The Paid Leave Podcast

 In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, Host Nancy Barrow speaks with Dr. Lindsay Rose Bullinger, Associate Professor and Researcher at the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech and is Associate Director of the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative. We discussed paid leave policies and how it affects children and families. Dr. Bollinger's research in the paper titled, &qu...

June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month also known as PTSD. Approximately 13 million adults in the United States are estimated to have PTSD.  80 percent of people are civilians with PTSD, surprisingly only 20 percent are military related. You can get traditional PTSD from a single traumatic event like a car accident or experiencing violence. But if you experienced multiple traumas,...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about headaches and migraines.  June is Headache and Migraine Awareness Month. Gretchen Michaelson, the founder of the Headache Care Center in South Windsor, she is an Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in headache medicine. She explains the difference between headaches and migraines, the various treatments available, including prescript...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we focus on mental health and speak with a local politician who started a caucus dealing with black family health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Maternal Mental Health Month and National Adolescent Health Month. In addition, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is May 5-11th. CT Paid Leave gives up to 12 weeks of income Replacement for your...

In this episode, we are talking about auto-immune disease. Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system is overactive and attacks and damages the body's own tissues. May 9th is Autoimmune Arthritis Day, and it is also ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day (May 12).  ME stands for M yologic Encephalomyelitis, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is a chronic,...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast we discuss Parkinson's disease, what it is, what it does, and how to treat it. Parkinson's Awareness Month is observed in April and is an opportunity to increase awareness about the ailment and its symptoms, as well as to support victims. National Parkinson's day is observed on April 11 every year to raise awareness about this medical condit...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it’s also Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action on April 2nd; it is also National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 6-12. In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast Host Nancy Barrow speaks with Rachel McKnight, Program Manager from the Office of Victim Services (OVS), and Marc Pelka, Deputy Director. They explain how OVS assists crime victims...

LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week is in March and was started in 2003. It raises public awareness regarding the unique health needs and disparities in the LGBTQ+ community.  It also highlights many aspects of the LGBTQ+ community. Host Nancy Barrow speaks with Bill Ollayos, the administrator of the Connecticut LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network and a Law Fellow with Children, Women, Seniors, Equity...

National Burn Awareness Week is in February, and it's recognized by the American Burn Association. It is a chance to promote burn prevention and awareness in communities. With more than 3,000 members, the ABA dedicates their efforts and resources to promoting and supporting burn-related care, prevention, education, and research. The Connecticut Burn Center in Bridgeport Hospital is the only b...

February is National Heart Month and It's also Congenital Heart Defect Week. Host Nancy Barrow spoke with CT. Representative Corey Paris, he represents the 145th District, about his serious heart issues. He suffered from TIA's, also known as transient ischemic attacks or mini strokes. Upon further testing Rep. Corey was diagnosed with a hole in his heart known as Patent Foramen Ovale (PF...

More than 84 thousand children live in poverty in Connecticut, and 122 thousand in near poverty. In this episode, we talk about a new program that has expanded into Connecticut that gives unconditional cash to expecting moms or new mothers. It takes them from pregnancy to prosperity and helps them invest in their baby's future. The program is aimed at stopping child poverty. Laura Clancy, Exe...

In this episode of the podcast, we are talking about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI’s happens when a sudden, external, physical assault damages the brain. It is one of the most common causes of disability and death in adults. TBI is a broad term that describes a vast array of injuries that happen to the brain. The damage can be focal (confined to one area of the brain) or diffuse (happens in mo...

Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states, but nearly half a million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from. More than 84 thousand children live in poverty in Connecticut and 122 thousand in near poverty. About 35 percent of Connecticut households are burdened by housing costs, compared to about 32 percent nationally. The United Way of Connecticut released its ALICE Report for 20...

In this episode we take a look at shopping for your healthcare in Connecticut. This is the time of year that Connecticut residents are looking to enroll or change their health insurance and or dental insurance. Access Health CT enrollment fairs are currently going on across Connecticut through December and into January.  Access Health CT is the state’s official health insurance marketplace and Acc...

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. As of this year about 38.4 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes these incudes type I and type 2. The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, highlighting the importance of awareness and prevention. In this episode we talk to Dr Pooja Luthra, A UConn Health Endocrinologist, and Director of the Diabetes Education Progr...

Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states, but close to half a million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and 1 in 8 Connecticut residents experience food insecurity. That's where Foodshare comes in and bridges that gap, allowing a dignified way to put food on the table. Jason Jakubowski is the President & CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, the official Feeding America f...

October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month. According to the National Institute for Health (NIH) SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between one month and one year. The vast majority of deaths take place before a baby reaches six months of age. Every year there are about 3,400 cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths know as SUID in the U.S. Alison Jacobson is the CEO of First Cand...

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th. The reason it starts on September 15th is that it coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries. This month celebrates the cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic people. In this episode, we find out about the rich culture and history of the Hispanic Community in Connecticu...

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a leading cause of death and affects people of all ages. 1.6 million people attempt suicide every year in the United States, and 3.6 million made a plan. Suicide is a serious health crisis. When a person dies by suicide, the effects are felt by family, friends, and communities. Marisa Giarnella is the co-founder of the Jordan Porco Foundat...

 In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about healthy aging and falls prevention. Falls are the leading cause of injury for those 65 and older adults. Over 14 million, or one in 4 older adults reports falling every year. The risks and potential consequences of falls increase with age and can lead to injury, loss of independence and are a leading cause of death in the U.S. among...

In the United States, the month with the largest number of births is typically August, with July a close second. In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we talk to the State Treasurer Erick Russell about the Baby Bonds program. Treasurer Russell talks about the fact that Connecticut is the first state in the nation to have the Baby Bond program aimed at curbing racial and generational poverty....

August 4 through august 10th is National Health Center week. Deb Polun serves as the Chief Strategy officer at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut known as (CHC/-ACT). It is the statewide association that supports the work of Connecticut’s Community Health Centers, which provide primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare to 420,000 people across CT each year. In her role...

Pets are like family. The dog treat business had a good year in 2024.  The market value exceeded expectations, reaching $8.3 million . The trend is set to continue, with the market projected to reach a whopping $14.2 million by 2034. Laurie Surprenant and Amy Kenkel are the co-owners of the dog bakery company, Leaps and Bones. They talk about the struggles starting the business in their home, and...

Chris Murphy is the junior United States Senator for Connecticut and has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. In the Senate, he is a strong voice for mental health care access, commonsense gun safety laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy.  As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, he fights for policies to support workers a...

This is an exciting time for anyone suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease.   A new drug that should get FDA approval by the end of this year, would expand the treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans of all ages who have Alzheimer's. The disease is the fifth-leading cause of death for adults over 65. Donanemab, a drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company, showed pro...