The Paid Leave Podcast

Every 21 seconds, someone suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. Most people don't know about brain injuries until it happens to them or a loved one. The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support for individuals suffering from brain injuries, whether mild or severe. BIAC extends that support to family members and caregivers. BIAC's Executive Director Julie Peters and Senior Brain Injury Specialist Victor Darr talk about the difficulties in diagnosing and treating brain injuries and the importance of a proper diagnosis to the recovery process. Most of the services they provide are free of charge. They recognize how essential CT Paid Leave can be to both the individual suffering from a brain injury and their caregivers.  They say it gives people another resource to access that can help them during a difficult time.

If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury, you can get information from BIAC's Helpline at 860-291-0291 or by email at general@biact.org
For BIAC information go to: Home of Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (biact.org)

CT information at the CT Dept. of Health: 36 INJ Traumatic Brain Injury (ct.gov)

For information about CT Paid Leave go to: CT Paid Leave

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The last day of February is Rare Disease Awareness Day. You may not know much about rare diseases, but they do affect 1 out of 10 people across the world, and half of those are children. There are more Americans (30 million) who have a rare disease, more than all the people who have either HIV, heart disease or stroke.
Having a rare disease can be a long and frustrating road for the patient and the family, with the average diagnosis taking 5 years or more. Rich Horgan is the founder and CEO of Cure Rare Disease in Woodbridge Connecticut. He founded the company after his brother Terry was born with a rare disease, and there was no known cure.  Rich talks about joining forces with scientists at Yale and other hospitals and working with clinicians and the FDA to try to create a drug to help his brother and other people fighting a rare disease. Rich talks about his choice to be in Connecticut, and how CT Paid Leave plays a strategic role in helping patients and their caregivers during this tough diagnosis to possible clinical trials and treatments.


To find about more about Rich Horgan and Cure rare Disease: Cure Rare Disease
Rare disease at the National Institute of Health: Home - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (nih.gov)
Rare diseases at Yale: Rare Disease Research at Yale: Learn about our research and help us raise awareness. < Yale School of Medicine
For more information about how to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave

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Eating Disorders Awareness week is from February 26th to March 3rd. Something you may not know, is that eating disorders affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation and background and about 28.8 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.  Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of any other psychiatric illness (aside from the recent increase of opioid related deaths). 

Lending her expertise in this field is Rebekah Bardwell Doweyko, who has over 20 years of clinical experience with eating disorders. Rebekah is the Assistant Vice President of Clinical Operations, Ambulatory Services, at Walden Behavioral Care in Middletown CT.  She earned her Master's degree in mental health counseling and is a licensed professional counselor in CT and other states, and she is a certified eating disorder specialist.  Rebekah says that eating disorders are complex, and for some people social media can be difficult to manage in treatment. "Social media is an avid partner in contributing to the power of diet culture and weight stigma.  We encourage our clients to discontinue, pause, or edit whom they follow on social media in order to limit the images, stories and/or reels that can be activating for their eating disorder. We have a group called "Eating Disorders in the Media", that focuses on teaching our folks how to develop a "fact checking" lens for social media use."  Rebekah also says that CT Paid Leave a lifesaver, because it is instrumental in getting people into lifesaving treatment. Rebekah has worked with several patients and caregivers who have used the CT Paid Leave program. She feels it is a lifesaver as it gives patients and their families the time to engage in proper treatment, without worrying about lost income.


For information on Walden Behavioral Care in Middletown CT:  Eating Disorder Treatment Programs | Walden (waldeneatingdisorders.com)
Walden phone # (888) 228-1253. 

Admissions email address is Admissions@WaldenBehavioralCare.com 

For Rebekah Doweyko:  rdoweyko@waldenbehavioralcare.com

For information or benefits go to: CT Paid Leave

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January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society says about 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year and about 4,360 women will die from cervical cancer.  CT paid Leave can help women going through any stage of this disease with income replacement benefits, and flexibility with different types of leave options. You can get up to 12 weeks of income replacement to take care of your own serious health condition or that of a loved one. 

 Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen is an OB-GYN at UConn Health Center and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UConn School of Medicine. She is a Gynecological Oncologist and treats cervical cancer. She says it's important to do all your screenings to catch anything in the early stages. She also thinks CT Paid Leave is really important for patients to be able to take time off for radiation or chemotherapy treatments. She also thinks allowing caregivers time off to help the patients is vital to improving the outcome of treatment.

 Erin Choquette is the CEO of CT Paid Leave and is a survivor of cervical cancer. Erin tells her personal story and how she found out she had cervical cancer at a follow-up medical appointment after the birth of her daughter.  She said cervical cancer screenings are important, but knowing and trusting when something just isn't right with your body is vital for an early diagnosis. Erin says she had a great support system and that helped her to get through the treatments and allowed her to focus on her healing. Erin says CT Paid Leave is so important for women going through a cervical cancer diagnosis to be able to take time off from work for treatment and recovery.
 
For information about Cervical Cancer at UConn Health  go to: Cervical Cancer | Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center (uconn.edu)

For Cervical Cancer prevention go to: Cervical Cancer is Preventable - UConn Today

For information about CT Paid Leave and to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave

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January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month. Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States according to the CDC That means nearly 120,000 babies are affected by birth defects each year. Birth defects can occur during any stage of pregnancy. Most birth defects occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the organs of the baby are forming.  However, some birth defects occur later in pregnancy. During the last six months of pregnancy, as the tissues and organs continue to grow and develop.

Erin Jones is the Director of Legislative and Strategic Counsel for the March of Dimes and says that CT Paid Leave is essential to help the mother and the child if complications should arise. She says the extra two weeks provided in addition to the 12 weeks of income replacement for complications with pregnancy gives the necessary support that is needed in these stressful situations.

For more information on the March of Dimes:  Help us improve the health of all moms and babies | March of Dimes
For information or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave

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Endometriosis is a painful chronic disease that affects over 160 million women worldwide, 10 million across the United States and in Connecticut 1 in 10 women have it. The only way to get an accurate diagnosis is with surgery and that can cost somewhere between 20 and 30 thousand dollars or more. The cost of the surgery can be a huge barrier to get treatment for this debilitating condition.

Connecticut is leading the way in research and is the first in the nation to get a law passed, House Bill 6672, "An Act Concerning Endometriosis".  In June, the General Assembly passed the legislation creating a first-of-its-kind endometriosis data and biorepository program to bring greater awareness, action and care options to those suffering from endometriosis. The person behind the law is State Representative Jillian Gilchrest who decided something had to be done for the women in the state suffering from this disease. She talks about the Working Group she created to help women with the challenges of living and working with the disease, the importance of having better care from medical professionals, and the need for continued research.

 Kailey Mitchell is an advocate, and a support group founder and she talks about her own battle with endometriosis and the challenges she faced in her life and with working. She talks about the troubles with diagnosis, the mental health component of the disease and why she formed her own support group in Connecticut.

Finding time to see your healthcare provider or the maintenance of your condition are some of the many challenges of living with a chronic disease. CT Paid Leave can help with income replacement for this serious health condition. You can get up to twelve weeks of income replacement so you can focus on your health.


For more information or to apply for benefits go to : CT Paid Leave

For Endometriosis support groups go to: (20+) CT Endometriosis Support Group | Facebook

For more information on the Endometriosis Working Group:  Endometriosis Working Group | Connecticut House Democrats

Endometriosis Reasearch: Endometriosis Research at JAX

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December is HIV/Aids Awareness Month.   While the treatments for HIV have prolonged life expectancy, there is no cure yet. HIV it is considered a chronic illness or a chronic health condition. Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 40 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

Kayce Harding is the director of the Center for Key Populations, which is part of Community Health Center inc. Kasey says that people can live healthy full lives after an HIV diagnosis. Treatments have also changed with daily medications that can keep the HIV detection in your blood very low. The new medications have less side effects and new research is being done on a monthly injection that will be easier than taking pills every day. Kasey says CT Paid Leave can help ease the burden for people with HIV. Being able to use paid leave for your continuing care gives peace of mind to patients, and it's important people know this service is available to them.

