Meriden Health Talk

Meriden Opioid Referral for Recovery (MORR) Program

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we connected with Rushford, one of our community partners, to talk about our Meriden Opioid Referral for Recovery program, known as MORR. Thank you to Rushford for recording this podcast episode.
People CAN and DO recover, and we are here to help. The Meriden Opioid Referral for Recovery program, known as MORR, is designed to meet individuals wherever they are at in their recovery journey and connect them to programs and services that will best fit their individual needs. Rushford offers a full continuum of programs and treatment options that will help you start and maintain recovery. In addition to residential and outpatient programs and case management, Rushford also has trained Peer Recovery Support Specialists that provide a unique level of support as they have lived-experience with substance use or mental health challenges. Rushford is proud to partner with the Meriden Department of Health and Human Services and our first responders, including Meriden's police and fire departments, and Hunter’s Ambulance on the MORR program.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call Rushford’s main line (877) 577-3233. You can call MORR staff directly at (475) 331-3341. If you would like to review information about MORR and other life-saving overdose prevention and response services, please visit www.meridenhealth.com.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Part 2

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are back to talk more about lead and some things you want to look for if you question whether you or your child would be exposed to lead.  
Housing – Any home that was built prior to 1978 has the potential to have lead.  If the house was built before 1950, it is almost certain to have lead.  We would look for any painted surface that appears to have multiple layers of paint, and if the paint appears to be chipped or cracked in any way. Old wooden windows, old doors, old stairs are common locations where lead can be found.
Jobs – Certain jobs would expose people to lead or lead dust.  Professions like painters, remodelers, contractors, construction worker would increase the chance of lead exposure.
Hobbies – Hobbies like pottery & ceramics, stained glass, fishing, or hobbies involving firearms all have the risk of exposing someone to lead.
Cosmetics – Certain cosmetics, including some used for ceremonial or religious purposes have been found to contain lead.
Home remedies and medications – Certain ethnic-specific traditions and ceremonies have had products used that contain lead.
Toys – There are times that the paint that has been used on the toy could possibly contain lead.  Please check the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website (https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls) for the most recent recalls.   
 
Staff for the Meriden Environmental Health Department has been trained to know what to look for when inspecting homes.  When applicable, we can test items to see if they come up positive for lead, or collect samples of items for analysis. If you need more information, please call the Environmental Health Department at 203-630-4226, and ask to speak to someone about lead.  

Halloween Safety Tips

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about some important safety tips to keep your Halloween happy and safe!
Be street smart. Always use sidewalks and crosswalks.
Walk, don’t run – and look both ways before crossing the street.
Children under 12 years of age should be accompanied by an adult for trick-or-treating.
Stay visible by carrying a flashlight or glow stick.
Add reflective tape to costumes or bags, and choose light-colored costumes when possible.
Make sure your costume fits properly to prevent tripping. Use non-toxic make up instead of masks for better visibility. Avoid carrying sharp props or props that look like real weapons.
While it is tempting for children to dig into their Halloween candy as soon as they get it, adults should check treats before consuming. Adults should look for sealed, labeled packages, and avoid homemade goodies from people you don’t know, especially if their child has food allergies.
If you are staying home and handing out treats, please keep pets inside and secured. Clear your walkways of obstacles, and light them up if possible.
The most important tip of all - HAVE FUN! Meriden’s Trunk or Treat will be held Saturday, October 25 from 12 – 2 pm at the Meriden Green. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, you can visit the Parks & Rec’s Facebook page under: Meriden Parks & Recreation Department.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Part 1

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are kicking off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by talking about lead - what it is, its harmful effects, and what we do in local health if your child tests positive for lead. 
What is lead? Lead is a metal found in the natural environment.  Over time, it had been found to be useful in things like paint, gasoline, varnish, and car batteries.  It increased the durability of paint, made the colors more vibrant, and increased the power generated in gasoline.  It was a cheap additive that was introduced to many different things.  
Lead poisoned? But I feel fine.  The unfortunate thing about lead poisoning is that there are no early symptoms. There is no safe level of lead in any body, and it can be especially harmful for young children and pregnant women. It affects several systems in the body, like the brain and nervous system, and can results in developmental & growth delays, hearing and speech problems, with potential for difficulty in learning and paying attention.  At extreme exposure levels, it can lead to serious illness and sometime worse.  
How do I know if I’m lead poisoned?  The only way to see if you are poisoned is be a venous blood draw.  Lead screening is done via a capillary finger blood draw.  If this comes up elevated, it is encouraged to get a venous level done by a medical health professional.
 What to do if you or your child tested positive for lead?  As your local health department, we have staff trained and certified to inspect homes to see what potential lead hazards may be present.  We would be able to come to the home, do a visual inspection, perform lead dust wipe sampling, and recommend things to do.  In certain situations, our staff would be required to perform a more comprehensive inspection, which would include paint, soil, and water testing.  If you need more information, please call the Environmental Health Department at 203-630-4226, and ask to speak to someone about lead.  

