[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6181482,"mediaKeyId","5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2","parentId",5112894,"title","Commission presses for upstream prevention, resilience training and better trend data from school nurses","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2779000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2&start=2779&end=2779","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2/thumbnail_2779000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181482/Connecticut/Commission-presses-for-upstream-prevention-resilience-training-and-better-trend-data-from-school-nurses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181482-69b4b4c7d089e15d9c33ad2e28d2abbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163214&Signature=PXRfOSWD345twn5yzuDpHrhpbzeNBzXhOJVu-lkZRNKo1klKzwX9a~I99a7f69MpL3oJ5laoQt-D~kL~rStR-u6vSV72sNmkchgwUVC4FBU2bLJSHZ3BRrg3sXbqfac1x-FFLSXmce4Lrolr0230jM06YRTc7D2zJ94xPICCt9doMk4M~-MZwpl3YdfJZlJkaY6fx2mO~KmFP26fUSU10JVv3LxJZtG23rZK8fmJ9DuxGo3jH61AMuuUrsSJgmuqy1eiLMsuZQJIrvCzcahJso3B7kJ1b9h9-xFR9pbDzVPVH7rFp46yeh0SrkQmXY5V1LfQQCAlK0YEGwXd4ICemg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Canaan, CT","date","2025-07-01T16:53:56Z","article","The New Canaan Health and Human Services Commission used part of its meeting to discuss prevention and upstream measures — training, resilience building and improved data collection — as complements to intervention‑focused services.

Commission members argued the commission can add value by focusing on ‘‘thriving’’ and by identifying upstream indicators that predict later need. One participant said the group should examine the survey data to find characteristics of residents who are thriving so the commission can recommend targeted prevention measures.

Several speakers suggested resilience training and social‑emotional supports for youth and young adults. Commissioners recommended bringing clinical partners, such as Silver Hill, into training efforts and noted that some local providers already offer school‑linked programs in neighboring towns.

The commission also flagged a gap in routine trend reporting from school nurses. One commissioner said, “we have not seen any data that has come from the school nurses,” and noted Waveny produces weekly reports for Wilton’s school nursing program as an example of what trend data can look like. Commissioners asked the health department to clarify what school‑level data exist, whether the town receives mandated state reports, and how anonymized trend reports can be shared with the commission to detect early warning signs.

No formal policies were adopted. Commissioners asked staff to pursue data-sharing options with the school district, to recommend specific prevention programs or pilot trainings, and to suggest questions to add to the forthcoming youth survey that would measure thriving as well as problems.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health & Human Services Commission Priorities Committee Meeting July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commission members urged the health department to emphasize prevention and resiliency, to work with partners such as Silver Hill on training, and to close data gaps by restoring regular trend reports from school nurses.","taxTitle","New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",57946,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181488,"Commission flags AI, Medicaid changes and youth addiction as emerging local concerns",2051000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2&start=2051&end=2051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2/thumbnail_2051000.jpg","/articles/6181488/Connecticut/Commission-flags-AI-Medicaid-changes-and-youth-addiction-as-emerging-local-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181488-09a4a69afef7971aaa1cd8aecbe1ab04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163214&Signature=HePF86J~47ISAVWn2mCzT3KySj81PvDCehHwSAUY168nJ371wI7K5uCbiQbqJKilQE92IN4IGAPs~USyYoGFGPhCHccAv69OGEoLVCSdDfx4KUL7MYZuceMcNGsz5KGPSexOH-rio6ecunxtoikH0pEubfurg-vAZskz2zJ0TN3Y3wC6zNOkKSxGWkIzd4lCjLKv5zPK2ll~Lt8PkLRm9VJhGXeBet2sB1DI2Y6SW4f7N-bJY2-L982gyD5i8lUXdIWoa-bV99khCWCwwMZJG8yfX2AuWQOBZPb8Kx2eRM~Fiziv0ZeCF-4fcm4wnqyaQnkHX50WsCrMirn1fI-z1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the New Canaan Health and Human Services Commission spent part of their meeting identifying emerging risks and trends they believe deserve early attention, including the effects of artificial intelligence, the unwinding of Medicaid coverage and rising youth addiction behaviors such as gambling and vaping.

One commissioner said, “AI, honestly, is the biggest issue of our time,” and described possible impacts on children's learning, jobs and how health information is accessed. Commissioners discussed both positive and negative effects of AI — for example, AI could help residents find resources more quickly, but it might also provide unsafe or misleading health advice if users rely on unvetted chat systems.

