Text Box: Upcoming Events Text Box: April 13, 2007                 Reproductive Justice Networking Event                                        Southern Connecticut State University                                        Learn More April 26, 2007                  Women in the Trades Exchange                                        Universal Health Care Foundation, Meriden                                        Learn More April 29, 2007                 CARC Champaign Brunch featuring Gloria Steinem                                        Hilton Hartford Hotel                                        Learn More May 2, 2007                    Small and Micro Enterprise Business Showcase                                        Offered by the Micro Enterprise Resource Group (MERG)                                        State Capitol, Hartford                                        Learn More May 16, 2007                  NEW Training Program Graduation                                        Location TBD—please check our website soon for details June 11, 2007-                The 2007 Women’s Business Conference & Expo June 13, 2007                 “Business & You”                                        Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT                                        Learn More   June 21, 2007                 Save the Date!  Making Women Visible Dinner                                        State Armory, Hartford                                        Learn More     Text Box: PCSW NEWS is published 6 times a year under the Direction of Public Information Officer Barbara Potopowitz Christa Homola, Editor—christa.homola@cga.ct.gov To stop receiving this newsletter but remain in our database for other communication, click here. To remove yourself from our database entirely, click here. Got this from a friend? To be added to our mailing list, click here.  

Text Box: 2007 NEW Program participant Rachael Otero practices welding.

Text Box:                             2005-2006                                          Selected Highlights                           Annual Report                                  of Women’s History                                 Health Economic                              Guide to Women’s                           Sufficiency Standard (HESS)            Health Rights in                                                                                    Connecticut                          

Text Box: Latest Publications Available! Text Box: In a recent class, tradeswomen offered the current NEW Program participants advice on what it is like to be a woman in the trades. Front:: Nettie Roberts (Laborer), Juanita Chisolm (Ironworker). Back: Shon Missouri (Painter), Fiona Thomas (Plumber), Deborah Anderson (Laborer), Laura Martin (Electrician).  

Text Box:   The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) was established by the State Legislature in 1973. Seventeen appointed volunteer Commissioners join a staff and volunteers to work to eliminate sex discrimination in Connecticut. They are to inform leaders about the nature and scope of discrimination, to serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with services for women, to promote consideration of women for governmental positions, and to work with state agencies to access programs and practices as they affect women.

Text Box: April 2007

Text Box: What you’ll find... Text Box:   Legislative Highlights Update   Nettie Roberts, NEW Program Graduate   Our latest publications   Upcoming events      

Text Box: PCSW News—April 2007 Text Box:   Text Box: The PCSW provides information, research and analysis to elected officials and the public regarding issues affecting the status of women.  The legislative session convened on January 3rd and adjourns June 6th. The PCSW has testified on over 85 bills before various committees of the  General Assembly. Here’s a quick update of a few of the bills and issues we are monitoring.  For a complete list of our legislative priorities, visit our website.     S.B. 940, An Act Concerning the Prevention and Response to Human Trafficking   For the past three years, the PCSW has had the privilege of serving on an interagency task force chaired by Sen. Andrea Stillman to study the incidence and consequences of human trafficking in Connecticut.   We have made a great deal of progress in Connecticut in learning about and addressing trafficking.  Legislators, law enforcement personnel and community advocates and service providers have joined together to make sure that our laws are strong and that services are available to assist victims of this crime.    This bill is part two to the trafficking bill that passed last year which criminalized human trafficking.  This year’s bill is an important step forward because it would authorize funding for training and outreach to respond to victims of human trafficking and would establish a Trafficking in Persons Council.   Its path: SB 940 started in the Public Safety committee where it had a public hearing.  PCSW testified in support of the bill as did may other members of the Interagency Task Force on Trafficking in Persons. It was then voted out of Public Safety and now is waiting in the Appropriations Committee to be voted to the floor of the senate.   To read the bill, visit http://cgalites/2007/TOB/s/pdf/2007SB-00940-R02-SB.pdf   ***   S.B. 1343, An Act Concerning Compassionate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault   At the PCSW, we have worked for many years to promote full access to comprehensive health care for women, and to protect the needs and rights of women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.  This bill is about these two important issues – health care and the rights of crime victims - nothing less and nothing more.   S.B. 1343 would require all licensed health care facilities that provide emergency treatment for victims of sexual assault to follow the standard of care and provide medically and factually accurate information about emergency contraception and to dispense emergency contraception when requested by the victim.  Six other states currently have similar requirements, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Providing this standard of care will ensure medical care and psychological relief to rape victims, which they deserve without question.   Its path: SB 1343 started in the Human Services Committee where it had a public hearing.  PCSW testified in support of the bill as did many other advocates for women’s health care.  It was then voted out of Human Services and has now found its way to the floor of the senate.   To read the bill, visit http://cgalites/2007/FC/pdf/2007SB-01343-R000231-FC.pdf   *** Universal Health Care   The PCSW, through its Connecticut Women’s Health Campaign (CWHC), supports universal health coverage, and believes that coverage cannot be truly and completely universal without recognizing the special needs of women.    There are several legislative proposals which address universal health care in Connecticut. Some include expansions of private insurance purchasing pools, expansions of public insurance programs, and traditional private insurance eligibility expansions. States are debating such proposals at the same time as we face and aging society, rapidly changing health care technologies and no comprehensive federal health care reform. Connecticut’s proposals included SB 1, SB 3, HB 6693, HB 7314 and SB 1371. For more information, see www.cga.ct.gov or www.healthcare4every1.org.

Text Box: 2007 Legislative Highlights Update Text Box: PCSW’s Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Program is now in it’s 9th year. This is the state’s only pre-apprenticeship training program for women. The program offers Connecticut women the opportunity to enter the building and construction trades to earn a higher wage. Below is an excerpt from testimony by Nettie Roberts, a 2004 graduate of the program. She recently spoke before the legislature’s Appropriation’s Committee in support of continued funding for the NEW program.     “Three years ago I was working a part time job in sales for a home improvement company making $10 an hour or less than $200 a week. During that time I received housing assistance and food aid. I had no driver’s license or car. Health insurance for me and my family was also provided by the state.   I applied to the PCSW’s Pre-Apprenticeship training program in 2004 when I was 32 years old. I always had an interest in the trades and loved working outside.  I was accepted into the pre-apprenticeship program and showed a real aptitude for measurement and trade work.  I graduated and became an apprentice with the New England Laborers’ union.  I have been working full time at various construction projects ever since….”   Read Nettie’s complete testimony here. Text Box: NEW Program a Continued Success Text Box: PCSW Staff Directory Text Box:   Following is a list of our staff and a sampling of their areas of responsibility.  Please feel free to contact us at any time.   Teresa C. Younger, Executive Director, 860-240-8441 teresa.younger@cga.ct.gov General information, Public speaking, Press   Barbara Potopowitz, Public Information Officer, 860-240-8449 barbara.potopowitz@cga.ct.gov Press, Sexual harassment, Talent Bank, Prison issues, Internship program, Women Owned Business Initiative, Speakers’ Bureau, Website   Natasha Pierre, Associate Legislative Analyst, 860-240-0166 natasha.pierre@cga.ct.gov Legislative issues, Trafficking of women and girls   Lisa Sementilli, Policy and Special Projects Director, 860-240-8447 lisa.sementilli@cga.ct.gov Connecticut Women’s Health Campaign, Research projects   Michelle Noehren, Legislative Assistant, 860-240-0016 michelle.noehren@cga.ct.gov Legislative issues, Young Women’s Leadership Program   Rosemary Lopez, Administrative Resources Coordinator, 860-240-8446 rosemary.lopez@cga.ct.gov Discrimination complaints, Information and referrals, General information   Christa Homola, Administrative Assistant, 860-240-8445 christa.homola@cga.ct.gov Internship program, Young Women’s Leadership Program, Website, Newsletter, General information   Carole Stambo, Temporary Senior Administrative Assistant, 860-240-8443 carole.stambo@cga.ct.gov Connecticut Women’s Health Campaign, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Program, General information   Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Staff   Doreen Fredette, Program Manager, 860-240-8442 doreen.fredette@cga.ct.gov   Jeanne Miner, Administrative Assistant, 860-240-8448 jeanne.miner@cga.ct.gov  

Text Box:   Text Box:   Text Box: PCSW Commissioners   Jean L. Rexford  Chair Adrienne Farrar Houel Vice-Chair Carrie L. Gallagher Secretary Sandra Hassan  Treasurer Barbara DeBaptiste Elizabeth Donohue Tanya Meck Cindy R. Slane Susan O. Storey Patricia E.M. Whitcombe Cecilia J. Woods   Legislative Members Senator John A. Kissel Senator Andrew J. McDonald Rep. Michael P. Lawlor Rep. Arthur J. O’Neill   Honorary Members Connie Dice Patricia Russo  

Text Box: NEW Program graduate Nettie Roberts with PCSW Executive Director Teresa Younger.