Meriden Early Start - Programa Círculo de Seguridad para Padres

En este episodio de Meriden Health Talk, Escuchamos a nuestros padres embajadores del programa Meriden Early Start!
Hola familias de Meriden,
¿Se sienten perdidos como padres? ¡No están solos!
Mi nombre es Karla Vega/Yamayra Rivera y soy Embajadora de Padres con Meriden Early Start. Meriden Early Start es el nuevo programa de cuidado y educación temprana financiado por el estado que se lanzó el primero de julio de 2025. Este programa combina 3 programas existentes: contratos de guardería infantil, subvenciones para preparación escolar, y subvenciones de preparación escolar y subvenciones suplementarias estatales de Head Start- en un solo programa nuevo.
Nuestra función es servir como defensoras de las familias con niños pequeños en Meriden. Ayudamos a los padres a conectarse con programas y servicios locales de la primera infancia y a sentirse empoderados en la educación y desarrollo de sus hijos.
Les invitamos a unirse al programa Círculo de Seguridad para Padres – un enfoque poderoso, basado en la investigación, para construir relaciones entre padres e hijos mas sólidas y seguras.
En esta capacitación aprenderán a intrepetar las necesidades emocionales de sus hijos, maneras de apoyar su capacidad para manejar las emociones, consejos para aumentar la autoestima y cómo confiar en su propia sabiduría como padres.
Esta es una capacitación de 8 semanas que se llevará a cabo virtualmente los lunes de 6:00 p. m. a 7:30 p. m., a partir del lunes 27 de octubre. Para registrarse, visite la página de Facebook del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de la Ciudad de Meriden y escanee el código QR o haga clic en el enlace publicado: https://forms.office.com/g/r1afYQtP7U. Esperamos que se una a nosotros.

Meriden Early Start - Circle of Security Parenting Program

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we hear from our Parent Ambassadors from the Meriden Early Start program!
Feeling lost as a parent? You are not alone!
My name is Karla Vega - I am a Parent Ambassador with Meriden Early Start. Meriden Early Start is the new state-funded early care and education program that launched
July 1,2025. It combines 3 existing programs- Child daycare contracts, School Readiness Grants, and State Head Start Supplement Grants- into 1 new program.
Our role is to serve as advocates for families of young children in Meriden. We help parents get connected with local early childhood programs and services and help them feel empowered in their child’s education and development.
We invite you to join the Circle of Security Parenting Program- a powerful, research-based approach to building stronger more secure parent-child relationships.
In this training you will learn how to read your child’s emotional needs, ways to support their ability to manage emotions, tips to boost self-esteem and how to trust your own parenting wisdom.
This is an 8-week training that will be held virtually on Mondays from 6pm-7:30 pm. Beginning Monday October, 27th. To register visit the City of Meriden Health and Human Services FB page and scan the QR code or click the link: https://forms.office.com/g/r1afYQtP7U. We hope you’ll join us.

Tick Prevention This Fall

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are reminding residents that ticks can still be active in your yard even in the fall season! Although we often associate ticks with the warmer spring and summer months, the cooler fall weather does not mean ticks are gone for the year. 
Some ticks are more active in the autumn. Adult blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) can be found in October and November looking for an animal on which to feed. The bite of a blacklegged tick can cause Lyme disease and other lesser-known tick-borne diseases (such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and deer tick virus) that can make people and animals sick.
Ticks thrive in moist, shaded environments, and leaf piles offer the perfect hiding spots for these tiny creatures.
Take these precautions during your fall cleanup:
Wear long pants, long socks, and long-sleeved shirts to reduce ticks' access to your skin and reduce your risk of being bitten.
Use insect repellent that has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency; this can be found on the label. Always follow label instructions when using insect repellent. You can also wear permethrin-treated clothing.
After being outdoors, scan for ticks. Ticks can attach anywhere on the body, but they prefer more covered or enclosed areas, such as in the hair, under the arms, along the waistband, and between the legs.
If you find a tick on yourself or a family member, our Environmental Health Office can send the tick out to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station for identification and testing for common tick-borne illnesses. This is done as a public service free of charge. Call Environmental Health Office at 203-630-4226 for submission instructions; staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Food Safety Fact Friday Week 4

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the importance of properly thawing out food. Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. The safest ways to thaw out food include:
Putting items in the refrigerator where the temperature is 41 degrees F or less.
Completely submerging food under running water at or below 70 degrees F.
Thawing food as part of the cooking process. 
For more information about safe defrosting methods please visit: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/big-thaw-safe-defrosting-methods 

National Preparedness Month Week 4 - Staying Informed

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we want to talk about staying informed. One way to do this is by signing up for the CT ALERT Emergency notification system.  
CT ALERT is a statewide system that enables state and local 911 emergency communication centers to provide essential information quickly in a variety of emergency situations.
The City of Meriden participates in CT Alert.  By signing up you will be informed via text, phone call and/or email during emergencies in the Meriden area including public health threats, dangerous weather, fires and public safety incidents. 
Registering with CT Alert allows you to instantly receive alerts any way you choose - home phone, mobile phone, email, work number, text message. To register text your zip code to 888-777 OR sign up at www.ctalert.gov. 

Food Safety Fact Friday Week 3

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the 4 simple steps to food safety! Following these four steps at home can help protect you and your loved ones from food poisoning.
Clean - wash your hands and surfaces often.
Separate - don't cross-contaminate.
Cook - to the right internal temperature.
Chill - refrigerate leftovers promptly. 
For more information on food safety please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/prevention/index.html