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New Canaan health department reports: vaccines by appointment, CPR push and senior services updates
Summary
Health Director Amy Lahaney told the commission that key childhood vaccines remain by appointment, respiratory illnesses are trending down except RSV, the department will promote a one-minute hands-only CPR video in February, and Human Services reported updated caseload and assistance numbers.
At the Feb. 5 meeting of the New Canaan Health & Human Services Commission, Amy Lahaney, the town's director of health, delivered routine departmental updates and public-health outreach plans.
Lahaney said the health department continues to provide key childhood vaccinations by appointment as it works through budget season; staff have presented budget materials to the selectmen and will appear before the board of finance. She reported that overall respiratory illness trends are down in town, aside from persistent RSV, and noted environmental health totals (no ticks reported in January).
Lahaney announced a hands-only CPR awareness push for February coordinated with other Connecticut local health departments: the department posted a one-minute video on Facebook and Instagram and will distribute it via the town newsletter and listserv to raise awareness ("not a certificate training program," she said). Commissioners noted EMS provides a monthly hands-only CPR class at the library and Lahaney confirmed she included EMS program links in the report.
Marcy Rand, director of human services, summarized caseload and assistance figures after a new case-management system: 222 adults and seniors in one internal count and 297 total clients across programs; the vulnerable-population list decreased to 74 after updates. Rand said there were nine energy-assistance applications this month and a notable food pantry usage in January (131 households, 85 shoppers). She also described grief-support and other ongoing programs and plans to pilot a Parkinson's group at the Lapham Community Center.
Commissioners asked about coordination with transport services (GetAbout) for seniors and about public-donation tracking; Rand said the new website donation platform is working and offers donor designation for specific needs. Commissioners welcomed Kelsey McCarthy, the health department's new sanitary and health program planner, and encouraged social-media outreach to amplify programs.
The commission then transitioned to a presentation by Silver Hill Hospital on the urgent assessment program.
