The Paid Leave Podcast

Latest Episodes:

An addict's story from near death to a sober life and gratitude for it all Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Alcohol and drug addiction are significant public health issues. The financial challenges hit not only the person but their family, community and caregivers. The annual cost for substance abuse treatment is over 600 billion dollars. Each year, 16 million or 6 percent of Americans over the age of 12 abuse prescription drugs.
Kevin Shuler is a Recovery Coach Program Manager for CCAR, (Connecticut Community Addiction Recovery), and it is a centralized resource hub in Connecticut for all things relating to recovery. CCAR can help you to navigate the recovery community by connecting you with others in recovery and providing access to area support services.
Kevin talks openly about his life of addiction that almost killed him, and how he rebounded to help others fighting their recovery process. He talks about how this affected his family and support system, and how CT Paid Leave could really help during a desperate time.
For more information about recovery in Connecticut and CCAR go to: Home - CCAR
or call 866-205-9770.
For more information and resources go to: Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
For information about Benefits or to Apply go to: CT Paid Leave

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US
https://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeave

https://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/
https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeave
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

The rocky road to addiction recovery Sep 09, 2023

Show notes

National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, and to recognize the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible. This is just a portion of President Biden's proclamation about National Recovery Month: " During National Recovery Month, we celebrate the more than 20 million Americans who have had the courage to seek help for substance use disorder, showing millions of others that recovery is possible. We honor their resilience and recommit to making sure that every American has access to the services and support they need to rebuild lives of purpose and hope. "
Joining me to talk about addiction and treatment is Teodoro (Teo) Anderson Diaz, LCSW, LADC, a behavioral health care leader and practitioner from Wheeler Clinic he is the vice president of Health and Wellness Center Outpatient Services. Teo oversees the clinic’s mental health and substance abuse recovery services and ensures continued integration of behavioral health programs and primary care services. He also served as a licensed clinical social worker and addiction counselor. He is a member of the adjunct faculty at the Springfield College of Social Work. Teo received a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in human service administration from Springfield College.
Teo talks about a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. He looks at everything that is holding someone back from living a life of sobriety and directs people to live a life that is fulfilling. He talks about pain points and what is pushing someone to seek treatment for their addiction and he talks about the importance of diet and self-worth. He also says it is important to have a good support system in place and that the road to recovery may take several attempts.
For more information about Wheeler Clinic go to : Wheeler Health - Community | Health | Care (wheelerclinic.org)
For a list of recovery services please go to : INDEX - DMHAS Directories
Under CT Paid Leave, the leave may be taken only for treatment for substance abuse by a healthcare provider or by a provider of health care services on referral by a healthcare provider, but not for absences caused by an employee’s use of the substance.
For more information go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

A Doctor's note about Breastfeeding Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and today we're looking at things from a doctor's point of view.
Breastfeeding isn't always easy and for the best health outcomes the American Academy of Pediatrics( AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with foods for at least two years and beyond as mutually desired. My guest is Dr. Jennifer Schwab. Dr. Schwab is a pediatrician with Rocky Hill pediatrics. She's a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She graduated Coombe laude from the College of Holy Cross and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She serves as Chair of the Connecticut Children's Care Network, an organization of about 200 pediatricians in Connecticut, which focuses on improving the quality and affordability of health care for children and their families, which is a huge problem. She's also the Division Chief of community Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and on the board of directors at CCMC.
We talk about the health reasons to breastfeed for Mom and for the baby. The dr. wants to make sure patients know their goals and she as a doctor tries to help patients to meet those goals. We also talk about peri-partum mood and anxiety disorders.
Resources:
Rocky Hill Padiatrics: Rocky Hill Pediatrics
The Nest collaborative: Nest Collaborative | Lactation Experts | Breastfeeding Help
La leche League: Breastfeeding Support / La Leche League of Connecticut (lllct.org)
Breastfeeding Coalition : Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition - Home (breastfeedingct.org)
State of CT: Breastfeeding Resources for Connecticut Families – United Way of Connecticut – 211 and eLibrary (211ct.org)
LactMed: Medication Safety in Breastfeeding | AAFP
CT Paid Leave: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

