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More than 425,000 people utilize services at hundreds of community health care centers throughout Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

CT community health centers fill gaps in affordable, primary care

As Connecticut struggles with a shortage of physicians, community health centers are filling the gap. More than 400,000 state residents, many …

Though Connecticut's benefits cliff persists, there are other programs helping people maintain benefits of some kind when their income pushes them over the limit. (Adobe Stock)

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the state's "benefits cliff" with a day of action…

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness finds, as of Jan. 15, 801 people are outside, unsheltered in cold temperatures, despite Connecticut recently implementing the Severe Cold Weather Protocol due to extremely low temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

CT takes action to keep homeless people safe in winter

Connecticut organizations are working to protect homeless people from winter's biting chill. This time of year poses severe health challenges for …

Although Connecticut's rankings in most health-related areas declined in the latest Kids Count Data Book, the state saw minor improvement in the number of children with health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Children Need Health, Education Investments

Investments in education and health are needed to bolster Connecticut's children, a new annual report found. In the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids …

According to the CDC, each year one in six Americans is sickened by any one of 31 pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses. (Adobe Stock)

CT Rep Seeks to Create New Regulatory Agency for Food Safety

A Connecticut congresswoman is among those asking the government to overhaul the way it handles food-safety issues. Fifteen federal agencies deal …

Volunteer Charlotte Meucci and consultant David Juros unbox fruits and vegetables at the hospital's Food Resource Center. (Courtesy of Hartford Healthcare)

'Food As Medicine' Facility Opens for Patients in Hartford

One of Connecticut's largest health systems launched a new resource in Hartford this month, aimed at helping patients access healthy and nutritious …

According to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, the number of Connecticut children ages 3 and 4 not enrolled in preschool has dropped in the last decade, from 38% in 2009-2011 to 34% in 2017-2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report Suggests More CT Families Backslid Financially in Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut ranks in the top 10 states for children's education and health, but its families rank lower in terms of economic well-…

A Feeding America study estimates 42 million Americans may experience food insecurity this year, down from 45 million people who may have experienced it in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

World Hunger Day Underscores CT Food Crisis Beyond COVID

WALLINGFORD, Conn. - Today is World Hunger Day, and as the U.S. recovers from the pandemic, food banks in places like Connecticut say there's greater …

Food banks face an added challenge after this week's expiration of unemployment benefits that had been increased because of COVID-19. (eldarnurkovic/Adobe Stock)

CT Food Bank Faces Multiple Hunger Challenges

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Food Bank is dealing with a series of challenges causing spikes in hunger across the state. Paul Shipman…

In 2019, Connecticut Food Bank distributed food to help provide almost 22.5 million meals. (Tatiana Atamaniuk/Adobe Stock)

Feeding Connecticut's Hungry: A Thanksgiving for All

WALLINGFORD, Ct. — In Connecticut, one 1-in-9 adults and 1-in-6 children go to bed hungry, but through donations and the work of volunteers…

Improving agricultural practices will be critical in the fight against climate change. (ValentinValkov/Adobe Stock)

Good Farming Practices Help Slow Climate Change

HARTFORD, Ct. — A new report says farming has an important role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change and Land Use report from …

As many as 1 in 10 current or recent college students face homelessness as they juggle student debt and living expenses, research shows. (nikolayhg/Pixabay)

Working to End Poverty Among College Students

HARTFORD, Conn. – Studying while hungry – many college students struggle to get enough to eat because they lack money to buy food…

Studies show that SNAP benefits help families purchase healthier meals. (ElasticComputeFarm/Pixabay)

Report: SNAP Benefits Cut Health Costs

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new report links access to SNAP benefits to improved health and lower health care costs. The paper, published by the …

USDA chief scientists traditionally have advanced degrees in science or medicine. (Kristin & Jordan Hayman/Flickr)

Climate-Change Skeptic Nominated to USDA Science Post

HARTFORD, Conn. – A leading scientific organization says President Donald Trump's nominee to be chief scientist at the U.S. Department of …

Proposed federal and state budget cuts are jeopardizing programs such as Meals on Wheels, in Connecticut and across the country. (Dwight Burdette/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Agencies Call for Full Funding of Anti-Poverty Programs

HARTFORD, Conn. - Proposed state and federal budget cuts threaten Connecticut's most vulnerable residents. That's the message service providers and …

The Summer Food Service Program is open to all children 18 and younger. (Amanda Mills, USCDCP/public-domain-image.com)

