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 .


Governor Lamont partners with CBIA and CONNSTEP to distribute free face coverings for small businesses

Governor Lamont today announced that his administration is partnering with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and its affiliate CONNSTEP on an initiative to distribute free face coverings to eligible, essential small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Eligible businesses include those  defined as essential businesses  by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

“The more proactive measures we can take to prevent the spread of this virus and keep everyone healthy, the sooner we’ll be able to reopen operations,” Governor Lamont said.

Eligible essential small businesses can request up to two free face coverings per employee by filling out the form found  here . Small businesses are strongly urged to create their own face coverings  following CDC guidelines . This will ensure the limited supply of coverings go to small businesses that are struggling to secure their own supply.

Requested face coverings will be distributed next week through the municipality in which the business is located. The local municipality will then contact businesses with a date, time, and location to receive the requested masks. The distribution will continue while supplies last. The initiative is intended to help small businesses comply with the governor’s executive order requiring face coverings to be worn whenever social distancing is not possible, including in essential businesses.

More details will be available in the next few days.