Paid Leave is a hot topic in our country right now. The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world without a national paid leave policy, and Connecticut is one of only 13 states and the District of Columbia to have a state program in place. Other cities and states are working to join the paid leave movement. The Paid Leave Podcast examines the state of Connecticut's paid leave program and the impact it has on various groups and diverse communities. Radio veteran Nancy Barro ...
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CT. Representative Corey Paris Gets Personal About His Mini Strokes and Serious Heart Health Journey
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30:57February is National Heart Month and It's also Congenital Heart Defect Week. I spoke with CT. Representative Corey Paris, who reps the 145th district, about his serious heart issues. He suffered from TIA's, also known as transient ischemic attacks or mini strokes. Upon further testing Rep. Corey was diagnosed with a hole in his heart known as paten…
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The Bridge Project Expands to Connecticut to End Child Poverty and Create Prosperity.
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27:01More than 84 thousand children live in poverty in Connecticut, and 122 thousand in near poverty. In this episode, we talk about a new program that has expanded into Connecticut that gives unconditional cash to expecting moms or new mothers. It takes them from pregnancy to prosperity and helps them invest in their baby's future. The program is aimed…
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How a Mother Helped Her Daughter Rebuild a Different Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury.
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27:55In this episode of the podcast, we are talking about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI’s happens when a sudden, external, physical assault damages the brain. It is one of the most common causes of disability and death in adults. TBI is a broad term that describes a vast array of injuries that happen to the brain. The damage can be focal (confined t…
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The United Way Reports a Jump in Connecticut Residents Struggling to Make Ends Meet.
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27:34Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states, but nearly half a million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from. More than 84 thousand children live in poverty in Connecticut and 122 thousand in near poverty. About 35 percent of Connecticut households are burdened by housing costs, compared to about 32 percent nationally. The United W…
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Shopping for Your Healthcare with Access Health CT.
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29:07In this episode we take a look at shopping for your healthcare in Connecticut. This is the time of year that Connecticut residents are looking to enroll or change their health insurance and or dental insurance. Access Health CT enrollment fairs are currently going on across Connecticut through December and into January. Access Health CT is the stat…
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A UConn Health Diabetes Specialist Discusses Controlling the Disease and Better Treatments..
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27:12November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. As of this year about 38.4 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes these incudes type I and type 2. The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, highlighting the importance of awareness and prevention. In this episode we talk to Dr Pooja Luthra, A UConn Health Endocrinolo…
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Hunger is a Growing Problem in Connecticut
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28:02Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states, but close to half a million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and 1 in 8 Connecticut residents experience food insecurity. That's where Foodshare comes in and bridges that gap, allowing a dignified way to put food on the table. Jason Jakubowski is the President & CEO of Connecticut …
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How to Keep Your Baby Safe When They Are Sleeping
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26:39October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month. According to the National Institute for Health (NIH) SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between one month and one year. The vast majority of deaths take place before a baby reaches six months of age. Every year there are about 3,400 cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths know as SUID in…
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Celebrating Diversity During Hispanic Heritage Month
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30:27National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th. The reason it starts on September 15th is that it coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries. This month celebrates the cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic people. In this episode, we find out about the rich culture a…
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One Mom's Crusade to Inspire Hope in Young Adults and Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention
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30:41September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a leading cause of death and affects people of all ages. 1.6 million people attempt suicide every year in the United States, and 3.6 million made a plan. Suicide is a serious health crisis. When a person dies by suicide, the effects are felt by family, friends, and communities. Marisa Giarn…
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In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about healthy aging and falls prevention. Falls are the leading cause of injury for those 65 and older adults. Over 14 million, or one in 4 older adults reports falling every year. The risks and potential consequences of falls increase with age and can lead to injury, loss of independence an…
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Exploring Connecticut's Family-Friendly Policies with State Treasurer Erick Russell
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28:38In the United States, the month with the largest number of births is typically August, with July a close second. In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we talk to the State Treasurer Erick Russell about the Baby Bonds program. Treasurer Russell talks about the fact that Connecticut is the first state in the nation to have the Baby Bond program …
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Why More Than 1 out of 8 Residents Use Community Health Centers for Care.