The group also flagged state and federal budget decisions and the prospect of people losing Medicaid coverage. A participant noted that “the number of people that are be will be coming off of Medicaid, will be significant,” and said changes could increase pressure on emergency departments and uncompensated care for local providers.

Commissioners raised addiction and risky youth behaviors as another emerging concern. Members cited reports from families and school-age observations that youth gambling apps and more potent marijuana, along with new vaping devices, are increasing among teens. They said these issues can precede more severe mental‑health or substance‑use problems.

No formal vote was taken. The commission suggested periodic trend reporting and better data-sharing from school nurses and the local health department so emerging issues can be detected earlier and referred to the appropriate agencies.","Members identified artificial intelligence, state and federal Medicaid changes and rising youth gambling/vaping as emerging issues the health department should track and the commission should flag for town leadership.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181492,"New Canaan commission discusses single point of entry for health and human services",1830,345000,2175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2&start=345&end=2175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112894-7c74a94f75abcf36c33db8a04682fbc2/thumbnail_345000.jpg","/articles/6181492/Connecticut/New-Canaan-commission-discusses-single-point-of-entry-for-health-and-human-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181492-d3da4a49a6f03988faffbb4ec996a6a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163214&Signature=B04MUTMyQfeMozlm6meQAtj~OnBPPjFmG1X-EgANTGd1VZu6pAc6RCXrc1jMMsVxycCLd08--TVVWCNmbzgw0X9-2X3nzFs2-DbjIiRXxUxYfS5L1jivneXA~poaw5UbzJj81iNUAUsuEvJZIZXXfnJekYhtmXdVTIv69yTYzzOcFgJPpfY0tlMk6jJ8ZzCDZwOChYJVbi9AfoSE8lwywIcEsPDmaIW8IluQEFBGE9TRHdYFAd2m5j-X8Cy0SEpQLCG5zp-mA~Vp9yHz1nXRzwrzzxVDwSFdqJanENp76WLmY5ri8PHCNo0Rzjgb1rF0rwxJxv-5ihOcX2l7dRtcaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the New Canaan Health and Human Services Commission said Thursday they want a clearer, easier way for residents to find help from the town's human services and affiliated nonprofits, and discussed options including a single phone number, a click-through website tool and a 24/7 navigator app.

The commission's chair framed the discussion as part of a broader effort to define priorities for the health department and human services work: “the framework that, we're sort of thinking about is breaking the priorities into a couple different areas,” the chair said as the meeting opened.

Commissioners and other participants described repeated examples of residents who do not know where to call when they need help with utilities, housing, child services or behavioral health. One member said, “I would have always liked to say ... a 1 number, you know, a +1 800 number or something of that nature that is not for 911 calls,” to serve as a single point of entry for the town's services.

Participants discussed several concrete options: a single marketed phone number, a user-friendly website that asks people what they need and then populates the specific contact, QR codes posted around town so residents can find resources when they need them, and a downloadable app with a one‑touch navigator.

Waveny — which operates programs mentioned in the meeting — was offered as an example: a participant described an existing Waveny app used for caregiver support and Alzheimer's/dementia navigation and said that program “is free of charge for any, anyone in New Canaan.” Commissioners noted that a model already exists locally but that broader promotion and staffing, including on-call rotations and well-trained call-takers, would be required if a townwide version were created.

Speakers also suggested nonprofit partnerships to extend hours and coverage, and emphasized that any 24/7 solution would need clear flip charts or scripts so callers are not passed to voicemail or left without immediate guidance. The group discussed marketing channels they believe reach different populations in New Canaan — for example, New Canaan Moms, the New Canaanite, the library and Waveny — and recommended placing visible, easy-to-use materials in community locations so people notice them when they need help.

The commissioners did not adopt a formal motion but directed staff and volunteer leads to continue developing the proposal and to produce a draft priority document for the full commission to review in coming months.

For now, the next steps are staff follow-up and small working groups to scope cost, hand-off protocols (who takes an after‑hours call), and a marketing plan that includes both digital and physical distribution points.","Members of the Health and Human Services Commission discussed creating a clear, widely publicized single point of entry (phone, website or app) and 24/7 navigator options to make town services easier to find and use.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission presses for upstream prevention, resilience training and better trend data from school nurses

Commission flags AI, Medicaid changes and youth addiction as emerging local concerns

New Canaan commission discusses single point of entry for health and human services