Category: State News

(HARTFORD, CT) – Joined by State Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS) Commissioner Patricia Rehmer and state and local law enforcement officials at Capitol Region Mental Health Center, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today unveiled a comprehensive plan to focus significant attention and resources toward improving the mental health system for Connecticut citizens.

“Since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut continues to focus significant attention and resources toward improving the mental health system for all of Connecticut’s residents,” said Governor Malloy. “This plan builds on our progress and allocates additional resources to improve critical services for young adults, families and law enforcement personnel. My budget proposal invests substantial additional resources into areas not addressed in initiatives related to last year’s legislation on gun violence prevention, mental health and school safety.”

• Governor Malloy has repeatedly identified stigma as a significant barrier to individuals and families seeking help.  To address this barrier, the budget includes $250,000 for an anti-stigma campaign intended to promote an accepting environment where individuals suffering from mental illnesses will not be ashamed to seek treatment.

• The Governor’s budget dedicates $5 million, when fully annualized, to improve mental health services for underserved populations.  Among other things, this funding will support residential and transitional services for individuals with serious mental illness, including young adults.

• The budget also provides $2.2 million in new funding to support housing through Rental Assistance Program vouchers (RAPs) and services for 110 individuals with mental illness. By expanding access to housing, these vouchers will provide individuals, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the stability they need to succeed in their recovery.

• The Governor is proposing a legislative change to require all police officers in Connecticut to receive training regarding responding to situations involving people with mental illnesses.  This Crisis Intervention Team training focuses on the use of effective verbal intervention skills to help recognize and de-escalate potentially violent situations and will, therefore, improve awareness of situations that would otherwise result in injuries, shootings and arrests of distressed persons with serious mental illness. Currently, this is a one-time training that is not mandatory.

“This proposal represents a significant step forward both in funding for treatment and toward the very important goal of realizing that mental health issues can no longer be ignored or hidden.” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “It sends a strong signal that we need to engage everyone in the effort to identify and better connect those in need with services that meet their unique situation.  My hope is that we look back on this as a time when we started to make real progress on a very difficult and far-reaching problem that affects so many lives, and so many futures.”

“This proposal is another step in the enhancement of municipal and state police officer training,” said Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford. “I would like to thank Governor Malloy for his continuing support of the law enforcement community.”

The initiatives will be administered by the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Many of the investments in the health and human services budgets further ongoing initiatives that are expected to result in better health outcomes while eliminating disparities and improving quality and experience at a lower cost.

“Governor Malloy’s announcement further illustrates Connecticut’s commitment to continuing the dialogue and support for mental health,” said DMHAS Commissioner Pat Rehmer. “Our mental health system is strong, however, it is vital that we continue to engage residents across the state in recovery and these enhancements will work towards achieving this goal.”

In addition, the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) will partner with families, youths, communities and experts to develop a plan to improve mental health services for children. The plan will be given to the General Assembly next fall under a law it passed in the wake of the Newtown tragedy.

The Governor’s budget will also reinvest $2 million in DCF to expand community-based services for children and youth with complex behavioral needs.

The proposals will be included in the Governor’s legislative package for the upcoming 2014 regular session of the General Assembly, which begins February 5.

1:09pm–#New York City–Police and firefighters are investigating an explosion that took place on Lexington Avenue near 22nd Street.  There are no reported injuries.  Picture from Foxnews in New York.

I know this isn’t exactly local but we do have a lot of viewers that work in the city.  We are also the main source of news for a lot of people too.

#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the approval of his request for a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration to mitigate the impact of the fire in Shelton that destroyed personal property and businesses on January 6, 2014. Residents and business owners affected by the fire can now apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans. The Governor will hold an availability tomorrow afternoon at the Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co. 1 at 379 Coram Avenue in Shelton.

“l would like to thank the SBA for granting my request,” said Governor Malloy. “I encourage all homeowners and businesses affected by this devastating fire to take advantage of these loans and apply as soon as possible to determine what assistance might be available to them.”

SBA’s Acting Administrator Jeanne Hulit made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Malloy on Jan. 21, in which the Governor requested the federal agency issue the disaster declaration.  The declaration covers Fairfield County and the adjacent counties of Litchfield and New Haven.

“The January 6 fire was a tragedy, but—with this help from the SBA—Shelton will rebuild. The SBA immediately started working at the request of my office to evaluate the damage and this declaration is good news for the impacted residents and businesses,” said Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (CT-3). “I will continue working to make sure everyone affected can get back on their feet.”

“The fire in Shelton earlier this month displaced families, forced local businesses to shutter their doors, and ravaged the downtown area,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4). “While the community is still reeling from this alarming disaster, I am pleased that the SBA has approved this assistance to help local business owners cover their severe losses. I stand ready to continue providing the full support and assistance of my office as Shelton continues to recover.”

Early next week, SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Fairfield County to make SBA customer service representatives available to speak face-to-face with applicants, answer individual questions about the assistance, and help individuals complete their applications. A separate announcement will be made advising the public on the location of the Disaster Loan Outreach Center once a site is determined.
The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help businesses overcome economic losses and meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The rates on these loans are 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Eligible entities may qualify for loans up to $2 million.

Applications and program information are available by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Those affected by the disaster may also apply for disaster loans electronically from the SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

#HARTFORD, CT– With bitter cold temperatures expected again over the next few days, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has reactivated the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, directing the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and the Department of Housing (DOH) to coordinate with 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to ensure that the state’s most vulnerable people are protected from the severe cold weather.

“We continue to take the necessary steps to make sure that we can take care of those in need of shelter, especially our state’s most vulnerable populations,” said Governor Malloy. “I urge anyone in need of shelter to call 2-1-1 and encourage local communities to consider opening warming centers or other facilities to help people in need.”

Under the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, DEMHS activates its WebEOC communications network – an internet-based system that allows local, regional and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.

DSS and DOH coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, as well as working with existing vendors to resolve transportation issues for people needing shelter during the period of severe cold.

DMHAS, meanwhile, has teams who specialize in working with homeless people to locate those who are at risk, spread the word about the 2-1-1 system, and encourage everyone to take advantage of the safety of shelters. The agency is also working with shelters to assess and meet the needs of individual clients during this cold weather outbreak.

12:47am–#Kansas- Cargo plane lands on small runway in Kansas possibly by mistake. The runway at Jabara Airport was not designed for a large Boeing cargo plane .  No distress calls.  It might have landed there by mistake.  Photo from @jr_graybill on Twitter.