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29:08August 4 through august 10th is National Health Center week. Deb Polun serves as the Chief Strategy officer at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut known as (CHC/-ACT). It is the statewide association that supports the work of Connecticut’s Community Health Centers, which provide primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare …
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A Small Business Talks About the Benefits of CT Paid Leave.
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26:39Pets are like family. The dog treat business had a good year in 2024. The market value exceeded expectations, reaching $8.3 million. The trend is set to continue, with the market projected to reach a whopping $14.2 million by 2034. Laurie Surprenant and Amy Kenkel are the co-owners of the dog bakery company, Leaps and Bones. They talk about the str…
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Junior United States Senator Chris Murphy Talks About Mental Health, Loneliness and Family.
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19:40Chris Murphy is the junior United States Senator for Connecticut and has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. In the Senate, he is a strong voice for mental health care access, commonsense gun safety laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Commi…
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Living With Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease in Your 50's and Living Your Best Life.
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33:40This is an exciting time for anyone suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease. A new drug that should get FDA approval by the end of this year, would expand the treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans of all ages who have Alzheimer's. The disease is the fifth-leading cause of death for adults over 65. Donanemab, a drug develope…
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Father Day Stories: How CT Paid Leave Changed Two Father's Lives.
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31:44Studies have shown that taking paternity leave helps fathers to feel less stressed, anxious, and depressed. The reason this happens is because of a hormone called oxytocin. When released, it promotes bonding and reduces stress levels. 43 percent of fathers are taking bonding leave through CT Paid Leave. This gives fathers time away from work with i…
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Lyme Disease is a Tricky and Chronic Disease that is Hard to Diagnose and to Treat.
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35:09Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector borne infectious disease in the United States. The CDC says more people are infected with Lyme Disease than breast cancer. Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases come with a lot of unknowns. Before starting to treat symptoms, you must first get a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, diagnosing Lyme disease…
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Doulas Have Become a Critical Support Delivering Emotional and Postpartum Care for New Moms..
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29:36May is Maternal Mental Health Month. During the month, the focus is on increasing awareness about mental health and the well-being of mothers during pregnancy and the time after birth. About 10-15% of women experience postpartum depression. Mental health issues are the most common complication of childbirth. Doulas can help alleviate some of the em…
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A Couple Opens Up About Infertility, Their IVF Journey, and the Joys of Parenthood.
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27:34National Infertility Awareness Week is April 21-27. The week is an observance that aims to raise awareness about infertility, provide support, and foster conversations around this critical health issue. Roughly one out of six people experience infertility. The chance to expand a family can take time away from work to focus on testing, diagnostics, …
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A Mother Sees the Beauty in Her Child's Autism
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32:25April is Autism Acceptance Month. According to the CDC, in 2023 one in 36 children were diagnosed as falling somewhere on the autism spectrum. The cost of caring for people with autism is predicted to reach $461 billion by 2025 in the U.S. Alanna, who has three children, knew very early on that something was different about her youngest son Lawson.…
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Gratitude from a Nurse Who Had Two Kidney Transplants
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32:42March is National Kidney Month. The average cost of a kidney transplant in the United States ranges from $300,000 to $500,000. This figure includes pre-transplant evaluations, the surgery itself, post-operative care, immunosuppressant medications, and follow-up appointments. Programs like CT Paid Leave can help with up to 12 weeks of income replace…
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The Difficulty of Diagnosing and Treating a Brain Injury
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34:04Every 21 seconds, someone suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. Most people don't know about brain injuries until it happens to them or a loved one. The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support for individuals suffering from brain injuries, whether mild …
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The Difficulty Diagnosing and Treating a Rare Disease.
