Jarmoc Receives Award from Health Group

In October, 2007, Community Health Center, Inc. honored State Representative Karen Jarmoc (D-Enfield) with a “Partnership Award” during the group’s 35th anniversary celebration at Wesleyan University in Middletown.

The group cited Jarmoc’s work in helping to establish the Mary Lou Strom Primary Care Center in Enfield as the basis for their decision.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award from Community Health Center, Inc.,” said Jarmoc. “Working for the creation of the Mary Lou Strom Primary Care Center has been one of the most rewarding endeavors I have undertaken both professionally and personally. It is my hope that the center will have a long future of helping people in Enfield and the region.”

This past session, Jarmoc was able to help secure $130,000 in state funding to establish dental services in the Enfield public school system through the center. The center and program officially started in October 2007, and is serving the uninsured and underinsured of the region.

“Ensuring that our children are healthy goes hand –in-hand with their ability to get a great education,” said Jarmoc. “I look forward to seeing the results of this program at Enfield High School, JFK Middle School, the Thomas Alcorn School and Head Start.”

Other award recipients throughout the evening included House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden) and Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael Starkowski.

Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program Comes to Enfield

As a member of the legislature’s Human Services Committee, I supported an initiative during the 2007 legislative session which will enable Enfield seniors and Woman’s Infant and Children recipients to purchase fresh produce and other items from Enfield’s newly established Farmer’s Market (Spring 2007). As of July 2007, Enfield’s Neighborhood Services had 400 packets of the Senior Farmers Market Vouchers to distribute to eligible seniors.

The Connecticut Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program is designed to provide a supplemental source of fresh fruits and vegetables for WIC clients and seniors who meet certain income requirements. The program is also aimed at promoting agricultural diversification by stimulating the demand for Connecticut grown, fruits and vegetables.

I was able to be a part of bringing this program to fruition in our community in two ways. The Human Services Committee supported a measure to increase funding for this program from $88,000 to $400,000 in the legislature’s recently approved budget. I also worked with Virginia Higley from the town of Enfield’s planning office to establish a weekly farmer’s market in our community. I also then worked with Pam Brown from Enfield social services department to coordinate rides for seniors to the market through the Dial-a-Ride program.

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