Connecticut Commission on Children newsletter

Newsletter
April 2009

In this issue:

When does $1.5 million = $3.2 million? The federal stimulus package: What’s in it for children and families? SNAP Employment and Training: A new source for reducing child poverty	Brown to participate in Waterbury forum Commission on Children in the news About the Commission

When does $1.5 million = $3.2 million?

Lawmakers, parents, and philanthropic leaders held a news conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Wednesday, April 1, to outline how a $1.5 million investment in child and family initiatives by the state of Connecticut would be matched by $1.7 million from private foundations.

More information and photos

The federal stimulus package: What’s in it for children and families?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has given Connecticut an opportunity to work in new and creative ways to help families address some of the challenges created by the recession. Realizing this, the Commission brought in experts from around the country on March 10 to discuss how the stimulus package might affect Connecticut families in the areas of poverty reduction, health care, early child care, education, and job creation. Read more

SNAP Employment and Training: A new source for reducing child poverty
Thanks to legislation approved in 2008 by the General Assembly, Connecticut is about to put new federal funds to work in helping food stamp recipients get the training and other tools they need to find employment and become financially secure and self-sufficient. Read more and participate

Commission weighs in on legislative proposals
The Commission has given public-hearing testimony on dozens of bills in the 2009 General Assembly session, providing expert insight on issues like federal stimulus spending, strengthening the family, and child poverty.
Read the testimony here

Brown to participate in Waterbury forum
Commission on Children Legislative Director Elizabeth C. Brown will be among the panelists at "Federal Stimulus Dollars: Putting Them to Work in Our Communities," a forum set for Monday, April 13, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Playbox Theatre of Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury. Congressman Chris Murphy will give the keynote address. The event is sponsored by the Connecticut Community Foundation. To learn more and register, go to www.conncf.org

Commission on Children in the news
Note: Most newspapers make their online articles available for only a short period before charging access fees.

Parent leaders from across Connecticut were quoted by the Record-Journal of Meriden in a day-after article on an April 1 press conference regarding private matching funds available for investment in child and family initiatives. (See the lead article above.)
- Read a summary of the article on the Record-Journal website
- Request a copy of the full article from the Commission

Remember to visit our website, at www.cga.ct.gov/coc.

About the Commission
Created in 1985 by the Connecticut General Assembly, the 25-member Commission on Children brings together the three branches of government--legislative, executive, and judicial--as well as the private sector to promote public policies in the best interests of children. More

The Connecticut Commission on Children
18-20 Trinity Street
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Phone: (860) 240-0290
Fax: (860) 240-0248
Website: www.cga.ct.gov/coc

Commission members: M. Alex Geertsma, M.D., F.A.A.P., Chair; George A. Coleman, Vice Chair; Alison Hilding, Treasurer; Judith Busch, Secretary; James P. Cordier; Representative Andrew M. Fleischmann; Mary K. Fox; Senator Mary Ann Handley; Senator Jonathan Harris; Representative Michael Lawlor; Josh Piteo; Mary Grace Reed; Barbara J. Ruhe; Laura Lee Simon, Chair Emerita; John Yrchik. Ex-officio members: commissioners of children and families, developmental services, public health, education, social services, and correction; the secretary of policy and management; the attorney general; and the chief court administrator. More information

Commission staff: Elaine Zimmerman, executive director; Elizabeth C. Brown, legislative director; Thomas R. Brooks, director of policy and research analysis; Patricia Estill, special projects director; Dawn Homer-Bouthiette, Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) director; Kevin Flood, public information officer and webmaster; Mary Kate Lowndes, grant writer and accounts manager; Rachel Levy, executive secretary; Edie Luciano, legislative secretary. Contact information

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Newsletter editor: Kevin Flood