FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2021
CONTACT: Ashlee Niedospial ashlee@narrative-project.com 570.778.5916
Bill includes race, ethnicity, and language (REaL) data legislation
New Haven, CT – Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT) commends Governor Lamont’s signing of S.B. 1, a wide-ranging piece of legislation which seeks to equalize comprehensive access to mental, behavioral and physical health care in response to the pandemic. More commonly referred to as a bill declaring racism a public health crisis, S.B. 1, through the inclusion of REaL data legislation, will aim to identify and address the racial inequities across healthcare in Connecticut through the standardization of data collection by race, ethnicity, and language. REaL data legislation has the potential to improve the quality of healthcare provided to all CT residents, and especially residents of color, by illuminating demographic healthcare trends across our state. In response, Therese LeFevre, Co-Chair of CONECT, which has advocated for the inclusion of REaL data legislation this session shared the following response: "In the ongoing fight for health equity in our state, SB 1 is a significant step forward. Many advocates and organizations fought for the inclusion of many important provisions in SB 1, and I am thrilled that CONECT championed the standardized collection of REaL (race, ethnicity, and language) data in this bill. "REaL data is so important because what gets measured gets done. Data shapes the planning, the implementation, and the delivery of services and all grant proposals start with a needs assessment. “With REaL data reporting, organizations will have an opportunity to present data demonstrating health inequities and seek the funding they need to provide real solutions. In this way, REaL data is pivotal to discerning REAL solutions. "To achieve healthier communities, to achieve a healthier Connecticut, we have to know where the health inequalities are. REaL data in SB 1 will enable us to better understand the problems we face and pursue meaningful, data-driven solutions." More on REaL data here.
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Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT) is a collective of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and civic organizations from New Haven and Fairfield Counties – representing more than 30,000 people from different races, faith backgrounds, and living in both cities and suburbs – that have joined together to take action on social and economic justice issues of common concern. CONECT has made an impact on issues as varied as gun violence, health insurance rates, police reform, immigrant rights, and more.
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