Summer Food Program Picks Up Where School Leaves Off

HARTFORD, Conn. - The end of the school year doesn't mean low-income children need to go hungry. Thousands of children in Connecticut rely on free …

Analysis of canned foods found 67 percent of the cans tested had BPA in the lining. (King of Hearts/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Toxic Chemicals May Taint Canned Foods

HARTFORD, Conn. - Chemicals in the linings of most food cans may be dangerous to consumers. That's the finding of a new report just released by six …

The bill would remove criminal history questions from job applications. (Kathryn Decker/flickr.com)

General Assembly Considering “Ban the Box” Bill

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The General Assembly is considering a bill that would remove barriers to employment for people with criminal records. Most job …

114,000 Connecticut children live in poverty. (Amanda Mills, USCDCP/public-domain-image.com)

Connecticut Child Poverty at All-Time High

HARTFORD, Conn. - New analysis shows that despite increases during the recession, the share of Connecticut's budget going to children has declined…

Almost 90 percent of corn for feeding cattle, pigs and chickens is grown from genetically modified seeds. Credit: Juliacasado1/pixabay.com

VT Court Case Could Affect CT’s GMO Labeling Law

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A challenge to a Vermont law requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms goes before a federal court …

The average SNAP recipient receives benefits for 10 months or less. Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Congressional Showdown Threatens to Cut Food Benefits

HARTFORD, Conn. – More than 400,000 people in Connecticut could go hungry if Congress doesn’t agree on a budget before the end of the …

More than 400 sites are gearing up to make sure that Connecticut children don't go hungry when school lets out later this month. Courtesy: End Hunger Connecticut!

Hundreds of Summer Meal Sites: So Connecticut Children Don't Miss a Beat or a Meal

HARTFORD, Conn. – While many students can't wait for the school year to end, tens of thousands of local parents are thinking about how to feed …

Hilton Worldwide announced this week that it will begin to eliminate the use of cages for egg-laying hens and gestation crates for breeding pigs from its global supply chain. Credit: USDA - S Bauer.

Hilton Hotels Go "Cage-Free"

HARTFORD, Conn. - Hilton Worldwide, one of the largest resort and hotel chains in the world, has announced it will eliminate the use of cages for egg-…

PHOTO: There's new hope for children in Connecticut and the nation, as a new study identifies treatable factors that can prevent chronic kidney disease in children. Photo credit: Mike Clifford.

Ray of Hope for Connecticut Children with Kidney Disease

HARTFORD, Conn. - New hope is on the horizon for children suffering from chronic kidney disease, thanks to the results of a new study that, for the …

PHOTO: A more modern method of calculating child poverty rates is outlined in a new Annie E. Casey Report. It says when social safety-net programs are factored in, 94,000 fewer Connecticut children are living below the federal poverty line. Photo courtesy Connecticut Assn. for Human Services.

Report Calls for Better Poverty Index for Connecticut, Nation

HARTFORD, Conn. - It's being called a better index for measuring poverty in Connecticut and the nation because it takes into account the impact of …

PHOTO: More than 800 Connecticut schools offer breakfast to students, often from

CT Makes Progress in Breakfast for Low-Income Kids

HARTFORD, Conn. - More than 11 million low-income children nationwide are participating in free breakfast programs on the average day, according to a …

GRAPHIC: A new report on Summer Nutrition Programs shows Connecticut is among the states doing a better job of helping children stay nourished and healthy when school�s out. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

CT Among Leaders in Summer Nutrition for Kids

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new report shows the summer of 2013 marked the first major increase in 10 years in the number of low-income children …

PHOTO: About 26,000 people without jobs in Connecticut will lose their federal unemployment benefits on Dec. 28, since Congress went home for the holidays without agreeing to extend them. Photo credit: Wikipedia.

Scrooged: "Horrible" Holiday for 26,000 in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. – A dark cloud is hanging over the heads of 26,000 Connecticut residents this holiday as they face the end of their emergency …

PHOTO: Heang Tan is project director and editor for the website Health Justice CT, sponsor of a Wed. night forum in New Haven about improving the health of Connecticut's lower-income populations. Photo courtesy Health Justice CT.

Tackling Health Disparities in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - People at a forum in New Haven tonight will explore both access to health care and the underlying issues that still get in the way …

PHOTO: PBS �Frontline� correspondent Hedrick Smith, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Soviet Union, has turned his attention to America and what�s ailing it. Courtesy Hedrick Smith Productions.

Who’s “Dismantling” the American Dream?

