Health Equity Solutions

Health Equity Week: April 2-8, 2023!

Author: Samantha Lew, Harley Webley, & Cristian Corza

The first full week of April is now recognized in statute as Health Equity Week! This week annually reaffirms Connecticut’s commitment to eliminating inequities in health and ensuring all residents have the opportunity to achieve optimal health.

This year, HES will focus our Health Equity Week efforts on the health equity impact of Connecticut’s lay health workers. A “lay health worker” is anyone providing non-clinical health services like a community health worker, doula, or peer support specialist.

Check out our lineup of events:

Health Equity 101 Training Monday, April 3 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

• An interactive workshop on what health equity is, how to be an advocate, and when to advocate. Learn how you can tell your story in a way that persuades policymakers to make decisions that support health equity & hear from our very own Training Team!
• Registration https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcu-rqTkuHtSq34B8-TC5OseALBUs9RFp

Medical Debt: Details TBD

• Details and registration are coming soon!

Community Health Worker Lobby Day

• Join HES and the Community Health Workers Association of CT at the Legislative Office Building on Thursday, April 6th for a day of advocacy! Let’s come together to urge policymakers to act on Medicaid reimbursement for community health workers. Food and activities will be available and we will wrap things up with a celebration of CHWs in CT! Registration and agenda are forthcoming.
• Registration: coming soon!

In the Media:

• Robyn Anderson, et al: CT must address the issue of medical debt, Hartford Courant
• Lawmakers Mull Medicaid Funding for Community Health Workers, CT NEWS JUNKIE

Resources:

• Check out Connecticut's Path to Equity to see the policies CT can take to achieve health equity in Connecticut.

More ways to get involved:

• Follow the hashtags #HEW23 #HealthEquityWeek & us on social media! Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram
• LOB Poster Display: Meet community health workers in Connecticut! Check out the concourse display between the Legislative Office Building and the state Capitol all week
• Planning an event? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list above

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Connecticut Health Foundation
• Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC)
• Leading Culture Solutions
• Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut