Coinciding with the start of National Diaper Need Awareness Week on September 18, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Diaper Bank of Connecticut (DBCT) released the first ever Diaper Connections status report.
The report details how the Diaper Connections program, launched in November, has implemented screening for diaper need at hospitals and is leveraging existing local community assets and partnerships to organize distribution channels, and distribute diapers in hospital settings such as labor and delivery units, maternity and pediatric clinics, emergency departments, and primary care sites.
The new collaborative program has resulted in distribution of nearly 1 million diapers to over 2,200 children and families since launching in November 2022.
“One in two U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry, and healthy. Diaper insecurity is related to several maternal and child health conditions, including maternal depression, poor infant sleep, infant and child urinary tract infections, and diaper rash. Diapers are a material basic need, like food and shelter, and are essential to the health and economic success of families,” said Dr. Selina Osei, Director, Health Equity and Community Engagement, CHA.
“More than an access point for diapers, Diaper Connections is driving toward coordinated, statewide action on maternal and child health,” said Dr. Megan Smith, Senior Director, Community Health Transformation, CHA.
“For almost 20 years, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut has been working with trusted community partners across the state in our work to eliminate diaper need,” said Janet Stolfi Alfano, Executive Director, DBCT. “Diaper Connections and our work with CHA is a significant expansion of this work, with hospitals as critical distribution and referral points. With community partners and CHA, we are examining the health-related outcomes and potential savings from preventing more costly emergency department visits.”
Click here to read the press release announcing the report, including statements of support from Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield), Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-Seymour), Senator Heather Somers (R-Groton), and Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of Housing.
How to Support Diaper Need Awareness Week:
- Read and share the report to raise awareness about the impact of diaper need and opportunities to work on collaborative solutions
- Participate in the Diaper Bank of Connecticut’s statewide Healthy Baby Diaper Drive (September 18 - October 14). Click here to learn more
- Share resources and information from the Diaper Bank of Connecticut and CHA, like this video, on social media
- Learn more about the Diaper Connections program here
CHA Congratulates Ena Williams, AONL’s New President-Elect
CHA Board Member Ena Williams has been elected by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) to serve as the 2024 president-elect of the AONL Board of Directors.
“Ena is an exceptional, innovative leader who inspires those around her,” said Jennifer Jackson, CEO, CHA. “She has dedicated her life to caregiving and engaging others in embracing the nursing profession to improve health equity and quality. She brings people together, and is an extraordinary mentor who works every day to support the next generation of nurses and diversify nursing leadership.”
Williams will assume the presidency January 1, 2026, leading the national membership organization whose strategic focus is excellence in nursing leadership and supporting more than 11,000 nurse leaders across the nation.
Williams currently serves as the senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Yale New Haven Hospital. She also leads several system-wide initiatives, such as nursing leadership development programs in partnership with the Yale School of Management.
CHA Hosts Region 1 AHA Health Equity Innovation Summit
This week, CHA hosted the American Hospital Association’s Region 1 Health Equity Innovation Summit. The event, focused on co-designing solutions to advance health equity, was presented by the AHA Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. The summit provided attendees the opportunity to participate in a design-thinking session with the goal of creating transformative health equity strategies tailored to the region.
CHA Board members Montez Carter, President and CEO, Trinity Health Of New England, and Ena Williams, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Yale New Haven Hospital, were part of a panel discussion at the event, “Can Innovation Advance Health Equity?”
Kurt Barwis, Incoming Chairman for Region 1 Regional Policy Board, also spoke at the event and welcomed colleagues from across New England.
Jennifer Jackson, CEO, CHA and Dr. Megan Smith, Senior Director of Community Health Transformation spoke about CHA’s commitment to health equity and building partnerships within communities to collaborate and better address health needs. They both spoke about the long road ahead to advance health equity and improve access to high-quality care for every person.
CHA Advocates for Changes to House Bill That Would Hurt Hospitals
CHA is urging Congress to reject provisions in H.R. 5378, The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act that would impose upon the nation's healthcare workforce additional administrative burdens that delay patient care.
CHA supports changes that would mitigate the components of the bill that further exacerbate the financial challenges facing many hospitals and threaten patients’ access to quality care.
Specifically, CHA is calling on lawmakers to eliminate harmful Medicare cuts for the drug administration services furnished in off-campus provider-based departments, remove the requirement for each off-campus hospital outpatient department to be assigned a separate unique identifier, allow hospitals to continue using price estimator tools to meet the “shoppable” services requirement as permitted by the Hospital Price Transparency Rule, and allow CMS to continue to determine the Hospital Price Transparency Rule maximum penalty assessed to noncompliant hospitals rather than setting the maximum amount in statute.
New United Way ALICE Report Shows 4 in 10 Households Are Struggling
According to a new report from the United Way of Greater New Haven and its research partner United For ALICE, 4 in 10 households in Greater New Haven are struggling to afford basic needs.
These families, defined as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), earn above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what’s needed to survive in the modern economy.
During the first two years of the pandemic, the number of Connecticut households unable to afford the basics grew to 39%, an 11% increase, and Greater New Haven has the highest percentage of families struggling to make ends meet at 42%.
The new report shows that for a family of four with an infant and a preschooler, the annual ALICE Household Survival Budget, which is the basic cost needed to live and work in Greater New Haven was $110,172 in 2021.???
Even with the variety of temporary pandemic supports available, in 2021, a family of four with two full-time workers earning salaries as a retail salesperson and a cashier – two of the most common occupations in Connecticut – fell short of affording the family budget by $27,682.???
The new ALICE report also highlights the inequalities that were exacerbated by the pandemic. In Connecticut in 2021, Black and Hispanic households, young households, and single-parent households had the highest rates below the ALICE Threshold.?
Using the ALICE Essential’s Index, which tracks the rising cost of essentials, including housing, child care, food, healthcare, transportation, and a smartphone plan, and adjusting it for two years, yields a projected 18.2% rate of inflation in Connecticut from 2021 to today.
To read the ALICE report and access online, interactive dashboards that provide data on financial hardship at the state, county and local level, visit United4ALICE.org/ALICECrosscurrents.
To learn more about the ALICE Essentials Index, and to explore the online dashboards, visit UnitedForALICE.org/Essentials-Index.
Healthcare Leadership
Four-Part Webinar Series
The second Thursday of each month from August – November from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Connecticut Hospital Association has collaborated with 20 sister state hospital associations and Huron to bring Connecticut’s hospital and health system leaders an exciting four-part webinar series. Over the course of four months, CHA will be providing four webinars from leaders in the field, addressing different approaches to leadership and information on the latest industry trends. This virtual series, being held from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., is designed for healthcare leaders and is only available to CHA hospital members. Registration is $100 for the entire four-part series or $30 per session. Space is limited – early registration is encouraged.
View brochure. Links to register for each event are included below.
- How to Have the Tough Conversations in Healthcare
Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Click here to register online
- Workforce Development: A Strategic Approach in Healthcare
Thursday, November 9, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Click here to register online
Essential Skills Every Leader Needs Series
This six-session series is designed to provide management principles, skills, and tools needed for professional growth and effectiveness within a hospital setting.
This series will be held on-site at CHA in Wallingford, and is limited to 25 participants from various areas within a hospital, creating an inter-functional cohort for exchange of diverse perspectives. Participation in all six sessions is recommended and a discount is available to participate in the entire series. However, registration for individual sessions is available.
Fees: $200 per session for employees of CHA Member organizations, $250 per session for employees of CHA Non- Member organizations, and $1,000 per series for employees of CHA Member organizations.
View brochure. Links to register for each event are included below.
- Planning for Success: Leadership and Management Skills
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
- Professional Presentation Skills
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
- Write Like a Professional
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
- Project and Time Management
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
- Having Difficult Conversations
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
- Managing a Budget
Thursday, November 16, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Program
Click here to register online
HRO Fundamental Training – Fall 2023
More than 10 years ago, Connecticut hospitals began the high reliability organization (HRO) journey together, committing to cultures of safety and improvement. As we continue to move forward on that journey with a soon-to-be-launched next phase of the HRO commitment, embedding the fundamental principles, practices, and behaviors is critical to the next step in the journey of evolving and transforming high reliability throughout Connecticut’s healthcare systems. To bolster these foundational learnings, CHA will offer education and training on these fundamental principles and behaviors of high reliability through a “Safety Starts with Me” CHAMP Safety Habit Training with virtual high reliability principles training and on-site Train-the-Trainer offerings. CHA will also provide a two-day “Cause Analysis Workshop” for those who are new to high reliability safety analysis or would like a refresher.
Registration links and further details about each offering are included below.
The material for all sessions will be presented by Press Ganey/HPI, and has been revised and updated from the original content. Continuing education credits will be provided. There is no fee to attend; these sessions are only open to CHA PSO Member Hospitals.
- “Safety Starts with Me” CHAMP Safety Habit Training – Virtual, Two-Part Session
Thursday, October 26 and Tuesday, November 14 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Click here to register for the first session and here for the second session
The training offered in the “Safety Starts with Me” CHAMP Safety Habit Training course remains foundational to reduce preventable harm in healthcare and to the next phase of developing HRO in Connecticut. CHAMP Safety Habits are behavior-based expectations selected to be comprehensive in addressing the three common types of human error (skill-based, rule-based, and knowledge-based errors) and to address specific common causes of past events and other identified performance concerns of the organization. This virtual session, applicable to everyone in the organization, will be offered in two consecutive classes, each class being 90 minutes in length. Registration and attendance at both sessions is highly recommended.
- “Safety Starts with Me” CHAMP Safety Habit Training, Train-the-Trainer – Onsite Sessions
Thursday, November 9 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at CHA in Wallingford. Each session is identical and limited to 50 registrants.
Click here to register for the 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. session
Click here to register for the 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. session
CHA will continue to offer “Safety Starts with Me” CHAMP Safety Habit Training, Train-the-Trainer, a highly effective model CHA has utilized throughout its high reliability journey to disseminate HRO principles and behaviors throughout organizations. The training is scripted, and requires a strong quality and safety advocate and enthusiastic participant, from support staff to managers and senior leaders, including the CEO, who is willing to train others within their organization.
- Cause Analysis Workshop – Onsite, Two-Part Session
Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at CHA in Wallingford.
Click here to register
The Cause Analysis Workshop is targeted for safety, quality, or risk department RCA analysts across Connecticut hospitals. This session will use interactive lectures, case study applications, and group discussion to reinforce the framework, tools, and techniques to enhance the identification of root causes, corrective actions, and lessons learned. The Workshop will also provide an in-depth understanding of how human performance is influenced and managed in complex systems.
PROUD Enduring Recorded Sessions
On Demand
Virtual Sessions
As care providers, there is much to learn about helping families managing substance use disorders to be successful. Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorders (PROUD) includes an education series for healthcare and service providers, giving them tools to help individuals and families manage the many challenges they face.
The education series includes several recorded, one-hour sessions, open for a year from their recording date. These sessions are free to participants (registration is necessary) and are available on demand to fit into busy schedules.
- Click here to learn more
