News & Events
Health Leaders Back Black Breastfeeding
New Haven Independent - More rooms for moms to lactate at work and more Black mothers breastfeeding their babies. A crew of local organizations concerned with Black maternal health gathered inside Whalley Avenue’s Community Action Agency Monday afternoon to push those two goals — and to announce their formal collaboration to decrease disparities in health outcomes of Black and white mothers and infants across the Greater New Haven area.
Budget Crunch Forces Meals on Wheels to Grind to a Halt
Citizens' News - A budget crunch has forced the area’s Meals on Wheels program to temporarily suspend all Wednesday deliveries to homebound seniors, reducing the number of meals provided from five days a week to four. A budget shortfall for Greater Waterbury’s Meals on Wheels program has resulted in less meals meal deliveries for homebound seniors, and a drop in hours for employees, including delivery truck driver Latisha Gonzalez. And the fear is the situation could get worse before it...
Access Community Action Agency Adding Food Truck
The Chronicle - Thanks to a $141,000 grant from Connecticut Foodshare, Access Community Action Agency will be purchasing a food truck to deliver more food to low-income residents in the area.
Bysiewicz Highlights Local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, Proposed Earned Income Tax Credit Expansion
Bristol Press - Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz visited HRA in Bristol Monday to outline the Lamont Administration's plan to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and highlight the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
State Money For Heating Assistance Unspent; Deadline Extended
CT Mirror - The state will extend a key deadline for seeking winter heating assistance from March 15 to March 31, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday. But the administration also confirmed — less than two weeks before the official start of spring — that it hasn’t yet spent any of the $30 million in state funds legislators committed last November to enhance heating assistance.
AARP Tele-Town Hall Discussion: Electric Choices, Energy Assistance & Efficiency Programs
Facebook Live - AARP hosted a live telephone town hall about energy choices, assistance, and efficiency programs. CAFCA's Deb Polun participated, along with representatives from CT's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and Operation Fuel. Listen here!
“The Current System is Broken” – Child Care Providers Rally for Funding
The Day - Debbi Poirier, director of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s Little Learners Early Education Program, described a crisis the program is facing during a rally Wednesday outside the agency’s childcare center. The state hasn’t increased its reimbursement rate for childcare programs. Staff are grappling with inflation, but the center can’t raise fees from parents because they’re based on a sliding scale determined by income. Read more.
CT Legislators Raising Questions About Heating Assistance Program
CT Mirror - With demand this winter for heating assistance far outstripping that of recent years, and with a key nonprofit aid program on temporary hold, state legislators want to know how many households have exhausted their options. Read more.
CT Energy Assistance Program Still Accepting Applications
FOX 61 - The CT Energy Assistance program is still accepting and processing applications even as 'Operation Fuel' announced it's pausing its services. Contact your local Community Action Agency to apply. Watch the story here.
Legislators, Health Advocates, Others Support Legislation for Community Health Worker Coverage
Facebook Live - Senator Matt Lesser and Representative Jillian Gilchrest hosted a press conference to bring attention to Senate Bill 991, which would provide Medicaid coverage for services provided by Community Health Workers. TVCCA CEO and CAFCA Board Chair Deb Monahan shared the value of Community Health Workers to the work of the Community Action Agencies. Watch here!