The Center for Healthy Schools & Communities @ EDUCATION CONNECTION builds leadership capacity and provides high value consultation and technical assistance in school and community health-related assessment, evaluation, and program delivery.

Center staff includes doctorate and masters prepared health and education professionals with extensive experience in school and community health program planning, delivery, assessment, and evaluation. This experience includes rigorous health-related evaluation projects for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CT Department of Public Health (DPH), and CT Department of Education (CSDE); project direction for county and municipal community health assessments; and coordination of health initiatives in diverse school districts throughout Connecticut.

 Our Services Include:

  • Community Health Assessment design, project leadership, and report preparation*

  • School and Community Health Survey development, administration, and analysis

  • Health data research and report preparation

  • Focus group design and facilitation

  • Evaluation of health programs and services

  • Delivery of school health programs:

  • Nutrition & Fitness

  • School-Based Tobacco Use Prevention & Cessation

  • Training and Consulting in:

  • Early Childhood/Pre-K Nutrition and Health

  • Coordinated School Health Leadership

  • School Health Index Assessment & Improvement Planning

  • Healthy Food Service Planning and Enhancements

 

 *Announcing the 2012 Litchfield County Community Health Needs Assessment:
 

Center for Healthy Schools & Communities at EDUCATION CONNECTION, in partnership with the Litchfield County Community Transformation Grant (CTG) Coalition, is pleased to announce the release of the first-ever community health needs assessment (CHNA) for Litchfield County.  The CHNA was prepared by the Center for Healthy Schools and Communities, through funding from the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) - CDC Community Transformation Grant, Torrington Area Health District, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, United Way of Northwest Connecticut, and the Northwest Connecticut YMCA.  The Center was selected to create the assessment template to be used as a model by CTG projects statewide.  This assessment is the first step in a strategic health improvement process to "make the healthy choice the easy choice" in our communities through tobacco free living, active living and healthy eating, quality clinical and other preventive services, social and emotional wellness, and healthy and safe physical environments. 

 

Click here to download the entire CHNA (PDF)

 

Click here to download the CHNA Executive Summary (PDF)

 


Our Team

Mary Bevan, R.D., M.P.H., C.D.N. Director

Holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Columbia University and has extensive health care and public health experience including community health assessment project direction, CADH Health Equity Index pilot-testing, and grant development and administration for major health and education initiatives in Connecticut and New York State.

 

Mhora Lorentson, Ph.D., Assessment and Evaluation Consultant

Holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and specializes in survey and focus group design & administration, gap assessment, data analysis, and strategic planning and evaluation for national and state health and education projects, including the DPH Obesity Program-National Governor’s Association Project; CT Partnership for Healthy Schools; and the CT Coordinated School Health Leadership Program.

 

Linda Miklos, M.P.H., R.D.

Provides consultation services in the development and delivery of early childhood/pre-K nutrition and health programs.

 

Abby Peklo, M.A.

Specializes in the design and delivery of K-12 health and wellness initiatives in school, after school, and summer school settings including multi-district programs funded by CSDE and DPH.

 

Christine Wallace, SNS

Is a nationally-certified school food service director and nutrition specialist. Ms. Wallace, formerly associated with Cornell University’s BEN Center, has developed award-winning food service programs emphasizing school-community collaboration.

Our team works collaboratively with your organization to design and deliver health assessment, evaluation, and program services tailored to your specific needs and budget.  We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project details. The initial consultation is provided at no cost, and a proposal is then developed based on the project scope desired.