Greater New Britain Community Providers Network Offers Local Stakeholders Opportunity to Shape the Future

Health and Human Service Providers, Policy Makers, Community Invited; “Invest Health New Britain” to be Featured Topic of April 18 Gathering

New Britain, Conn., March 15, 2017 – A new, local initiative designed to afford those who shape and deliver health and human services in Greater New Britain – as well as community stakeholders who depend on such services – the opportunity to collaborate and stay abreast of the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in these vital fields will hold its next meeting on April 18.

The Greater New Britain Community Providers Network is an outgrowth of the Community Health Needs Forum and Exchange coordinated last September by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Hospital of Central Connecticut and Hospital for Special Care. The Network will periodically bring together local health and human service providers, program managers, policy makers, funders and members of the general public to share information, address current trends, issues and challenges, and collaborate to shape how such services are designed, delivered and funded today and in the future.

The group will hold its second meeting on Tuesday, April 18, from 8-9 a.m. at the Hospital for Special Care’s Research and Education Center (370 Osgood Avenue, entrance on Corbin Avenue). Robin Sharp, executive director of YWCA New Britain and board chair of the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce, will make a presentation about “Invest Health New Britain,” part of a national program jointly funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Reinvestment Fund designed to bring together leaders from mid-sized U.S. cities to develop new strategies to fund and accelerate improvements in neighborhoods facing barriers to better health.

The Network held its first meeting in February. Kate Quigley, United Way of Connecticut, discussed how local programs and agencies can leverage the United Way 2-1-1 health and human service information and referral helpline to improve coordination of services.

Current members of the Greater New Britain Community Providers Network will be notified via e-mail regarding the April 18 meeting. Others interested in joining the Network should contact Kimberly Duncan, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, kduncan@cfgnb.org, or call (860) 229-6018, ext. 300.

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, manage permanent charitable assets effectively, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership. For more information, visit www.cfgnb.org.

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) is a 414-bed, 32-bassinet acute care teaching hospital with two campuses, New Britain General and Bradley Memorial in Southington. A member of Hartford HealthCare, HOCC services include emergency services, inpatient medicine, surgery, laboratory, and radiology. Among specialty areas are cardiovascular care, metabolic health, obstetrics, oncology, orthopedics, and psychiatry/behavioral health. For more information, please visit www.thocc.org.

Hospital for Special Care, located in New Britain and Hartford, is one of the four largest, free-standing long-term acute care hospitals in the United States and the nation’s only long-term acute-care hospital serving adults and children. HSC is recognized for advanced care and rehabilitation in pulmonary care, acquired brain injury, medically-complex pediatrics, neuromuscular disorders (including ALS research), spinal cord injury, comprehensive heart failure and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. For more information, visit www.hfsc.org.