2-1-1 Connecticut 2-1-1 Child Care Child Development Infoline Community Results Center

April 2020

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

When it Builds Up, Talk it Out A Message from Richard Porth President/CEO of United Way of Connecticut The Department of Children and Families (DCF), in partnership with United Way of Connecticut 2-1-1 and community providers, recently launched their  When it Builds Up, Talk it Out campaign. Parents and caregivers who need someone to listen, to understand and to talk their feelings out with can connect with trained professionals by dialing 833-258-5011 . If additional help is needed, parents and caregivers will be referred to community-based services such as: Child Care Education Food Income Housing Domestic Violence Family Activities Substance Use Mental Health The Talk It Out Line can also be accessed via cell phone by visiting www.talkitoutct.com and clicking on the linked phone number. Support for parents and caregivers through the Talk It Out Line is available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and on weekends from 1 pm to 8 pm and has both English and Spanish capacity. When it builds up, dial 833-258-5011 to Talk it Out .

Download the How We Feel App to Improve Connecticut’s COVID-19 Response People in Connecticut – whether they are healthy or sick – can help inform heath officials and doctors by using the How We Feel app and self-reporting their daily symptoms through a series of short prompts about how they’re feeling. The smartphone or web-based application was created in response to the need for health officials and doctors to obtain more information on COVID-19 in the face of widespread testing shortages. It only takes users about 30 seconds each day to report any symptoms they may be experiencing, and the information shared has the potential to reveal outbreak hotspots and provide insight into the progression of COVID-19. Aggregate data collected through the app is securely shared with leading medical institutions so scientists and public health professionals can better spot emerging outbreaks, identify new populations who are at risk, and measure the efficacy of public health measures such as social distancing. Download the How We Feel app for free in the  Apple App Store  and the  Google Play store or complete the survey through a web version available at  howwefeel.app .

How to Find Food Resources on 211ct.org During the COVID-19 Pandemic Locating food resources has been a challenge for many Connecticut residents. To help those in need of food resources, 2-1-1 Connecticut’s Information Services Department created a Food Resources webinar. The brief webinar will show you how to located food and nutrition resources on the 211ct.org website.

More information on food and nutrition resources can also be found in 2-1-1 CT’s COVID-19 Resource Guide of Community-Based Programs. Click HERE to learn more about about available resources such as: Home Delivered Meals Food Pantries Soup Kitchens Benefits Programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women’s, Infant and Children’s Program (WIC) Please note: Many agencies have adjusted their hours of operation and limited their scope of services. Please be sure to call ahead before arriving at a service location such as a food pantry or soup kitchen.

We Are In This Together! The current COVID-19 public health emergency is creating a labor crisis for health care facilities and nonprofits across the state that serve vulnerable people on the front-lines. Many agencies have implemented creative and innovative service delivery techniques in order to continue serving those in need in a way that keeps their workers and those they serve safe. THANK YOU! Are there changes to your agency due to COVID-19? Please update your information with 2-1-1 CT.   Click  HERE  to download a "How to Update Your Agency?" instructional flyer.   Thank you for continuing to provide critical services to those in need!

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The mission of United Way of Connecticut is to help meet the needs of Connecticut and its residents by providing information, education and connection to services.