Dear Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH) Community,
Fall is here and will soon give way to the holiday season – one that I hope will bring you plenty of joy, health, and time with loved ones.
I invite you to review our Fall newsletter, which highlights our work during the past few months and provides some exciting updates about upcoming events and initiatives. As you will see, we have been busy doing outreach in the community to share information about local resources and raise awareness of HUSKY (CT Medicaid) expansion and unwinding. We also hosted an Ice Cream Social & Fundraiser, welcomed new staff, received new funding, and attended several community events and conferences. Please scroll down for all the updates!
I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, and joyful autumn!
With warm regards, Giselle Carlotta-McDonald
Executive Director
SUMMER FUN!
We are always excited to get out into the community to promote health and wellbeing, support health insurance coverage and enrollment, share information about COVID-19 vaccination, and so much more!
WE’RE ALWAYS SO GRATEFUL!
2023 ICE CREAM SOCIAL & FUNDRAISER
On July 26th we hosted our first ever Ice Cream Social and Fundraiser at the Shoreline Trolly Museum. It was a wonderful event attended by many including various invited guests, PA-NH staff, and current and former board members. Thank you to our partners from Junta Inc., Yale Medicine, IRIS, Clifford Beers, and CAANH in attendance. Also, we are super grateful to Kate McKenzie, MD for her very generous sponsoring of the Emergency Ice Cream Truck.
CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU to Olivia and Christopher Borgstrom!
As PA-NH’s first program coordinator, Chris played a key role in establishing our organization and building our volunteer provider network. As they celebrated their wedding this year, Chris and Olivia selflessly added Project Access-New Haven to their wedding registry, which generated generous donations on their behalf. Thank you to Olivia, Chris, and their friends and family for supporting our mission!
THANK YOU, NewAlliance Foundation!
NewAlliance Foundation is a longtime supporter of PA-NH. We would like to thank the Foundation for choosing to support PA-NH once again with grant funding for the coming year. Our work would not be possible without your generous financial contributions!
CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
On October 25th PA-NH joined the Connecticut Public Health Association for their 2023 Annual Conference titled “From Awareness to Action: Forging a Path towards Environmental Health and Justice” Pictured L to R: Giselle Carlotta-McDonald, executive director, Ma’glinda Kelly Ager, RN navigation manager, CT State Senator Saud Anwar, and Millie Landock, program supervisor.
On September 22nd, PA-NH attended a day of networking presented by The Yale School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry’s Diversity Committee and the Connecticut Mental Health Center themed “Building Community: Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Latine Professionals”
9/14: PA-NH & COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS
On September 14th, Yale New Haven Health and PA-NH came together for a community listening session in Spanish on health equity and the role that race, ethnicity and language data can play in ensuring great healthcare for all. The goal of the listening session is to improve the health of people where we work and live.
IN THE NEWS!
On August 26th, a wonderful article from Rabbi Herbert Brockman, PA-NH Board member, was published in the New Haven Register. Thank you, Rabbi Brockman, for sharing your thoughtful reflections and reminding us of the importance of equal access to care in our community. It takes a village to care for a village, and we are so fortunate to have your support!
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT PA-NH!
From September 15th to October 15th, we celebrated the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities. The 2023 theme was Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities.
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
CAANH Chili & Gumbo Fest
An incredible time was had with our partner Community Action Agency of New Haven! The September 9th Chili-Gumbo Fest benefited their Emergency Food Pantry– providing groceries and personal hygiene products to low-income families in New Haven. Proceeds from the event also supplemented CAANH’s Single Mothers and Single Fathers programs, as well as basic needs programs such as the CAA Diaper Bank. Learn more about all that CAANH does for the community at www.caanh.net
HAVEN Free Clinic 5K
PA-NH staff, Millie Landock and David Diosa, as well as PA-NH co-founder, Dr. Peter Ellis, participated in the iANDA! 5K for HAVEN Free Clinic on October 8. HAVEN Free Clinic is a student-run clinic that provides comprehensive primary care services to members of the New Haven community free-of-charge, and is a strong partner of PA-NH.
WELCOME DIMARIS VELAZQUEZ TO THE PA-NH TEAM
Dimaris Velazquez has joined PA-NH as a Bilingual Patient Navigator. She was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico and came to the US at age 16. She attended Bronx Community College and graduated as a Microsoft Office Specialist with medical assistance credits. After working as a teaching assistant in 2003 she moved to the health & medical field in 2004. She supported an Ophthalmology Specialist before moving to Montefiore Medical Group and supporting the Pediatrics and OBGYN departments where she had the privilege to meet different patients with needs, most notably hearing- challenged patients who she communicated with via ASL (American Sign Language). A resident of CT now, she plans to continue her education in ASL.
Dimaris loves to spend quality time with her family and enjoys cooking, baking, and painting. She also enjoys teaching children’s church, and thoroughly loves nature and the outdoors. Welcome, Dimaris!
OPEN ENROLLMENT SEASON IS HERE
For more information or FREE HELP completing an Access Health CT application, visit Access Health CT to schedule an appointment with a bilingual Certified Application Counselor (CAC).
WAYS TO SUPPORT PROJECT ACCESS
The work we do is possible by the generous donations of our partners, supporters, and community. GivingTuesday is a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Giving Tuesday is next month, but you can donate today!
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