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32:59The last day of February is Rare Disease Awareness Day. You may not know much about rare diseases, but they do affect 1 out of 10 people across the world, and half of those are children. There are more Americans (30 million) who have a rare disease, more than all the people who have either HIV, heart disease or stroke. Having a rare disease can be …
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Eating Disorders and Navigating Recovery.
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30:28Eating Disorders Awareness week is from February 26th to March 3rd. Something you may not know, is that eating disorders affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation and background and about 28.8 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of…
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Our CEO's Personal Struggle with Cervical Cancer
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29:43January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society says about 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year and about 4,360 women will die from cervical cancer. CT paid Leave can help women going through any stage of this disease with income replacement benefits, and flexibility with differen…
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How Paid Leave Can Help Support Moms and Babies With Complications.
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28:42January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month. Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States according to the CDC That means nearly 120,000 babies are affected by birth defects each year. Birth defects can occur during any stage of pregnancy. Most birth defects occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the orga…
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Endometriosis is a painful chronic disease that is difficult to diagnose, but a new law can help.
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31:46Endometriosis is a painful chronic disease that affects over 160 million women worldwide, 10 million across the United States and in Connecticut 1 in 10 women have it. The only way to get an accurate diagnosis is with surgery and that can cost somewhere between 20 and 30 thousand dollars or more. The cost of the surgery can be a huge barrier to get…
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December is HIV/Aids Awareness Month. While the treatments for HIV have prolonged life expectancy, there is no cure yet. HIV it is considered a chronic illness or a chronic health condition. Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 40 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related i…
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About 3.4 million people have epilepsy nationwide, and about 36,000 people have epilepsy in Connecticut. Monica Anzelone is the Program and Services Manager for the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut. Monica talked about the many programs and services offered to patients and family members at the foundation, including behavioral health. Monica brou…
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A Caregiver Used Paid Leave and Helps Take Care of Her Sister Out of State.
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27:32November is National Family Caregivers Month. 58% of caregivers are women. Almost one-third of caregivers provide care at least 20 hours a week. About 80 percent of caregivers care for adults aged 50 or older, and one in 6 non-caregivers expects to become a caregiver within two years. Caregiver leave under CT Paid Leave allows you to take time away…
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Domestic Violence and How Survivors Navigate the Court System
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35:40In Connecticut, 1/3 of all criminal court cases involve domestic violence. Everyday dozens of victims seeking help can’t get it and are turned away from critical services, including shelters. Earlier this month a report claimed that Connecticut shelters were at 150 percent capacity. Some agencies were trying to get hotel rooms because of a lack of …
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A 30-year old's survivor guide to living and thriving with Breast Cancer.
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27:24One in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Most are over the age of 50 when they are diagnosed, but not all of them are. Bianca was 2 days shy of her 30th birthday. She had a 2-year-old son, when she got her diagnosis. She was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer and found it herself during her monthly self-breas…
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An addict's story from near death to a sober life and gratitude for it all
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36:34Alcohol and drug addiction are significant public health issues. The financial challenges hit not only the person but their family, community and caregivers. The annual cost for substance abuse treatment is over 600 billion dollars. Each year, 16 million or 6 percent of Americans over the age of 12 abuse prescription drugs. Kevin Shuler is a Recove…
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National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, and to recognize the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible. This is just a portion of President Biden's proclamation about National Recovery Mo…
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August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and today we're looking at things from a doctor's point of view. Breastfeeding isn't always easy and for the best health outcomes the American Academy of Pediatrics( AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with foods for at least two years and beyond a…
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The struggles with new mothers and breastfeeding.
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29:20August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breastfeeding has proven to have health benefits for both mothers and babies in high-income and low-income settings, yet less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to World Health Organization. Meanwhile, the commercial milk formula industry generates revenues of about $55 billion each year. T…
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A national researcher focuses on paid leave.