The struggles with new mothers and breastfeeding. Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breastfeeding has proven to have health benefits for both mothers and babies in high-income and low-income settings, yet less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to World Health Organization. Meanwhile, the commercial milk formula industry generates revenues of about $55 billion each year.
The guests on this podcast are Monica Belyea who is a Nutrition Consultant with the CT Department of Public health and Taylor Smith, an Interdisciplinary Doula with strong interests in science, nutrition, herbal remedies and lactation.
Monica's expertise is in Early Childhood health and education systems and infant and young child feeding and nutrition. She focuses on the policies and laws protecting safe and healthy breastfeeding in the workplace and is the Past-Chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition and a Steering Committee member of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition.
In addition to being a Doula, Taylor is also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and is extremely passionate about helping women through their breastfeeding and pregnancy journey. Taylor serves as the current co-chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coaltion. She is currently a participant in Paving the Way: Diversity in Lactation, which is a mentorship program that aims to increase BIPOC numbers in lactation by guiding Women of Color to obtain their International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential and she will be sitting for the exam this fall.
Monica talks about the legal rights of mothers to pump in the workplace and the need to make sure marginalized communities are aware of their rights. Taylor says she is trying to increase awareness in minority communities about the benefits of breastfeeding to increase the number of mothers who breastfeed.
CT paid leave provides up to 12 weeks of income replacement so both parents can bond with their child, and breastfeeding can be a big part of that bonding experience.
Find out more about breastfeeding at:
Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition - Home (breastfeedingct.org)
(20+) Facebook
Breastfeeding Resources (ct.gov)
For benefits or to apply: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

A National Researcher Focuses on Paid Leave. Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

Out of 186 countries, 96 percent provide some pay to women who are on maternity leave. 81 countries provide paid leave to fathers. The United States lags far behind.
Our focus today is how paid leave affects many things including families and business, and women's earning potential.
Maya Rossin-Slater is an Associate Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic and Policy Research (SIEPR), a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a Research Affiliate at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). She received her Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, and her BA in Economics and Statistics from the University of California at Berkeley. Rossin-Slater’s research includes topics such as paid leave, health care, public and labor economics. She focuses on issues in maternal and child well-being, family structure and behavior, health disparities, and public policies affecting disadvantaged populations in the United States and other developed countries. She is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Career Award and has published articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Her paid leave research includes California, And New York and a bit of Rhode Island.
We talk about the family health and well-being benefits that paid leave offers, and how it can help with mother and infant mortality rates. She says the leave is not long enough in the United States so there is very small positive or no effect on women's labor work trajectories. We also touch on how paid leave can help low income or otherwise disadvantaged families. She also said that COVID changed attitudes of employers towards paid leave.
CT Paid Leave began giving benefits in January of 2022. Since then, we have had a total of 134, 384 claims, and of those that were approved as of June 26 we have had a total of 83, 564 workers get benefits for their own serious health issues or that of a loved one. As of June first we have given out more than 375 million dollars in benefits.
for more information on research by Maya Rossin-Slater: maya rossin slater - Google Scholar
For benefits or to open a claim for CT paid leave: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site
For more podcast episodes: (2) The Paid Leave Podcast - YouTube

New Parents and the Economics of Paid Leave. Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Many parents return to work soon after a child’s birth. In fact, in the United States, 1 in 4 mothers, primarily those with lower income, return just two weeks after delivering their child.
CT Paid Leave offers up to 12 weeks of income replacement to parents to bond with their child.
Commissioner Beth Bye from the Office of Early Childhood, is an education specialist, and she was an early advocate for CT Paid Leave. She joins me for a discussion about the economic benefits of paid leave, which includes parents saving thousands of dollars in childcare expenses.
For more information about the Office of Early Childhood : https://www.ctoec.org
To apply for benefits got to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

You Can Choose Your Family. Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

June is Pride Month.
"Blood is thicker than water," however for many people, family isn't just about blood — it's about deep, meaningful connections. During Pride month you may hear the words "chosen family". A chosen family is a family you choose to have in your life that loves and supports you the way a blood family would.
My guest Robin McHaelen is well-known locally and nationally in the LGBTQ+ community as a leader, advocate and consultant. Robin is the founder and former Executive Director of True Colors, Inc. She was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Hate Crimes Commission. Robin says it is important for blood families to show compassion when someone comes out. Family rejection can have lasting traumatic implications.
My guest Ace Ricker is a public advocate and educator who’s been speaking on transgender rights since the age of fifteen. He’s the founder of A.C.E. (Awareness through Communication and Education) where he facilitates interactive workshops, training sessions and round-table discussions. Ace is a transgender man of color, and says his chosen family helped him through a very tough time after his family rejected him.
CT Paid leave has an expanded definition of family when you are care giving to a loved one with a serious health condition. You can be blood related, or you can be related by affinity. That means someone you have a close relationship with that is equivalent to that of a family, like a friend, co- worker or a Godson. You can get up to 12 weeks of income replacement if you qualify so you don’t have to worry about losing income during this time.
You can reach Robin McHaelen at: McHaelen Consulting Services, LLC | LGBTQ+ Consultant in Manchester, CT (robinmchaelen.com)
mchaelen@gmail,com
You can reach Ace Ricker at: A.C.E (Awareness through Communication & Education) - Home (acericker.com)
acericker.consulting@gmail.com
To apply for benefits please go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site
or call: 877-499-8606

