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Bridging Healthcare and Food Insecurity: A Unified Approach By Nancy Trout, MD: With food insecurity on the rise in Connecticut, the Start Childhood Off Right program, part of Connecticut Children's Office for Community Child Health, is dedicated to providing essential support to families in need. Food insecurity—defined as the economic and social condition

Promote Safe Riding: Tips for Talking to Kids About Bike Safety By Anna Stern, MPH: As the weather warms up, families are heading outside to enjoy bike rides together. This is an ideal time to start or continue conversations with children about how to stay safe while riding. A few simple reminders and regular check-ins can make every ride safer. The Injury

Reflections of a Pediatric Resident By: Amritha Patel, MD As a graduating third year pediatric resident, I have been reflecting on the last three years of training along with the journey I took to get to this point. Many of the experiences that led me to the field of medicine were based around community service on

Gifting an E-Bike This Season? What Every Parent Needs to Know By Anna Stern, MPH: E-bikes are everywhere this holiday season. From social media videos to neighborhood rides, electric bikes have quickly become one of the most requested gifts for kids and teens. They’re fun, fast, and promise freedom and independence, while also getting kids outside and moving

Fresh Check Day Joins Connecticut Children’s to Expand Youth Mental Health Movement By Isabella Baldino: As youth mental health continues to demand urgent national attention, Connecticut Children’s Youth Suicide Prevention Center (the Center) is taking a major step forward by assuming management of Fresh Check Day —a nationally recognized, evidence-informed mental health promotion

Empowering Women in Healthcare: The Impact of the Hayley Petit Injury and Violence Prevention Fellowship At Connecticut Children’s, a goal of ours is to uplift, empower, and inspire those around us. As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, we honor the remarkable achievements of women who have blazed trails and inspired others. Together, we strive to open doors of opportunity

The Innovative Role of Comics in Child Health Education By Annika Anderson, MPH: By: Annika Anderson, MPH Do you remember what your favorite thing to read was when you were a child? Perhaps it was a picture book, like Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, or Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin. It might have even been the Peanuts comic strips by Charles Schulz from

Collaboration in Action: Creating a Services Map to Improve Program Accessibility and Utilization in Hartford By Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH: In April of 2023, CT Data Collaborative introduced the Neighborhood Profile & Mapping Project to the North Hartford Ascend Pipeline (Ascend) Family Navigation System Building Work Group. The tool, designed to be widely used and accessed by family navigators, providers, and

Pathways to Action: Driving Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Workplace By Lauren Dominique, MA: Driving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is a key focus of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health’s Equity Committee. After working on numerous initiatives over the past three years, our members are excited to debut a new Subcommittee

Transforming Mental Health Support for Your Child: Connecticut Children’s Commitment By Kristen Volz-Spessard, MS: Prioritizing the well-being of our youth is critical. At Connecticut Children’s, we are committed to supporting your child’s mental health. We offer a range of initiatives, resources, and support services designed to address these challenges. From counseling and therapeutic

Strengthening Families: Insights from Alexander Yanlawk Chiu of United Way By Annika Anderson, MPH: This is the second blog in a three-blog series regarding North Hartford Ascend’s Inaugural Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework Community of Practice facilitated by Childhood Prosperity Lab . Alexander Yanlawk Chiu, Education Initiatives Manager at the United Way

The Power of People: How Co-Design Enhances Project Management Tools By Annika Anderson, MPH: Have you ever developed a project management tool that's supposed to make your life easier, but ends up causing more frustration or inefficiency? You're not alone. In Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office), we attempt to “work smarter, not harder”

Car Seat Clinics and the Key to Child Passenger Safety Ensuring child passenger safety is one of the most important responsibilities for parents and caregivers. While most parents know the basics of using car seats, it’s easy to make mistakes, especially when it comes to installation and usage. Car seat clinics, like those offered in

Advancing Equity Through Anti-Racism in Children's Hospitals and Family-Centered Care By Susie DiVietro, PhD: In the latest installment of the Pathways to Action Subcommittee Spotlight Series, members of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health reflect on their participation in an anti-racism training organized by the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences)

Lead Safety: Health, Property & Peace of Mind By Rosa Alvarado: Maintaining a safe, healthy living environment isn’t just about compliance. It’s about responsibility, reputation, and long-term value. For tenants, it’s a basic right. At the center of this is one critical standard: lead safety. This is the focus of the Healthy Homes Program, an