Our Priority Areas
There are many different focus areas where we can work toward health justice for all Connecticut’s residents. At the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health), we focus our funds and our energy on priority areas that relate to health care for low-income individuals.
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Health EquityFederal and state health care reform is changing the way health care is financed and delivered for the foreseeable future. CT Health’s primary area of focus is to support health equity for people of color in Connecticut. Health inequities (avoidable differences in health status, access, and outcomes) exist between communities of color in Connecticut and the majority population. CT Health invests in initiatives that work to close these gaps and support policy and practice improvements in the health delivery system.
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Oral HealthIn low-income families, there can be cultural, financial and geographic barriers to maintaining good oral health. CT Health works to help break down those barriers by supporting the incorporation of oral health at every point where children and their families intersect with health care, human service and education systems. Specifically, CT Health seeks to strengthen the advocacy infrastructure to sustain improvements in oral health access for low-income families, particularly low-income pregnant women.
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Children’s Mental HealthLike physical health, good mental health is important at every stage of life, and mental health care must be integrated with primary health care for families. Identification of mental health issues in childhood is key to helping children grow into healthy, productive adults. CT Health is dedicated to funding and promoting early identification of mental health issues among at-risk children and supporting organizations that work to change policy and attitudes about children’s mental health care. CT Health’s support for advocacy efforts will reduce the number of children ages 6-14 entering intensive treatment or the juvenile justice system due to mental health problems.
