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The Office’s Three Roles By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Promoting the optimal healthy development of children. That’s what we do here at the Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office). It sounds fairly straightforward, right? Getting kids programs and services to help them achieve their best

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

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

Youth Voices Power Hartford Afterschool Program By Annika Anderson: At Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab (The Lab), we believe the best ideas come directly from the people they’re meant to serve. Since 2015, we’ve partnered with communities to create programs and services that reflect their strengths, interests, and priorities. This

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

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

The Innovative Role of Comics in Child Health Education By Annika Anderson: 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

Advancing Equity: Black Maternal Health Week and the Drive for Change By Sarah Gedeon, LMSW: Black Maternal Health Week is observed annually from April 11th to 17th, highlighting significant disparities in maternal health outcomes among Black women in the United States. Established by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), this initiative aims to address systemic

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

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

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

Strengthening Families: Insights from Alexander Yanlawk Chiu of United Way By Annika Anderson: 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

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

The Power of People: How Co-Design Enhances Project Management Tools By Annika Anderson: 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”

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