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36:36Out of 186 countries, 96 percent provide some pay to women who are on maternity leave. 81 countries provide paid leave to fathers. The United States lags far behind. Our focus today is how paid leave affects many things including families and business, and women's earning potential. Maya Rossin-Slater is an Associate Professor of Health Policy at S…
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New Parents and the Economics of Paid Leave.
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31:47Many parents return to work soon after a child’s birth. In fact, in the United States, 1 in 4 mothers, primarily those with lower income, return just two weeks after delivering their child. CT Paid Leave offers up to 12 weeks of income replacement to parents to bond with their child. Commissioner Beth Bye from the Office of Early Childhood, is an e…
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June is Pride Month. "Blood is thicker than water," however for many people, family isn't just about blood — it's about deep, meaningful connections. During Pride month you may hear the words "chosen family". A chosen family is a family you choose to have in your life that loves and supports you the way a blood family would. My guest Robin McHaelen…
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Navigating the Challenges of Transgender Healthcare
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36:52Pride Month is all about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and advocating for their rights—and the medical field is no exception to this. Health care should be inclusive and respectful for everyone, no matter their gender identity or who they love. The challenges include gaps in coverage, affordability, stigma, discrimination and poor treatment from…
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May is Mental health Awareness month, and with that comes the question of what parents should do if their child is having mental health issues. The Pew Research Center report said mental health was the greatest concern among parents, followed by bullying, which worries 35% of parents. These concerns trumped fears of kidnapping, dangers of drugs and…
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Mental health became a focus during the pandemic as many people struggled with depression or anxiety due to isolation. A recent study from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that suicide attempts were rising at an alarming rate long before COVID-19. The study found that Black males had the highest increase in suicide attempts …
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An athlete with Multiple Sclerosis keeps on moving.
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29:34Nearly 1 million people are living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the United States. More women are diagnosed with the disease and colder climates can be a contributing factor. MS can be a very tricky disease to diagnose, but quick treatment can help to slow the progression of the disease. UConn Medical Center's neurologist Dr. Hamza Coban explain…
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Death and dying aren’t easy subjects to talk about. In this episode I am talking to an end-of-life doula or a death doula. A death doula is someone who is there to help you emotionally navigate through your own end of life illness or that of a loved one. Nathalie Bonafe is a death doula, who considers her job a privilege to assist family members de…
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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone's lives in one way or another. For some people the battle continues to rage on every day. Long Covid or Long Haul Covid can last years in those that got infected with COVID-19. These symptoms can affect every aspect of their life, and the reason why is elusive. Yale New Haven Health's Dr. Erica Spatz is an…
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Heart attacks and strokes are responsible for 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Close to 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events can be prevented with education and action – which includes learning the risk factors and warning signs most prevalent for women. UConn Health's cardiologist Supriya Tigadi explains tha…
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Parents worry about their kids mental health.
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32:27The mental health crisis in adolescents is a growing problem. Three years after the COVID pandemic uprooted life as we knew it, kids are still dealing with many issues causing a number of mental health conditions. Dr. Laine Taylor, Medical Director at The Village for Families and Children in Hartford, joins me to discuss mental health in children i…
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What is CT Paid Leave, CT FMLA, and Federal FMLA? Our new CEO explains.
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37:31It can get confusing when you talk about CT Paid Leave, CT FMLA and Federal FMLA. How do you know if you are eligible for any of these? Our new CEO Erin Choquette is an expert in this field and explains if you are eligible, and how they cover you if you are taking care of your own serious health condition. Erin Choquette was the Chief Operating Off…
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Since 1923 Planned Parenthood of Southern New England has been providing family planning and reproductive health care. It covers Connecticut and Rhode Island and serves about 70,000 people yearly in both states and has 14 health centers across Connecticut. CEO Amanda Skinner talks about the mission of PPSNE, and says it is to protect the fundamenta…
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