Wellbeing and Access

Healthcare equity, access and affordability are personal passions of mine. Serving on the legislative Public Health Committee these past two years had afforded me the opportunity to have a direct impact on the healthcare needs of Connecticut. I understand firsthand what it is like to be faced with a life-altering diagnosis and have to make decisions for both your well-being and that of your family. No one should ever have to make healthcare decisions based on the possible financial impact. As a breast cancer survivor, I understand the need for healthcare that is affordable, personalized and readily accessible. I know what it means to manage extraordinary healthcare costs against providing for your family. I know what it means to fight, when you have no other choice. I take my fighting passion to bear on the urgent need to create a viable system that gives the people of Connecticut quality options for affordable healthcare coverage and services. We should have a healthcare system that encourages all of us to make our healthcare a priority, with personal care decisions kept free of financial stress.

 

Mental Health

It is likely that every one of us can speak to their own experience or that of a loved one around mental health. As a legislator, I am focused on being both an advocate and ally for the mental health needs of my constituents. As a mother, I know firsthand the pain of witnessing a child in crisis. I have navigated the heartbreaking challenge of finding the right supports, services and ultimate care for my child. I know the tenacity it takes to navigate mental health supports and resources. I bring that tenacity to my advocacy around expansion of our mental health resources in Connecticut, working to create legislation that makes effective mental health supports readily available for families and continues to grow a qualified, empathetic provider network to meet the needs of our citizens. Our mental health should always hold as much importance as our physical health.