Hartford, CONN. (Oct. 28, 2026)– Funding from the Connecticut Health Foundation will support organizations that make up the HUSKY 4 Immigrants steering committee in their efforts to ensure Connecticut residents can maintain access to health care amid upcoming changes and cuts to Medicaid.
CT Students for a Dream, Hartford Deportation Defense, and Make the Road Connecticut will each receive funding to continue their work advocating for policies that help keep people covered, regardless of immigration status. These organizations will use this funding to grow the HUSKY 4 Immigrants coalition, educate members about changes to coverage, and protect coverage currently available to Connecticut residents. Currently, children up to age 15 and pregnant and postpartum people can be covered by HUSKY, Connecticut’s Medicaid program, regardless of immigration status.
An estimated 4,000 Connecticut residents became ineligible for Medicaid coverage as a result of changes that were included in the federal law that passed in 2025, known as HR 1 or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Under that law, certain non-citizens, including refugees and victims of trafficking, became ineligible for Medicaid. This is the first in a broader set of changes to Medicaid eligibility that will roll out in the coming months. An additional 108,000 people in Connecticut are at risk of losing their coverage in 2027, because of work reporting requirements that take effect on Jan. 1. Experts say the actual number of people who lose their coverage could be much greater than expected.
“This work is incredibly important, especially in this moment. As Connecticut prepares for significant changes to Medicaid, we need to make sure that people can keep their health coverage,” said Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. “Connecticut has made great progress in ensuring that all children have access to coverage, and we need to protect that progress, while continuing to work toward becoming a state where everyone has reliable access to the care they need.”
CT Students for a Dream and Make the Road Connecticut will receive $195,000 over three years. Hartford Deportation Defense will receive $65,000 for one year.
Including these grants, the foundation awarded 17 grants in the third quarter, totaling $1,210,000. The grantees are:
Health Equity Solutions, Hartford: $25,000
With this funding, Health Equity Solutions will provide technical assistance and educational materials to advocacy partners and organizations working to protect health coverage in Connecticut as federal changes to Medicaid take effect. The organization will also conduct outreach and education to help community members understand the upcoming changes.
President’s discretionary grants
President’s discretionary grants are awarded to organizations and institutions that respond to the foundation’s overall mission or priority areas.
Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, North Haven: $10,000
This grant will support the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce in hiring a consultant to help with its strategic planning and strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability. A stronger plan will allow the organization to continue its work toward addressing a nursing workforce shortage and bridging health equity gaps.
The American Immigrant Legal Clinic, New Haven: $20,000
This funding will support The American Immigrant Legal Clinic (TAILC) in strengthening its technology infrastructure to be able to serve more immigrants in Connecticut who are facing detention or deportation. With this grant, TAILC will connect its volunteer attorneys to a legal research platform, increasing their capacity to represent immigrants.
Health equity anchor organizations
These organizations are longstanding partners of the foundation and are trusted messengers to the communities they serve. These grantees conduct outreach, address community needs, and engage in advocacy work about health equity issues. These grants support messaging, outreach, and advocacy related to health equity. The grantees are:
- Building One Community, Stamford: $50,000, 1 year
- Christian Community Action, New Haven: $150,000, 3 years
- Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program, Bridgeport: $150,000, 3 years
- The New American Dream Foundation, Danbury: $150,000, 3 years
Patricia Baker awards for health equity policy and advocacy
These grants, named for the foundation’s founding president and CEO, are intended to support grassroots organizations that are led by people of color and focus on work that advances health equity. This year’s grantees are:
- CT Peoples Survival Programs, New Britain: $30,000
- Full Citizens Coalition, New Haven: $30,000
- Hartford Health Initiative, Hartford: $30,000
- Ledge Light Health District, New London: $30,000
- Nonprofit Accountability Group, Hartford: $30,000
- PT Partners, Bridgeport: $30,000
Strategy and defense fund
The foundation awarded grants to organizations for work to address challenges related to the changing federal landscape.
- Ministerial Health Fellowship, Middletown: $20,000
For more information, please contact Gaby Molina at gaby@cthealth.org or 860-724-1580 x 133.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
The Connecticut Health Foundation is the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving health outcomes for people of color. Since its creation in 1999, the foundation has awarded more than $84 million to nonprofit organizations and public entities to expand health equity, reduce health disparities, expand health coverage, and improve the health of all Connecticut residents.