HARTFORD, Conn. - Hedrick Smith won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the Soviet Union and wrote a best-seller called "The Russians." Now it's …

Study: 1 in 7 CT Families Struggle to Put Food on Table

EAST HAVEN, Conn. - Millions of people in Connecticut take for granted that when it's time to eat, there will be food on the table, but a new report …

Tyson still using pig gestation crates - considered by many to be extremely inhumane. Photo Credit: Farm Sanctuary.

Shareholders to Tyson Foods: Outdated Practices with Pigs Won’t Fly

HARTFORD, Conn. - In a proposal to Tyson Foods, shareholders are asking the company - one of the world's largest meat and poultry producers - to find …

PHOTO: A growing body of science links childhood obesity with certain chemicals that are found in products from food-can linings to nonstick cookware. The chemicals can change the cellular pathways, contributing to fat accumulation. CREDIT: Tony Alter

Chemicals Linked to Increased Risk of Childhood Obesity

HARTFORD, Conn. - It's common knowledge that eating healthy food and exercising can help people maintain a healthy weight, but there's another factor …

Farmworkers are in Washington DC today, calling on Congress for stronger protections from hazardous pesticides they say are harming them and their families. Courtesy Pesticide Action Network.

Advocate: Farm Workers “Treated Like An Insect”

HARTFORD, Conn. - Farm workers from around the nation have flown to the nation's capital to urge Congress to pass stronger legislation to reduce what …

PHOTO: The Humane Society of the United States wants Smithfield Foods to continue to phase out use of

Pork Giant's Sale to China Could Put Pig Promises in Jeopardy

HARTFORD, Conn. - It was one of the biggest business stories of the week: the sale of Smithfield Foods to a Chinese company. But it puts a pig …

Photo: In more than 400 cities around the world, people participated in this weekend's March Against Monsanto, voicing their disapproval of genetically modified crops and foods.

CT March Against GMO Seeds "Raised Awareness"

HARTFORD, Conn. - Thousands in Connecticut and across New England spent part of the long weekend participating in the worldwide "March Against …

PHOTO: The average American throws out about 20 pounds of food a month, which ends up costing $300 to $500 a year. Photo credit: John Michaelson

Fight a World Food Shortage: Learn to Love Leftovers

HARTFORD, Conn. - There's a major opportunity to address the growing global demand for food and, in Connecticut and across the country, to slow the …

Defending “Heat & Eat” in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. - Many struggling Americans face an impossible choice between paying for food or paying for energy, and some in Washington are …

PHOTO: Food Day is a national day to learn, eat and advocate for a healthy, more affordable and sustainable food system.

CT Celebrates Food Day, Greenbacks for Nutmeg State

HARTFORD, Conn. – Today is Food Day, a national day to learn, eat and advocate for a healthy, more affordable and sustainable food system –…

PHOTO: picture of Charles Brunner. Courtesy of the Child & Family Policy Center.

Election 2012: What About Connecticut's Children?

HARTFORD, Conn. - So far, the 2012 presidential race has focused variously on unemployment, job creation, tax cuts, the candidates' tax returns…

Disney Junk Food Ban – A Dream Come True?

HARTFORD, Conn. - The announcement by the Walt Disney company that it will ban junk-food advertising on its children's programs and networks is being …

Mom Was Right: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies – Grow Your Own, Too!

HARTFORD, Conn. - Those planning a backyard garden this spring should consider putting in a wide variety of fruits and veggies, according to a Mayo …

Connecticut Residents Facing More Hunger

EAST HAVEN, Conn. - Anti-hunger activists warned at a news conference Monday at the Connecticut Food Bank in East Haven that hundreds of thousands of …

Congress Ponders "Right to Know" Bill to Label G-M-O Foods

OXFORD, Conn. – The rise of genetically-modified foods on supermarket shelves has raised concerns in Connecticut and across the country - and …

Justice the Cornerstone of King's Legacy

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Connecticut's biggest celebration of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., has taken place at Yale University's Peabody Museum of …

Proposed Cuts Could Devastate CT Food Pantries

HARTFORD, Conn. - Hundreds of people are likely to line up for food aid today at the Christian Fellowship Center's Storehouse in Bristol. The folks …

CT Communities Pull Together to Provide Thanksgiving

HARTFORD, Conn. - With Thanksgiving around the corner, scores of communities are banding together this weekend to make sure Foodshare can provide …

Net Neutrality and Occupy Wall Street – Making A Connection

CHICAGO - The U.S. Senate may vote this week on overturning Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules aimed at guaranteeing an open Internet…

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CT: Hunger/Food/Nutrition