Connecticut’s public health safety net is crumbling. Every day, people seeking medical attention, mental health support, and addiction recovery services are turned away from receiving the care they need. Hundreds of frontline healthcare jobs at public state facilities remain vacant. 

The combination of direct care staffing shortages and lack of resources to navigate the system coherently has left the people of Connecticut with inferior healthcare outcomes. Access to proper care is particularly challenging for Black, Latina, and similarly underserved communities that rely on state services to thrive. SEIU 1199NE’s 2^nd Annual Symposium provides a forum to hear from frontline doctors, nurses, and direct caregivers providing services at DCF, DDS, DSS, DOC, DMHAS, DPH, and other experts in the public and private sectors.

Partner panelists and symposium collaborators include speakers from CT Voices for Children, Planned Parenthood, NAMI Connecticut, Connecticut Legal Rights Project, YWCA, Transitions Clinic Network, and NHFT.

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SPECIAL GUEST PARTICIPANTS

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Legislative-Agenda-Expand-Services-to-Save-Lives18614-1

Click here to download the PDF

Expand Services to Save Lives: Building a Robust and Proactive Public Health System in Connecticut

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Watch the Symposium here:

Part 1

Part 2

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READINGS AND RESOURCES FOR SYMPOSIUM 2023

MacArthur fellow says “high risk of dying” in first two weeks upon release post incarceration – CT Public.org

Donna Brooks: Connecticut lets down women in addiction recovery – Hartford Courant

Darnell Ford: Failing to fill mental health care jobs hurts Connecticut – Hartford Courant

Yale psychiatry prof: Behavioral health workforce in CT and nationwide is facing an ’emergency’ – Hartford Courant

To address crisis in children’s mental health care, providers urge CT legislators to invest in community programs – Hartford Courant

Staffing shortage takes toll on CT health care workers: ‘I leave work wanting to cry’- CT Insider

Lawmakers call for nurse protections amid “patient care crisis” – WNPR

Healthcare Staffing Shortage Task Force Report – AFT.org

Why did the state suspend a Norwich dental clinic dedicated to those with disabilities? – The Norwich Bulletin

National Nurse Staffing Think Tank Launched by Leading Health Care Organizations Develops Solutions Tool Kit to Address Staffing Crisis – AACN.org

Staffing shortages at CT’s psychiatric hospital for children leave many in need of care, others in limbo – CT Insider

Connecticut cannot afford costly carceral health disparities – CT Mirror

Health care union workers discuss reduction of services at Connecticut Valley Hospital – Middletown Press

CT legislative leaders: Mental health system in ‘deep crisis’ is priority in 2022 session – CT Mirror

Race and Gender Equity and State Workers in CT – Dr. Steven C. Pitts, Ph.D

Unions: Losing Public Jobs Will Worsen CT’s race and gender pay gaps – CT Mirror

Union Says Public Sector Is A Pathway To The Middle Class – CT News Junkie

EPISODE 1, Weds. 11/17/21; Season 2 Premiere w/ Rob Baril; Steven Pitts – Black Work Talk

(Editorial) Sen. Somers: “There is a mental health crisis in CT – CT Senate Republicans

Amid Mental Health Crisis, Hundreds of CT Children Stuck On Waitlist For Key Programs – CT Insider

The Case and Policy Options For Improving Connecticut’s FY 2024 – FY 2025 Budget – CT Voices.org

The Employment Situation in Connecticut (Oct 2022) – CT Voices.org

2022 State of Working Connecticut – CT Voices.org

Hartford Courant – Page 5

CT in Crisis: A Symposium for Expansion of Mental Health & Addiction Services for Youth & Adults ’22 – YouTube