CT Paid Leave can help patients take time off from work who qualify, with up to 12 weeks of income replacement for their own serious health condition or that of a loved one. HIV is considered a chronic health condition and CT Paid Leave can help with being flexible with the time off when you need it. If you need more time you can use block leave and take all 12 weeks at once , or there is intermittent leave and reduced schedule leave.

To get in touch with Kasey Harding: Our Locations (chc1.com)
or call 860-347-6971

For home HIV test kits: 5 best at-home HIV tests: A comparison guide (medicalnewstoday.com)

FREE HIV Self-Tests! - Greater Than HIV

Together TakeMeHome

To find out more or to apply for benefits got to : CT Paid Leave

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About 3.4 million people have epilepsy nationwide, and about 36,000 people have epilepsy in Connecticut.

 Monica Anzelone is the Program and Services Manager for the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut. Monica talked about the many programs and services offered to patients and family members at the foundation, including behavioral health. Monica brought along epilepsy patient 32-year-old James who has had some challenges in regard to his employment, but now is currently happily employed. He was seizure free for almost 20 years but has recently suffered from seizures and has some memory issues that sometimes comes from the seizures.

CT Paid Leave can help patients who have epilepsy, and the caregivers who help them. Epilepsy is considered to be a chronic condition. You can take up to 12 weeks away from work to focus on your own health condition or that of a loved one. 

For information about the Epilepsy Foundation of CT go to: Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut (epilepsyct.com)

For information or to apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leave

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November is National Family Caregivers Month.  58% of caregivers are women. Almost one-third of caregivers provide care at least 20 hours a week.  About 80 percent of caregivers care for adults aged 50 or older, and one in 6 non-caregivers expects to become a caregiver within two years.

Caregiver leave under CT Paid Leave allows you to take time away from work to care for a loved one who is undergoing a serious health or family issue. Caregivers can be blood related but don’t have to be, they can also be related by affinity. That means that the person is like a family member, and it could be a best friend or a cousin or a neighbor or someone you live with but aren’t married to. You are allowed to take up to 12 weeks of income replacement in a calendar year.

 My guest is caregiver Mya Baldwin. Mya cared for her sister who was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer while she was pregnant with twin boys and living in New Jersey. Mya talks about how paid leave gave her 12 weeks of income replacement to help her sister with chemo treatments, and to help after the birth of her twin boys. Mya says that caregiver leave allowed her the flexibility to take time away from work so she could focus on the health and well-being of her sister.

To find out more about caregiver leave, or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave

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In Connecticut, 1/3 of all criminal court cases involve domestic violence. Everyday dozens of victims seeking help can’t get it and are turned away from critical services, including shelters. Earlier this month a report claimed that Connecticut shelters were at 150 percent capacity. Some agencies were trying to get hotel rooms because of a lack of space. Whether you call it family violence, domestic violence or intimate partner violence it is a serious health crisis in Connecticut.

Jennifer Lopez is the Interval House Director of Court Advocacy Programs in Hartford. Jennifer has worked for 30 years on behalf of domestic violence victims in the court system both in criminal and civil proceedings. She says COVID created a backlog in the court system, and they are still catching up with all the cases. She says every case in court is different but the most important part of leaving an abusive relationship is having a safety plan.

Jane Doe is a domestic violence survivor and is going through both criminal and civil court proceedings and says CT Paid Leave is invaluable. She says there are many court dates, and it makes it hard to take time away from work to attend them.

The Family Violence provisions that CT Paid Leave offers to eligible workers in Connecticut includes 12 days of income replacement along with the Family Violence Leave Act that offers 12 days of job protection for these reasons:

1.    To seek medical care or psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability for the victim (survivor) 

2.    To obtain services from a victim services organization on behalf of the victim(survivor) 

3.    To move or relocate due to such family violence 

4.    To participate in any civil or criminal court proceeding related to or resulting from such family violence.

If you or someone you know is the victim of family, domestic or intimate partner violence the statewide 24-hour toll free # in English call 888-774-2900 for Spanish call 844-831-9200.

If you are in danger, please call 9-1-1.

For more information about interval house:  intervalhousect.org or call (860) 246-9149.

For information or to apply for benefits go to CT Paid Leave.org

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One in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Most are over the age of 50 when they are diagnosed, but not all of them are.

