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With school just around the corner, Connecticut children can already start working towards A+ health with our checklist. As a parent, use our list, created in partnership with InterCommunity Health Care and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, to help you make informed decisions while preparing for a great school year ahead. Not only is it important to ensure your children have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom, but taking steps toward a healthy body allows them to be present in the classroom to learn. Evidence suggests the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) leads to better health and lower health care costs. Pair this with receiving recommended vaccines, and you and your family will be best prepared for the school year ahead. Here are some suggestions to get you and your children ready for the classroom:
✓ Get school supplies for the new school year
✓ Make an appointment for the flu vaccine. Anyone — even healthy people — can benefit from being vaccinated. CDC guidelines recommend yearly vaccination against influenza for everyone older than 6 months of age, including pregnant women. For an appointment, call InterCommunity Health Care at 860-569-5900.
✓ Get haircuts
✓ Check SNAP eligibility with the EHC! SNAP Prescreener. SNAP is a monthly benefit that helps families afford groceries. The program is for anyone that applies and meets requirements to receive benefits. SNAP can be for older adults, college students, single parents and mixed status families, for example. To learn about the newest feature to the prescreener, click here.
✓ Work on summer deadlines and projects
✓ Schedule a check-in to receive the COVID vaccine. Natural immunity may not protect you from getting the virus one or more times. Vaccines appear to protect people longer and can make symptoms less severe should they contract the virus. For an appointment, call InterCommunity Health Care at 860-569-5900.
Click here for a PDF version of the checklist, available in English and Spanish, that you can print.
Ready to take the next step in your family’s health?
Call 866-974-SNAP (7627) for End Hunger CT!’s SNAP assistance.
Call 860-569-5900 for Intercommunity Health Care’s vaccine assistance.
Photo by CDC on Unsplash
About us: End Hunger CT! works statewide to eliminate hunger and promote healthy nutrition through outreach, public education, and advocacy. EHC! offers SNAP assistance, nutrition program promotion, doubles SNAP at farmers’ markets, and more to help CT residents in need. To learn more about our services, click here.
Have any questions? Contact our Communications Coordinator, Kimberly Nguyen, at knguyen@endhungerct.org.
