Hartford HHS director reports program pauses, service gains and changes to crisis response staffing

Hartford Health & Human Services Director Ebony Jackson Shahid told the city’s Health & Human Services Committee on Nov. 4 that several public-health programs are adjusting operations amid federal funding uncertainty and local contract changes.

Jackson Shahid said the federally funded REACH maternal‑child program was temporarily paused as of Oct. 1, 2025, because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, though she added that “year 2 concluded on 09/30/2025 with outstanding success” and staff plan to resume services once federal operations normalize. She also said a new contract for the MYAP program has commenced and the city is integrating MYAP staff into city employment to improve continuity.

On program performance, Jackson Shahid said the car-seat safety line item was fully spent for fiscal year 2024–25. "Throughout the year, the staff installed 212 car seats and conducted 35 car-seat clinics, surpassing all contract outcome targets," she said, describing the results as evidence of strong community demand.

Jackson Shahid also discussed continuity steps taken during the shutdown: she said the governor has committed…