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 to supporting the WIC program so families continuing to receive benefits will not lose access to nutrition services.

The department will continue its self‑care and wellness partnership with Headspace through May 2026, she said, offering one year of free Headspace content to Hartford residents, city employees and Hartford Public Schools students and hosting quarterly community-of-practice meetings.

Jackson Shahid said the city renewed the HEART team contract, effective Nov. 1, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2026, but that the program requires modifications because of decreased funding. "The CRT and Capital Region Mobile Crisis will remain partners under the HEART team," she said. "Wheeler Health will not have a dedicated HEART team line item. However, Wheeler will be accessible through 2‑1‑1, 24 hours a day. And CRT hours of operations have been reduced from 12 hours a day to Monday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m." She offered to arrange a follow‑up briefing with Patricia McIntosh and other partners to explain the new model in detail.

On housing and community supports, Jackson Shahid described the Welcome Home Hartford initiatives, saying 76% of 149 homeownership‑series participants reported feeling empowered to begin the home‑buying process; 90% of the community‑voice group (72 members) felt confident to advocate for homeownership; and 67% of housing‑fair attendees connected with housing referrals. She also said renters‑rebate application processing at City Hall ended Oct. 31, 2025 and that the North End Senior Center has returned to full operations.

On disease prevention, Jackson Shahid said the city’s Ryan White partners and the state convened a recent call to action on rising HIV numbers and discussed shifting outreach strategies, including mobile outreach and targeted campaigns in identified "hot spots." She said partners are compiling reports of local case counts and that she will provide the committee with those reports on request.

Council members pressed for more detail on funding and operations. Councilwoman Marilyn Rossetti asked whether the HEART team changes amounted to a dismantling; Jackson Shahid said, "Nope. Not dismantled," and emphasized that the modifications resulted from a collective decision among partners given reduced funding. Councilman Gil requested a breakdown showing which funding sources declined and by how much; Jackson Shahid agreed to provide the reports. On rodent control, Jackson Shahid said the department’s complaint data suggest rat complaints have declined while mice complaints appear to be rising, and she noted the department focuses on exterior rat burrow remediation while mice mitigation is often handled through housing‑code enforcement or private pest control.

Jackson Shahid also said the department has a licensed mobile unit that has been used in the community but is out less often because of a misprint on its exterior; the vendor Farbetch was tasked with correcting the exterior and the department plans weekly deployments with divisions rotating once per week across ZIP codes.

The director provided multiple written and follow‑up offers: she said she would send funding and HIV reports requested by council members and schedule a technical briefing with Patricia McIntosh and partners on the HEART team modifications.

The committee did not take a policy vote during the update; follow‑up reports and briefings were requested.