Bianca was 2 days shy of her 30th birthday. She had a 2-year-old son, when she got her diagnosis. She was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer and found it herself during her monthly self-breast exam. Her journey of survival began with chemo, radiation and further ways to curb a recurrence. Bianca is 6 years cancer free but is always looking over her shoulder. She continues to educate her community with her own story.

The Komen New England Executive Director Nicole Marohn says education is key to a better outcome with breast cancer. She says that black women still have a 4 percent lower incidence rate of breast cancer than white women, but they have a 40 percent higher breast cancer death rate. Komen does outreach in underserved communities to ensure a better outcome.



Resources:

CT Paid Leave
CT Paid Leave

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut
      http://www.komenct.org/ 
 

   The Connecticut Breast Cancer Coalition/Foundation
      http://www.cbccf.org

   Breast Cancer Resource Guide for Connecticut     
      http://breastcancer.uchc.edu

    Breast Cancer: What Science Knows, What Women Think
      http://www.ehhi.org/reports/breast_cancer/

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Alcohol and drug addiction are significant public health issues. The financial challenges hit not only the person but their family, community and caregivers. The annual cost for substance abuse treatment is over 600 billion dollars. Each year, 16 million or 6 percent of Americans over the age of 12 abuse prescription drugs.

Kevin Shuler is a Recovery Coach Program Manager for CCAR, (Connecticut Community Addiction Recovery), and it is a centralized resource hub in Connecticut for all things relating to recovery. CCAR can help you to navigate the recovery community by connecting you with others in recovery and providing access to area support services.

Kevin talks openly about his life of addiction that almost killed him, and how he rebounded to help others fighting their recovery process. He talks about how this affected his family and support system, and how CT Paid Leave could really help during a desperate time.

For more information about recovery in Connecticut and CCAR go to: Home - CCAR
or call 866-205-9770.

For more information and resources go to: Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

For information about Benefits or to Apply go to: CT Paid Leave

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National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, and to recognize the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible. This is just a portion of President Biden's proclamation about National Recovery Month: " During National Recovery Month, we celebrate the more than 20 million Americans who have had the courage to seek help for substance use disorder, showing millions of others that recovery is possible. We honor their resilience and recommit to making sure that every American has access to the services and support they need to rebuild lives of purpose and hope. "

Joining me to talk about addiction and treatment is Teodoro (Teo) Anderson Diaz, LCSW, LADC, a behavioral health care leader and practitioner from Wheeler Clinic he is the vice president of Health and Wellness Center Outpatient Services. Teo oversees the clinic’s mental health and substance abuse recovery services and ensures continued integration of behavioral health programs and primary care services.  He also served as a licensed clinical social worker and addiction counselor. He is a member of the adjunct faculty at the Springfield College of Social Work. Teo received a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in human service administration from Springfield College.

Teo talks about a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. He looks at everything that is holding someone back from living a life of sobriety and directs people to live a life that is fulfilling. He talks about pain points and what is pushing someone to seek treatment for their addiction and he talks about the importance of diet and self-worth. He also says it is important to have a good support system in place and that the road to recovery may take several attempts.

For more information about Wheeler Clinic go to :   Wheeler Health - Community | Health | Care (wheelerclinic.org)

For a list of recovery services please go to : INDEX - DMHAS Directories

Under CT Paid Leave, the leave may be taken only for treatment for substance abuse by a healthcare provider or by a provider of health care services on referral by a healthcare provider, but not for absences caused by an employee’s use of the substance.
For more information go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

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August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and today we're looking at things from a doctor's point of view.

Breastfeeding isn't always easy and for the best health outcomes the American Academy of Pediatrics( AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with foods for at least two years and beyond as mutually desired. My guest is Dr. Jennifer Schwab. Dr. Schwab is a pediatrician with Rocky Hill pediatrics. She's a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She graduated Coombe laude from the College of Holy Cross and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She serves as Chair of the Connecticut Children's Care Network, an organization of about 200 pediatricians in Connecticut, which focuses on improving the quality and affordability of health care for children and their families, which is a huge problem. She's also the Division Chief of community Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and on the board of directors at CCMC.

