Hartford Remote Learning Hubs for Children in Kindergarten – Grade 3

Beginning January 2021

Do you need FREE and SAFE in-person learning options for your child enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 3 remote learning in Hartford?

The City of Hartford is partnering with Hartford Public Schools and community organizations to offer learning hub locations across the city, including at CRT’s Ritter Child Development Center located at 555 Windsor St., Hartford (entrance off Pavilion St.).

This program is administered by Hartford’s Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation and designed for families that selected in‐person learning for their children and may be adversely impacted by COVID‐19‐related facility closures.

To be eligible, your child must:

  • Be a resident of Hartford
  • Be enrolled in in‐person kindergarten, first grade, second grade, or third grade and is currently in hybrid or remote‐only status
  • Have a working parent/caregiver that meets low to moderate income requirements

For more information about how to enroll, please contact Leslie Giordano at (860) 560‐5461 ext.231 or [email protected]

This program is funded in part with Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to CRT by the City of Hartford and supported by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

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CRT Partners with Liberty Bank to Offer ‘Community Asset Building Initiative’ to Help Low-Income Participants Pursuing Homeownership

Hartford – Just in time for the New Year, the Community Renewal Team (CRT) in partnership with Liberty Bank is pleased to announce the availability of a unique “Community Asset Building Initiative” (CABI) to help people in Hartford and Middlesex Counties achieve financial independence and security as they save money for future home ownership.

Qualified individuals will enroll in a special online training course with CRT financial counselors. Upon the successful completion of all 10 modules in this course, along with opening a special CABI savings account through Liberty Bank, those individuals will be eligible to receive up to a one-to-one match of $1,000 from Liberty Bank to help them achieve the dream of owning their own home.

“We are thrilled to be working closely with our partners at Liberty Bank to offer this valuable incentive program for people who are trying to fulfill the dream of homeownership,” said Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Director of Community Services for CRT. “What better way to begin the New Year than to give people a tangible way to get on track financially – and stay on track until they achieve their personal financial goals?”

“We are honored to work with our long-time and esteemed partner, the Community Renewal Team, to make homeownership more affordable and available for families of every background in and around the Greater Hartford area,” said Glenn Davis, First Vice President, Community Development/CRA Officer. “In addition to creating more homeownership opportunities for community residents, we are helping them focus on long-term financial goals by providing the guidance, support and expertise they need to build financial stability now and in the future. This partnership also reaffirms Liberty Bank’s 195+ year commitment to assisting Connecticut families and individuals throughout their financial journeys, in times of prosperity and in times of uncertainty like we are all facing today.”

The CABI program offers participants incentive savings matches, personal and money management education, peer and staff support, and individual counseling to make asset ownership attainable.

Financial literacy education will be provided online using the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Money Smart curriculum. Participants can complete the 10 FDIC modules at their own pace, and then work to complete their personal savings goal with their new CABI savings account.

CRT staff will provide case management services to each participant in the CABI program to assist with:

  • Setting realistic short- and long-term personal, financial, and asset goals.
  • Designing strategies to achieve their personal and financial goals.
  • Acquiring financial skills and knowledge in order to make informed financial decisions.
  • Developing or improving fiscal self-discipline, self-awareness and patterns of regular savings.
  • Increasing self-confidence and assertiveness as it relates to financial and consumer matters.

CABI Savings Account Features:

Liberty Bank will offer savings accounts with the following features to program participants:

  • Liberty Bank will assist participants in opening their savings accounts with a minimum of $10.00.
  • Liberty Bank will maintain their CABI account in accordance with state and federal regulations.
  • Liberty Bank will waive regular monthly services charges or fees for CABI program participant’s savings accounts.

For those individuals who qualify for the CABI savings accounts, Liberty Bank agrees to offer an interest-bearing savings account, paying at least a market rate of interest, as detailed in Liberty Bank’s Personal Deposit Account Agreement (PDAA). This account will be free from service charges or any other charges for all individuals that CRT accepts as a CABI participant.

CRT will help to monitor CABI program participants’ monthly savings activity in an effort to help them reach their savings goals and ultimately become successful long-term asset owners.

How do you enroll in the CABI Program?

Admission in the CABI program does require a pre-application, and qualified participants will be added to the program on a rolling basis. The first 10 people to successfully complete the course requirements and establish and maintain their CABI savings account will receive the $1,000 matching grant from Liberty Bank.

Individuals that are interested in participating in this unique asset-building initiative should contact CRT’s Financial Literacy Coordinator Eileen Feliciano via email at [email protected] or call: 860-560-4210.

