Connecticut Organizations Highlight Impact at White House Event

Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA, president and chief executive officer, Wheeler Health, spoke at The White House on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, sharing the vital role that federal support plays in improving health care in Connecticut's cities and towns, including school-based health centers, medications for substance use disorders, and federally qualified health centers.

Wheeler Health was among the Connecticut organizations invited to the White House to highlight how federal investments are making a difference for the health of individuals, families, and communities in Connecticut.  The visit was part of the White House “Communities in Action Forums” that spotlight the administration’s work with community leaders, state and local governments, labor leaders, businesses, and other stakeholders to leverage historic investments that create and expand opportunities for Connecticut residents. 

Administration officials in attendance included Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Director of the Office of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin, American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling, and Deputy Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Greg Wilcox.  U.S. Senator Chris Murphy also participated in the event, the 25th in the series for local officials from across the country, according to White House officials.

Hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Office of Public Engagement, nearly 70 local elected officials and community leaders from Rhode Island and Connecticut attended.  Among the Connecticut organizations participating was Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT), represented by Santina Sciaba-Douglas, Deputy Executive Director.

Sciaba-Douglas indicated that she pointed to COVID-19 initiatives that had enabled DRCT to advocate for PPE and vaccines be prioritized for distribution to individuals with disabilities living in institutions or congregate settings as the pandemic had run amok in those settings.  She also noted efforts by the Biden-Harris administration to ensure that Connecticut households are able to access affordable high-speed internet, indicating that since the pandemic, people with disabilities have increased in numbers in the economy because of flexible remote work opportunities.  She expressed the view that “as we think about strengthening our economy we should not forget that people with disabilities are strong contributors to that economy if they have the flexibility and the technology to participate.”

Trocchi discussed the impact of federal support on Wheeler’s care across the lifespan for more than 60,000 individuals in Connecticut annually, providing an overview of recent projects supported by the administration, including $980,000 in funding for construction of Wheeler’s 46,000-square-foot community health center and administrative headquarters in Bristol.

“It is an honor to represent and share the work we do every day keeping Connecticut healthy with the administration’s support,” said Trocchi.  “Federal investment in health care has made a significant difference for our patients and the communities we serve in Connecticut.”

Recent federal grants have provided support for Wheeler improving access to critically needed care, including: $5 million to expand mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults through its community health centers in Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, and Waterbury; $2.6 million to expand and enhance access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and recovery supports for adults in Waterbury with opioid use disorders; $2 million to help individuals with behavioral health and substance use disorders returning to their communities in central Connecticut after incarceration; and more.