Connecticut is New England’s second smallest and southernmost state. Its 5,009 square miles (13,023 square kilometers) encompass forested hills, new urban skylines, shoreline beaches, white-steeple colonial churches and historic village greens. There are classic Ivy League schools, modern expressways, great corporate offices and small farms. The southerly flow of the Connecticut River divides the state roughly in half with Hartford, Connecticut's capitol, located in the center of the state. The coastal plain and central valley are relatively flat; they contain most of the larger cities. Other parts of the state are hilly, with the highest altitudes in the northwest corner. Hills are largely covered with hardwood forests, and about two-thirds of the state is in open land. While agriculture no longer holds its once-prominent position in Connecticut’s economy, farming is still important to the state. The most important crops are dairy, poultry, forest and nursery, tobacco, vegetables and fruit.
The 2010 total estimated population is 3,574,097 people – 308,355 living in rural Connecticut (USDA-ERS). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 77.6% of the state’s population is white, 10.1% is African American/Black, 3.8% is Asian, and 13.4% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2010).
According to the Connecticut Office of Rural Health (Feb. 2011), there are 30 acute care hospitals in the state with four located in the two state’s micropolitan counties. Connecticut has zero Rural Health Clinics (Kaiser, 2011). Connecticut has 13 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and 131 FQHC delivery sites (Kaiser, 2010). 11.0% of Connecticut residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2008-2009).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources
CT.gov: State of Connecticut; Connecticut State Office of Rural Health; U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts; USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets; Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHCACT)
State/regional organization
Works to promote and further the delivery of comprehensive, accessible, family-oriented community-based health care. Focus is education of the public, health policy makers, and health care providers.
Connecticut Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Provides continuing education resources for an array of health professions, recruits under-represented and disadvantaged persons into health care careers and conducts health promotion activities.
Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA)
State/regional organization
Strives to reduce the conditions of poverty through the identification and removal of social and economic barriers, the mobilization of community resources, advocacy, and the provision of direct services at the community level through cost-effective and community-based processes.
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)
State government
Develops strategies to attract and retain businesses and jobs, revitalize neighborhoods and communities, ensure quality housing and foster appropriate development in Connecticut's towns and cities.
Connecticut Department of Public Health
State government
Works to protect the health and safety of the people of Connecticut and actively works to prevent disease and promote wellness through education and programs.
Connecticut Department of Social Services
State government
Provides a broad range of services to the elderly, disabled, families, and individuals who need assistance in maintaining or achieving their full potential for self-direction, self-reliance and independent living.
Connecticut Health Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Connecticut's largest private health philanthropic organization.
Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA)
State/regional organization
Works to advance the health of individuals and communities by leading, representing, and serving hospitals and their related healthcare organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement.
Connecticut State Office of Rural Health
State/regional organization
Is located at Northwestern Connecticut Community College in rural Winsted, CT. The Office works closely with the Department of Public Health, Connecticut Primary Care Association, AHED, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, CT Hospital Association and community organizations promoting quality healthcare for rural residents. The Office website provides information on upcoming events, grant opportunities and other current information.
eHealth Connecticut Regional Extension Center
State/regional organization
Connecticut State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Connecticut
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region (NN/LM-NER)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among 16 regional libraries and over 500 library and information centers in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
New England Rural Health RoundTable (NERHRT)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Composed of a diverse group of individuals and organizations committed to improving health and health care throughout rural New England communities. Serves as a regional rural health advocate for Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Focuses on rural issues including community and economic development, food systems, natural resources, and entrepreneurship. Serves a 12 state area in the Northeast region which includes CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI, PA, WV, NH, ME, MD, VT.
Resources for Communities and People Solutions
State/regional organization
Helps support rural community infrastructure in the northeastern United States.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Connecticut
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development State Office: Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Connecticut Office of Rural Health: 2009 Annual Report
Sponsoring organization: Connecticut State Office of Rural Health
Provides a summary of the 2008-2009 grant year for the Connecticut Office of Rural Health.
Date: 2009
Demographic and Economic Profile: Connecticut
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, income, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 02 / 2009
Rural Community Health in Connecticut: Challenges and Opportunities
Sponsoring organization: Connecticut State Office of Rural Health
Covers rural health in Connecticut and provides data and tools that local healthcare providers, administrative bodies and coalitions can use to address health issues in Connecticut.
Date: 06 / 2006
Small Business Profile: Connecticut
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 02 / 2011
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Connecticut-Generations Family Health Center
Broadly, the goals of the grant are to provide access to and delivery
of preventive oral health care, to deliver oral health education, and to advocate for improvements in rural
oral health policies.
SPARC Project Saves Women's Lives- Connecticut
SPARC, a nonprofit health organization, began a program to administer flu shots and at the same time helped women find a mammogram provider to prevent cancer.
EMS Co-op Helps Rural Providers
Using the power of group purchasing within a cooperative structure, the North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC) is an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) cooperative developed to serve Minnesota and surrounding states.
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