Editor’s Note: Staff from CRT are available for interviews about this CABI program.

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Save Money for Future Home Ownership with the Community Asset Building Initiative

The Community Renewal Team (CRT) in partnership with Liberty Bank is pleased to announce the availability of a unique “Community Asset Building Initiative” (CABI) to help people in Hartford and Middlesex Counties achieve financial independence and security as they save money for future home ownership.

Qualified individuals will enroll in a special online training course with CRT financial counselors. Upon the successful completion of all 10 modules in this course, along with opening a special CABI savings account through Liberty Bank, those individuals will be eligible to receive up to a one-to-one match of $1,000 from Liberty Bank to help them achieve the dream of owning their own home.

The CABI program offers participants incentive savings matches, personal and money management education, peer and staff support, and individual counseling to make asset ownership attainable.

For those individuals who qualify for the CABI savings accounts, Liberty Bank agrees to offer an interest-bearing savings account, paying at least a market rate of interest, as detailed in Liberty Bank’s Personal Deposit Account Agreement (PDAA). This account will be free from service charges or any other charges for all individuals that CRT accepts as a CABI participant.

CRT will help to monitor CABI program participants’ monthly savings activity in an effort to help them reach their savings goals and ultimately become successful long-term asset owners.

How do you enroll in the CABI Program?

Admission in the CABI program does require a pre-application, and qualified participants will be added to the program on a rolling basis. The first 10 people to successfully complete the course requirements and establish and maintain their CABI savings account will receive the $1,000 matching grant from Liberty Bank.

Individuals that are interested in participating in this unique asset-building initiative should visit the CABI page for more information.

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Access Health CT Extends Open Enrollment Period Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Access Health CT has extended the 2021 annual Open Enrollment period amid the Coronavirus pandemic until January 15, 2021, providing more time for Connecticut residents to get covered in the New Year. If you sign up for health insurance through Access Health CT by Jan. 15 your coverage will begin on February 1, 2021.

Learn more in this report from Christine Stuart from NBC Connecticut.

 

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See How One Family Helps to ‘Share the Love’ this Holiday Season

Keith McGilvery from Fox 61 helped to “Share the Love” about an amazing act of kindness from a family in Portland, CT giving back to people in need during the holidays.

Lou and Wendy Vinci from Portland, CT are making “skid trees” this year out of salvaged wooden pallets in the shape of Christmas Trees that are being sold for only $5 each, and all of the proceeds are going to benefit the local food pantry in their community. Lou’s family has benefited from CRT’s Meals on Wheels program in the past and they wanted to find a way to help others this year. The handmade trees are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, email to: [email protected]

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Quick Thinking and Decisive Action by CRT Staff Save Man Having an Overdose in Hartford

Last week a 56-year old man arrived at CRT offices on Market Street in Hartford for a scheduled appointment – he got inside just in time! He was having a drug overdose, but thanks to the quick thinking and decisive action of CRT’s Behavioral Health Services team, he received NARCAN and was resuscitated. He is starting CRT’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program to help with addiction recovery.

CRT’s Medical Director, Dr. Sharon Hasbani, spoke exclusively with Margaux Farrell from Fox 61 about the quick thinking and decisive action of CRT’s Behavioral Health Services team to save a man from a drug overdose.

More information is available on the Fox 61 website.

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CRT Celebrates the Graduating Class of 10th Annual Financial Literacy Institute

On December 8, 2020, CRT hosted the graduation for the students who successfully completed the 10th annual Financial Literacy Institute. Complete with caps and gowns, all of the students were celebrated for their hard work during the 14-week, 50-hour course. In a first this year, the entire course was conducted online to ensure social-distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this included the graduation ceremony.

The keynote address was given by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who told the graduates last night:

“[You] have turned financial literacy from being an obstacle into an opportunity.
An opportunity to invest in yourself.
An opportunity to invest in your education or business.
An opportunity to invest in your loved ones.
And an opportunity to invest in your future.
Knowledge is power and one of the best investments you can make is in yourself.”

Mike Hydeck from NBC Connecticut shared the good news with their viewers.

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Do All You Can to Help Someone in Need on ‘Giving Tuesday’

Today marks “Giving Tuesday” and CRT invites donors to do all they can to help one person in need to stay healthy and safe this holiday season. Thanks to an anonymous donor, each donation this month will be matched dollar for dollar!

Jenn Bernstein from Fox 61 News shared the story with their viewers.

You can also see details on the Fox 61 website.

You can make a secure donation to CRT now.

 

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