Senator McKinney Named Champion Of Community Providers

HARTFORD — State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) was recognized this week as a legislative champion by the Connecticut Community Providers Association (CCPA), which represents private organizations across Connecticut that offer support services for people with disabilities and significant needs; including children and adults with substance use disorders, mental illness, developmental, and physical disabilities.

Senator McKinney was one of four legislators who earned the recognition December 15 at CCPA’s 39th Annual Meeting in Farmington.

State Senate President Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn), State Representative Deborah Heinrich (D-Madison), and House Majority Leader Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) were also recognized.

“By providing quality care at an affordable cost to people with disabilities and children in need, Connecticut’s private providers play an essential role in helping to care for our most vulnerable citizens and their services will be even more important as our state works to dig itself out of a growing budget deficit,” said Sen McKinney. “I am grateful to the CCPA and all of its member organizations for this recognition and I look forward to working with the private provider community in the year ahead to help make them a part of the solutions that will reverse the current economic downturn and help to ensure quality affordable healthcare for all.”

CCPA operates three divisions: Adult Behavioral Health, Children’s Mental Health & Substance Abuse, and Developmental Disabilities, and is the lead advocate for community human service providers, supporting services for people with disabilities and significant challenges at the state legislature and with state agencies.