Navigating the Challenges of Transgender Healthcare Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Pride Month is all about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and advocating for their rights—and the medical field is no exception to this. Health care should be inclusive and respectful for everyone, no matter their gender identity or who they love. The challenges include gaps in coverage, affordability, stigma, discrimination and poor treatment from healthcare professionals.
Katie Tierney is the Medical Director of the Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness and is an APRN specializing in Endocrinology. She believes that patients need to be treated with dignity and respect. With LGBTQ+ that starts with using the correct pronouns and validating them in the health care space.
Tony Ferraiolo is a transgender advocate and is the Director of Youth and Family Programs at Health Care Advocates International, which provides a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth and their families to be supported. Tony talks candidly about his own healthcare stories as a transgender man, the good and the bad. Tony dedicates himself to educating providers and the business community about inclusion.
Guest Information
:
Tony Ferraiolo: Tony Ferraiolo | Health Care Advocates International (hcaillc.com)
email Tony directly at: tonyferraiolo@hcaillc.com
Katy Tierney: Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness // Middlesex Health
Call Middlesex health at 860-358-6000
The CT Paid Leave program provides up to 12 weeks of crucial income replacement to LGBTQ+ individuals seeking health care. That also includes mental health care, if it includes incapacitation and you have continued care from a health care provider.
To apply for paid leave benefits please set up your account here:
CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site
Assistance is also available by calling (877) 499–8606.

Kids and the Mental Health Crisis. May 26, 2023

Show notes

May is Mental health Awareness month, and with that comes the question of what parents should do if their child is having mental health issues. The Pew Research Center report said mental health was the greatest concern among parents, followed by bullying, which worries 35% of parents. These concerns trumped fears of kidnapping, dangers of drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy and getting into trouble with the police.
According to the Connecticut School Health survey released in May 2023, 1 in 7 high school students across Connecticut have seriously considered suicide.
My guests are Dr. Frank Gregory, the Administrator of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Children's Behavioral Health Community Services Systems. He says kids have been struggling and suffering for too long, and that is why it is so important to have resources in place.
Parent Shannon Ozkan has multiple children with mental health issues. Shannon works at Favor Inc., which is a nonprofit organization that assists families with mental health needs and advocacy. She talks candidly about her own family struggles and how she helps other families navigate services.
If your child needs mental health services call: 2-1-1 or 9-8-8
To get in touch with Favor Inc. call 860-563-3232 or go to: » About (favor-ct.org)
To apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

Minority Men and Mental Health. May 05, 2023

Show notes

Mental health became a focus during the pandemic as many people struggled with depression or anxiety due to isolation. A recent study from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that suicide attempts were rising at an alarming rate long before COVID-19. The study found that Black males had the highest increase in suicide attempts compared to any other race in the group increasing nearly 80%.
My guests talk about the stigma that minority men face in the community when they are seeking mental health services. Mental health podcaster Justin Little is a mental health speaker and is board certified in psychological first aid. Justin never talked about mental health in his family until he needed services in High School. His podcast opens the door for more men to talk about mental health issues.
Erskine Alexander is a licensed mental health therapist in New York and at Healing Springs Wellness Center in Cheshire Connecticut. He believes it is important to find a therapist you can relate to. He thinks more minority therapists are needed to normalize mental health in marginalized communities.
To listen to Justin Little's podcast go to : The Mental Wealth Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
For links and social media go to: mentalwealthpodcast - Link in Bio & Creator Tools | Beacons
To Find Erskine Alexanders information go to: Erskine Alexander, Clinical Social Work/Therapist, Cheshire, CT, 06410 | Psychology Today
Erskine's LinkedIn account: (32) Activity | Erskine Alexander | LinkedIn
If you need help please call 2-1-1
or go to : Suicide Resources (ct.gov)
For information or apply for benefits go to : CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected