September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a leading cause of death and affects people of all ages. 1.6 million people attempt suicide every year in the United States, and 3.6 million made a plan. Suicide is a serious health crisis.When a person dies by suicide, the effects are felt by family, friends, and communities. Marisa Giarnella is the co-founder of the Jordan Porco Foundation, that was created in the memory of her son Jordan who took his life as a freshman in college. The foundations goals are to prevent suicide, promote mental health, and create a message of hope for young adults. Marisa says one suicide can affect over 130 people. We talked about Jordan, their flagship program known as Fresh Check Days a sort of mental health check-in at colleges across the country, and how to get through a suicide in the family. Marisa says that mental health needs to be talked about and destigmatized. She also says it's ok to ask for help.To get in touch with the Jordan Porco Foundation go to: Jordan Porco Foundation Jordan Porco Foundation | Suicide Awareness and Prevention (rememberingjordan.org)The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for Immediate Help call: 1.800.273.8255Or Text HOME to 741741Dial 988OR DIAL 2-1-1 TO FIND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN YOUR AREA   OR DIAL 9-1-1 IN AN EMERGENCYFor more information or to apply for benefits go to ctpaidleave.orghttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about healthy aging and falls prevention. Falls are the leading cause of injury for those 65 and older adults. Over 14 million, or one in 4 older adults reports falling every year. The risks and potential consequences of falls increase with age and can lead to injury, loss of independence and are a leading cause of death in the U.S. among the 65 and older age group, according to fall statistics from the Centers for Disease and Prevention. Angela Vasquez is the Healthy Aging Program Coordinator for the Bureau of Aging in Connecticut. Angela has been working in the field of public health and community-based research for more than a decade.  We discuss how to prevent falls, what to do to make a plan to stay in your home as you age, and how prevention can really help you age in a healthy way.To get in touch with the Bureau of Aging please call: 1-800-994-9422for information or to apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

In the United States, the month with the largest number of births is typically August, with July a close second. In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we talk to the State Treasurer Erick Russell about the Baby Bonds program. Treasurer Russell talks about the fact that Connecticut is the first state in the nation to have the Baby Bond program aimed at curbing racial and generational poverty. He talks about the program, and he highlights the potential to engage families and build long-term economic opportunities for their children. Treasurer Russell talks about his background and emphasizes the importance of teaching financial literacy to children in middle school, and the importance of teaching them about credit history and long-term investments, like a 401k retirement plan. He also touches on Connecticut's progress in stabilizing finances, and the importance of family-friendly policies in the state like the Baby Bonds program, CHET and CT Paid Leave. Treasurer Russell was sworn in as Connecticut’s 84th State Treasurer in January of 2023.  For more information about the Baby Bond program please go to: CT Baby BondsFor more information about CT Paid Leave or to apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

August 4 through august 10th is National Health Center week. Deb Polun serves as the Chief Strategy officer at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut known as (CHC/-ACT). It is the statewide association that supports the work of Connecticut’s Community Health Centers, which provide primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare to 420,000 people across CT each year. In her role, Deb provides leadership on public policy and advocacy, helps build and strengthen community and corporate relationships, and helps plan for a sustainable community health center network. Deb says that Community Health Centers are beautiful buildings that offer quality health care whether you have insurance or not.Deb also realizes that CT Paid Leave can benefit her employees and the people they serve t the Community Health Centers with income replacement during a serious health crisis. The program ensures they can take care of themselves without having to worry about paying bills.To find a Community Health Center near you please go to: Community Health Center Association of Connecticut | CHC/ACT (chcact.org)To apply for benefits or for more information please go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

Pets are like family. The dog treat business had a good year in 2024.  The market value exceeded expectations, reaching $8.3 million. The trend is set to continue, with the market projected to reach a whopping $14.2 million by 2034.Laurie Surprenant and Amy Kenkel are the co-owners of the dog bakery company, Leaps and Bones. They talk about the struggles starting the business in their home, and the hardships and rewards of owning their own business. They have built a family culture in their business with most employees being there at least for 5 years and some have been there since the beginning. They are such big supporters of CT Paid Leave because they want their employees, who are like family, to have real benefits. They have had employees use the CT Paid Leave program and realize the benefits it gives to small businesses and their workers.To get in touch with Leaps and Bones you can call 860-212-2305, or to find out more please go to:  All Natural Dog Bakery/Dog Cake Bakery (leapsandbones.com)To apply for benefits or more, please go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

Chris Murphy is the junior United States Senator for Connecticut and has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. In the Senate, he is a strong voice for mental health care access, commonsense gun safety laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy.  As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, he fights for policies to support workers and their families, like making childcare more affordable, paid leave, and raising the minimum wage. Senator Murphy talked about the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, and social connection, and how the CT Paid Leave program can help. To contact Junior United States Senator Chris Murphy, go to: Contact Chris | Senator Chris Murphy (senate.gov)For information about his platform of loneliness: ‘I care about it’: Sen. Chris Murphy’s battle against loneliness (senate.gov)For information or to apply for benefits please go to: ctpaidleave.orghttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

This is an exciting time for anyone suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease.   A new drug that should get FDA approval by the end of this year, would expand the treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans of all ages who have Alzheimer's. The disease is the fifth-leading cause of death for adults over 65. Donanemab, a drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company, showed promising results in clinical trials. The drug eliminates brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's. Studies show the drug could be a breakthrough in treating early stages of the disease, slowing cognitive decline in those with early symptoms.Joe Montminy is a patient advocate who is living with younger onset dementia and is currently serving on the MA/NH Alzheimer’s Association Board of Directors and the New England Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisory group. He used to live in CT and was diagnosed at 54 years old, it took 3 years before he could get a correct diagnosis. Joe says he is optimistic that this new drug and exciting new blood testing to get an earlier diagnosis, is going to make a big difference. Joe keeps a very positive attitude and finds comfort in a support group.  Kristen Cusato is the Director of Communications for the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter & she is a New England Research champion. Kristen thinks that education is key and knowing the early signs of the disease, which can lead to an early diagnosis and treatment. She believes people like Joe can help with his advocacy, but more importantly he can bring hope with his story of struggle with early onset Alzheimer's disease. To get in touch with the CT chapter of the Alzheimer's Association: Connecticut Chapter (alz.org)To get information or to apply for benefits: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

Studies have shown that taking paternity leave helps fathers to feel less stressed, anxious, and depressed. The reason this happens is because of a hormone called oxytocin. When released, it promotes bonding and reduces stress levels. 43 percent of fathers are taking bonding leave through CT Paid Leave. This gives fathers time away from work with income replacement so they can bond with their baby whether by birth, adoption or fostering. Just in time for Father's Day which is June 16th, I talked with two fathers for a special podcast. Guest David Sergi lived in a state without a paid leave program when his first child was born, and moved to CT so they could expand their family in a state with a paid leave program with their second child. Guest Charlie Johnson has resided in CT and wasn't able to use CT paid Leave for his first child because it wasn't available yet. He was able to use it for his second child. Both David and Charlie say being able to take bonding leave has been life altering.David and Charlie discuss the stigma of being a father taking bonding leave, how long they took off from work, how the CT Paid Leave program worked for them and how it changed their relationships with their families.To find out more about bonding leave or to apply for benefits go to: Qualifying Reasons (ctpaidleave.org)https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector borne infectious disease in the United States. The CDC says more people are infected with Lyme Disease than breast cancer. Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases come with a lot of unknowns. Before starting to treat symptoms, you must first get a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, diagnosing Lyme disease can be complicated and unclear.  Lyme disease can turn into a chronic health condition if it goes undiagnosed.  CT Paid Leave can help with this by giving you income replacement while you take time away from work for appointments, treatments and flare ups. Dr Myriah Hinchey is the medical director of Tao Center for Vitality in Hebron. Dr.  Hinchey is a naturopathic physician and Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS), and she is recognized as an expert in the field of Lyme disease and other complex chronic inflammatory conditions, with over 17 years of specialized experience. She has helped thousands of people infected to get effective treatment.  She says it is tough to get a diagnosis without getting more in depth and accurate testing done. Dr Hinchey says not all Lyme disease tests are created equal. The accuracy of Lyme disease tests can vary widely between testing methods, leaving many people without a reliable diagnosis, or misdiagnosis that can lead to many health complications. Dr. Hinchey also had Lyme disease and treated herself. She believes that prevention is the key and by doing tick checks every time you go outside, can save you years of agony.For information about Dr. Myriah Hinchey: Natural Lyme Disease Treatment Specialist - Specializing in natural herbal protocols - Dr Myriah Hinchey ND, Medical Director (taovitality.com)For the 3rd annual  LymeBytes Symposium in CT: LymeBytes™ Lyme Disease Conference & Community Support – LymeBytes!™For more information or to apply for benefits:  CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

May is Maternal Mental Health Month. During the month, the focus is on increasing awareness about mental health and the well-being of mothers during pregnancy and the time after birth. About 10-15% of women experience postpartum depression. Mental health issues are the most common complication of childbirth. Doulas can help alleviate some of the emotional stress and burden from a parent as they help recognize what the parent needs.  Guests Brittany Needham and Shannon Knox created Golden Radiance Village, a holistic full spectrum doula company. They talked about what they do as doula's and the certifications and training they went through and how their friendship and business partnership grew. Doulas provide support to mothers regarding prenatal care and post-partum care which can include post-partum depression, which can be considered a serious health condition under CT Paid Leave. Shannon and Brittany talk about some of the signs families and friends should be looking for with post-partum depression. They talk about the emotional struggles for single parents, and how doula work can really help parents through trying times. Shannon and Brittany both think CT Paid Leave is a great service to offer their clients, because it can give new parents a chance to have time away from work, and to focus on their new baby and their own health needs and not worry about finances.  For more information or to get a hold of Golden Radiance Village go to: About Us — Golden Radiance VillageFor information or to sign up for benefits: go to : CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

National Infertility Awareness Week is April 21-27. The week is an observance that aims to raise awareness about infertility, provide support, and foster conversations around this critical health issue. Roughly one out of six people experience infertility. The chance to expand a family can take time away from work to focus on testing, diagnostics, and treatment.  Dr. Maya Barsky is a lead physician at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and Assistant Professor in the Department of OB/GYN at the UConn School of Medicine and is an infertility specialist. Dr. Barsky talks about some of the testing that can occur when infertility is an issue. She also discusses the treatments available to her patients who want to expand their family.  She said this can be a burden on a family financially, emotionally and physically.Crystal and Everett have underlying health issues that caused their infertility. Everett was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a child and had a double lung transplant. He knew that having children would be challenging with his condition and the anti- rejection medications. Everett and his wife Crystal went to the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and had IVF treatments and had their first baby girl and are now pregnant with their second child due in July as a result of IVF treatments! Crystal is a unionized State of Connecticut employee and is not able to utilize CT Paid Leave. However, Everett is planning on taking CT Paid Leave for bonding with his second child. He also used CT Paid Leave when he had serious complications from COVID and was under the care of his doctor. Dr Barsky says that CT Paid Leave is a wonderful program for patients to utilize for the hardships of infertility diagnosis, and infertility and mental health treatments. To get in touch with one of the six locations at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services visit:  UConn Fertility | Center for Advanced Reproductive Services in Connecticut Or you can reach them at: 844-467-3483For information about CT Paid Leave or to apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leave https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

April is Autism Acceptance Month. According to the CDC, in 2023 one in 36 children were diagnosed as falling somewhere on the autism spectrum. The cost of caring for people with autism is predicted to reach $461 billion by 2025 in the U.S.Alanna, who has three children, knew very early on that something was different about her youngest son Lawson. She had to wait 2 years for further testing, and Lawson was diagnosed as Level 2 on the autism spectrum. Alanna feels that receiving an early diagnosis was very important to Lawson's wellbeing and treatment plan. She sees the beauty in the little things that Lawson does, like reading and drawing. Dr. Kristine Schlitchting is the founder and CEO of Hopewell Health Solutions, a therapeutic and psychiatric practice offering intensive outpatient therapy for children as young as 8 who suffer from a variety of disorders, including autism. She believes that a child's autism is a broader family issue, and that all the stakeholders including teachers and schools need to be on the same page to provide the best treatment strategy.  Dr Schlitchting encourages parents to utilize CT Paid Leave benefits, as there is usually a time commitment needed from the parents or caregivers with intensive outpatient therapy. Whether it is driving the child for treatment or being involved in family therapy, parents need the flexibility that CT Paid Leave can provide.To get more information about Hopewell Health Solutions go to: Mental Health Counseling | Glastonbury, CT | 06073 (hopewellhealthsolutions.com) Phone # 860-946-0477There are several locations including: West Hartford 1216 Farmington Ave. Suite 301West Hartford, CT South Glastonbury1420 Main St. Suite 124Glastonbury, CTDowntown Glastonbury300 Hebron Ave., Suite 201, 203 and 212Glastonbury, Ct Glastonbury33 Pratt St.Glastonbury, CTFor information on Valley View School in Portland CT: Valley View | Portland Schools (portlandctschools.org)For information about Autism:  What is autism? | Autism SpeaksFor information or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

March is National Kidney Month. The average cost of a kidney transplant in the United States ranges from $300,000 to $500,000. This figure includes pre-transplant evaluations, the surgery itself, post-operative care, immunosuppressant medications, and follow-up appointments. Programs like CT Paid Leave can help with up to 12 weeks of income replacement while you heal from major surgery.  Nick Arsenault is a seasoned nurse who's navigated his own two kidney transplants, all while continuing to hold down his job. Nick talks about the challenges he faced physically and emotionally during the process, and complications that came up during his fight with kidney disease. Nick used CT Paid Leave twice and considered it to be crucial to his healing process, allowing him time away from work so he could focus on his health. He utilized CT Paid Leave for his second transplant to supplement his company's short-term disability.  He considered the program to be a lifeline, because he was able to cover his bills while he was at home recovering. He also talks about the importance of asking for help if you are struggling with the reality of your health crisis. He talks about his journey with therapy to help with the emotional toll of undergoing dialysis and facing a kidney transplant. He now tells his patients that is it important not to neglect your mental health, because it is key to your overall health. Nick is currently using intermittent leave under the CT Paid Leave program to deal with issues that developed during his second transplant. He talks about living with a chronic health condition and the need for ongoing medical appointments and medications. Nick is now 2 years out from his last transplant and says he is thankful every day.  To find out more information about Hartford Hospitals Transplant program ; Transplant | hartfordhospital.org | Hartford Hospital | Hartford, CT To get in touch with the Kidney Foundation of CT: NKF Serving Connecticut | National Kidney Foundation For more information or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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.orgFor 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 Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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 DiseaseRare 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. For more information about how to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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.comFor information or benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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 TodayFor information about CT Paid Leave and to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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 DimesFor information or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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 LeaveFor Endometriosis support groups go to: (20+) CT Endometriosis Support Group | Facebook For more information on the Endometriosis Working Group:  Endometriosis Working Group | Connecticut House DemocratsEndometriosis Reasearch: Endometriosis Research at JAXhttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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 860-347-6971For home HIV test kits: 5 best at-home HIV tests: A comparison guide (medicalnewstoday.com)FREE HIV Self-Tests! - Greater Than HIVTogether TakeMeHomeTo find out more or to apply for benefits got to : CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave