strives to prevent housing-related issues. It also strives to catch and correct any problems as early as possible. In doing so, the program helps to strengthen health and development outcomes in children’s earliest years and establishes a platform for health throughout their lives.

Core Activities of Healthy Homes

Working with a team of licensed and certified experts, the program assesses homes and develops a scope of work to address housing-related health hazards, such as lead-based paint, mold, asbestos, and injury risks. With that scope of work, the program works with property owners and contractors to complete the work to strict specifications in accordance with federal, state, and local environmental and building regulations.

Team members engage families using a strength-based approach to link them to needed resources. The program partners with state and local organizations that provide a range of services to address medical and social needs, including:

  • asthma education
  • nutrition assistance
  • job readiness programs
  • energy efficiency and weatherization services, and care coordination services

A growing body of research shows families are more likely to thrive when living in affordable homes that are in safe, clean and stable communities. Healthy Homes works with partners such as the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) to advocate for policies that:

  • increase affordable housing in communities with significant health needs
  • improve housing quality by incentivizing developers and property managers to focus on health and well-being in design
  • construction and maintenance plans, and
  • improve access to health and housing services and supports by building bridges between health and housing professionals

Key Initiatives of Healthy Homes

As many as one in eight children hospitalized with uncontrolled asthma are re-admitted within six months of discharge, according to a study published in Public Health Report. Healthy Homes works with Connecticut Children’s Center for Care Coordination and the State of Connecticut’s Putting on AIRS asthma home visiting program to explore ways to address home-based triggers that exacerbate asthma in children. The goal of this Asthma Care Transformation initiative is to improve health outcomes for children diagnosed with asthma while also preventing costly and stressful hospitalizations.

As many as one in eight children hospitalized with uncontrolled asthma are re-admitted within six months of discharge, according to a study published in Public Health Report. Healthy Homes works with Connecticut Children’s Center for Care Coordination and the State of Connecticut’s Putting on AIRS asthma home visiting program to explore ways to address home-based triggers that exacerbate asthma in children. The goal of this Asthma Care Transformation initiative is to improve health outcomes for children diagnosed with asthma while also preventing costly and stressful hospitalizations.

As many as one in eight children hospitalized with uncontrolled asthma are re-admitted within six months of discharge, according to a study published in Public Health Report. Healthy Homes works with Connecticut Children’s Center for Care Coordination and the State of Connecticut’s Putting on AIRS asthma home visiting program to explore ways to address home-based triggers that exacerbate asthma in children. The goal of this Asthma Care Transformation initiative is to improve health outcomes for children diagnosed with asthma while also preventing costly and stressful hospitalizations.

Our Team

To learn more about Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program, call 860.837.6234 or contact a representative of the program. Our fax number is 860.837.6244.

RAlvarado [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Rosa Alvarado), Administrative Assistant II
860.837.6234

ccorcoran [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Chris Corcoran), Manager
860.837.6242

ACruz03 [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Alba Cruz,) Relocation Education Coordinator
860.798.0139

efigueroa [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Esther Figueroa), Program Manager
860.837.6239

Tavanna.Hansberry [at] YNHH.ORG (Tavanna Hansberry,) Relocation Education Coordinator
475-355-4913

AMorales [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Amalyn Morales,) Project Coordinator
475-355-4913

JRios [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Jessica Rios,) Program Coordinator
860-837-5168

TRotchford [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Tom Rotchford), Construction Manager
860.837.6240

Pam.Sanchez [at] YNHH.ORG (Pam Sanchez,) Relocation Education Coordinator
475-227-6084

Additional Services

Families that utilize our Healthy Homes Program may also be interested in reaching out to additional programs and services. For more information on other programs that may be of interest to your family, click below.

211 Child Development Infoline is a specialized unit of United Way of Connecticut that supports children’s healthy growth and development starting from pregnancy. Care coordinators answer questions and connect families to programs and supports including Help Me Grow Connecticut, which is part of a nationwide network of affiliates that promote optimal healthy development with support from the Help Me Grow National Center at Connecticut Children’s.

Connecticut Children’s Center for Care Coordination (the Center) supports children and families by connecting them to needed medical, behavioral, educational, legal and social services. The Center utilizes a strength-based, comprehensive approach to care coordination designed to meet the needs of children and enhance caregiving capabilities of families. Services are free of charge to families of children up to age 21.

Hartford Youth HIV Identification and Linkage Program works to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth. The program provides interactive prevention education; community engagement and outreach; and youth friendly HIV/STD screenings. The program also links youth to medical services, employment services and other community resources.

Safe Kids Connecticut is part of Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center and oversees a statewide network of organizations working to prevent injury in children ages 0-19.

Contact Us

To learn more about Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program, call 860.837.6234. Our fax number is 860.837.6244. You may also complete the form and a team member will reach out to you.