Our Impact

Key Moments

2013

Exploratory

The Connecticut Health Foundation completed a commissioned landscape analysis related to health equity efforts in Connecticut.

2014

Established

HES established, with Connecticut Legal Services as its fiscal sponsor.

2015

First Team Member Hired

2016

First Legislative Session

Entered our first Legislative Session & initiated our first CHW campaign

2017

2017

PA 17-74

Launched our first Listening Sessions & helped passed PA 17-74 which defined the CHW profession and scope of work

2018

R.E.L.

Launched our first campaign for race, ethnicity, & language data (R.E.L)

2019

PA 19-117

Used advocacy efforts to pass state certification for CHWs in CT in PA 19-117

2020

Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis Campaign

Co-chaired the CHWAB board to launch CHW certification in CT, initiated our COVID advocacy and outreach, & launched a statewide campaign for Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

2021

The state of Connecticut declared Racism a Public Health Crisis, defined "doula" in statute, & required granular collection of race, ethnicity, & language data (R.E.L)

2022

2023

Hired our second Executive Director and initiated a five-year strategic plan

Highlights

Declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis in Connecticut

One of the greatest barriers to achieving health equity is the historical and contemporary relationship between racism and health. Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis offers a clear path to intentionally acknowledging and addressing disparities and inequities in our state.

In 2020, we began a petition demanding an intentional anti-racist focus in policymaking in the state of Connecticut. To date, 22 towns/ cities, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and the the state of Connecticut have passed resolutions.

To view the summary report, click here.

COVID-19 & Health Equity

The COVID-19 Pandemic amplified the stark health disparities faced by people of color in Connecticut. In 2020, we embarked on a statewide outreach effort aimed to center health equity in Connecticut’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Partnering with state, local, and federal partners we initiated several campaigns to reduce the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. We went door-to-door, partnered with beauty salons and barbershops across the state to host vaccination clinics, hosted webinars and expert panel events to combat misinformation on the COVID-19 vaccine, tabled at community events, and held social media campaigns highlighting the latest news and updates regarding the pandemic.

A few of our many partnerships!

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