We talk about the health reasons to breastfeed for Mom and for the baby.  The dr. wants to make sure patients know their goals and she as a doctor tries to help patients to meet those goals. We also talk about peri-partum mood and anxiety disorders.

 Resources:

Rocky Hill Padiatrics: Rocky Hill Pediatrics
The Nest collaborative: Nest Collaborative | Lactation Experts | Breastfeeding Help
La leche League:  Breastfeeding Support / La Leche League of Connecticut (lllct.org)
Breastfeeding Coalition : Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition - Home (breastfeedingct.org)

State of CT:  Breastfeeding Resources for Connecticut Families – United Way of Connecticut – 211 and eLibrary (211ct.org)

LactMed: Medication Safety in Breastfeeding | AAFP

CT Paid Leave: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

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August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breastfeeding has proven to have health benefits for both mothers and babies in high-income and low-income settings, yet less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to World Health Organization. Meanwhile, the commercial milk formula industry generates revenues of about $55 billion each year.

The guests on this podcast are Monica Belyea who is a Nutrition Consultant with the CT Department of Public health and Taylor Smith, an Interdisciplinary Doula with strong interests in science, nutrition, herbal remedies and lactation.

Monica's expertise is in Early Childhood health and education systems and infant and young child feeding and nutrition. She focuses on the policies and laws protecting safe and healthy breastfeeding in the workplace and is the Past-Chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition and a Steering Committee member of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition.

In addition to being a Doula, Taylor is also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and is extremely passionate about helping women through their breastfeeding and pregnancy journey. Taylor serves as the current co-chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coaltion. She is currently a participant in Paving the Way: Diversity in Lactation, which is a mentorship program that aims to increase BIPOC numbers in lactation by guiding Women of Color to obtain their International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential and she will be sitting for the exam this fall.
 
Monica talks about the legal rights of mothers to pump in the workplace and the need to make sure marginalized communities are aware of their rights. Taylor says she is trying to increase awareness in minority communities about the benefits of breastfeeding to increase the number of mothers who breastfeed.

CT paid leave provides up to 12 weeks of income replacement so both parents can bond with their child, and breastfeeding can be a big part of that bonding experience.

Find out more about breastfeeding at:
Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition - Home (breastfeedingct.org)

(20+) Facebook

Breastfeeding Resources (ct.gov)

For benefits or to apply: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site


 

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Out of 186 countries, 96 percent provide some pay to women who are on maternity leave.  81 countries provide paid leave to fathers. The United States lags far behind.

Our focus today is how paid leave affects many things including families and business, and women's earning potential.
Maya Rossin-Slater is an Associate Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic and Policy Research (SIEPR), a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a Research Affiliate at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). She received her Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, and her BA in Economics and Statistics from the University of California at Berkeley. Rossin-Slater’s research includes topics such as paid leave, health care, public and labor economics. She focuses on issues in maternal and child well-being, family structure and behavior, health disparities, and public policies affecting disadvantaged populations in the United States and other developed countries. She is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Career Award and has published articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Her paid leave research includes California, And New York and a bit of Rhode Island.

We talk about the family health and well-being benefits that paid leave offers, and how it can help with mother and infant mortality rates. She says the leave is not long enough in the United States so there is very small positive or no effect on women's labor work trajectories. We also touch on how paid leave can help low income or otherwise disadvantaged families. She also said that COVID changed attitudes of employers towards paid leave.

CT Paid Leave began giving benefits in January of 2022. Since then, we have had a total of 134, 384 claims, and of those that were approved as of June 26 we have had a total of 83, 564 workers get benefits for their own serious health issues or that of a loved one. As of June first we have given out more than 375 million dollars in benefits. 

for more information on research by Maya Rossin-Slater: maya rossin slater - Google Scholar

For benefits or to open a claim for CT paid leave: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site


For more podcast episodes: (2) The Paid Leave Podcast - YouTube

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Many parents return to work soon after a child’s birth. In fact, in the United States, 1 in 4 mothers, primarily those with lower income, return just two weeks after delivering their child.
 
 CT Paid Leave offers up to 12 weeks of income replacement to parents to bond with their child.
 
 Commissioner Beth Bye from the Office of Early Childhood, is an education specialist, and she was an early advocate for CT Paid Leave. She joins me for a discussion about the economic benefits of paid leave, which includes parents saving thousands of dollars in childcare expenses.
 
 For more information about the Office of Early Childhood : https://www.ctoec.org

To apply for benefits got to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site 

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US



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June is Pride Month.

"Blood is thicker than water," however for many people, family isn't just about blood — it's about deep, meaningful connections.  During Pride month you may hear the words "chosen family".  A chosen family is a family you choose to have in your life that loves and supports you the way a blood family would.

My guest Robin McHaelen  is well-known locally and nationally in the LGBTQ+ community as a leader, advocate and consultant. Robin is the founder and former Executive Director of True Colors, Inc.  She was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Hate Crimes Commission. Robin says it is important for blood families to show compassion when someone comes out. Family rejection can have lasting traumatic implications.

My guest Ace Ricker is a public advocate and educator who’s been speaking on transgender rights since the age of fifteen. He’s the founder of A.C.E. (Awareness through Communication and Education) where he facilitates interactive workshops, training sessions and round-table discussions. Ace is a transgender man of color, and says his chosen family helped him through a very tough time after his family rejected him.

CT Paid leave has an expanded definition of family when you are care giving to a loved one with a serious health condition. You can be blood related, or you can be related by affinity. That means someone you have a close relationship with that is equivalent to that of a family, like a friend, co- worker or a Godson. You can get up to 12 weeks of income replacement if you qualify so you don’t have to worry about losing income during this time.

You can reach Robin McHaelen at: McHaelen Consulting Services, LLC | LGBTQ+ Consultant in Manchester, CT (robinmchaelen.com)
mchaelen@gmail,com

You can reach Ace Ricker at: A.C.E (Awareness through Communication & Education) - Home (acericker.com)
acericker.consulting@gmail.com

To apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site
or call:  877-499-8606

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Pride Month is all about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and advocating for their rights—and the medical field is no exception to this. Health care should be inclusive and respectful for everyone, no matter their gender identity or who they love. The challenges include gaps in coverage, affordability, stigma, discrimination and poor treatment from healthcare professionals.

Katie Tierney is the Medical Director of the Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness and is an APRN specializing in Endocrinology. She believes that patients need to be treated with dignity and respect. With LGBTQ+ that starts with using the correct pronouns and validating them in the health care space.

Tony Ferraiolo is a transgender advocate and is the Director of Youth and Family Programs at Health Care Advocates International, which provides a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth and their families to be supported. Tony talks candidly about his own healthcare stories as a transgender man, the good and the bad. Tony dedicates himself to educating providers and the business community about inclusion.
 
Guest Information
:
Tony Ferraiolo:  Tony Ferraiolo | Health Care Advocates International (hcaillc.com)
email Tony directly at:  tonyferraiolo@hcaillc.com

Katy Tierney: Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness // Middlesex Health
Call Middlesex health at 860-358-6000

The CT Paid Leave program provides up to 12 weeks of crucial income replacement to LGBTQ+ individuals seeking health care. That also includes mental health care, if it includes incapacitation and you have continued care from a health care provider.

To apply for paid leave benefits please set up your account here:
CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site
Assistance is also available by calling (877) 499–8606.

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May is Mental health Awareness month, and with that comes the question of what parents should do if their child is having mental health issues. The Pew Research Center report said mental health was the greatest concern among parents, followed by bullying, which worries 35% of parents. These concerns trumped fears of kidnapping, dangers of drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy and getting into trouble with the police.

According to the Connecticut School Health survey released in May 2023, 1 in 7 high school students across Connecticut have seriously considered suicide.

My guests are Dr. Frank Gregory, the Administrator of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Children's Behavioral Health Community Services Systems. He says kids have been struggling and suffering for too long, and that is why it is so important to have resources in place.

Parent Shannon Ozkan has multiple children with mental health issues. Shannon works at Favor Inc., which is a nonprofit organization that assists families with mental health needs and advocacy. She talks candidly about her own family struggles and how she helps other families navigate services.

If your child needs mental health services call:  2-1-1 or 9-8-8
 
To get in touch with Favor Inc. call   860-563-3232 or go to: » About (favor-ct.org)

To apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

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