CAHP Action Plan – Dec 2025
CAPITAL AREA HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP (CAHP)
Working Together to Improve Healthcare in the Capital Region
Co-Conveners:
Maureen Jenks, Capital Workforce Partners
Tiffany Morrissey, Connecticut Health Council
ACTION PLAN
December 2025
The Capital Area Healthcare Partnership is a regional sector partnership that brings together healthcare providers to collaborate on tackling shared challenges, and to strengthen the economic healthcare industry in the region. This partnership is being driven by healthcare leaders from across acute, post-acute, primary care, long-term care, home health, behavioral health, and other providers. Capital Workforce Partners and the Connecticut Health Council are the co-conveners, working in coordination with other economic development, workforce and education organizations at the region and state levels. The partnership is being modeled off other regional sector partnerships that are active across Connecticut and around the country.
Mission:
To increase the stability of the healthcare industry as a critical economic driver and improve outcomes through collaborative strategies.
Operating Principles
Work collaboratively to:
- Build synergy, not siloes
- Leverage, not duplicate
- Increase communication driving effective action
- Get things done!
CAHP Leadership Team
Goal: To ensure the Partnership is focused on the right priorities and achieving desired outcomes
- Rebecca Couceiro, Hartford Healthcare
- Athena Dellas, Wheeler Clinic
- Carol Fitzgerald, New Horizons, Inc.
- Barry Simon, Oak Hill
General Discussion
Welcome and Introductions
- Joe Tedone, Duncaster
- Roundtable introductions, All
Announcements
- Good Jobs Challenge Grant:
- Current graduating cohorts soon to be ready for employment:
- Pharmacy Tech: 18 (Capital): 12/11
- Pharmacy Tech: 13 (Tunxis): 12/11
- Surgical Processing Tech: 25 (Tunxis): October 9th
- Patient Care Technician: 17 (Capital): Graduate 12/18
- Current graduating cohorts soon to be ready for employment:
- Nursing Expansion Grant:
- Supporting upskilling pathways such as CNA to LPN, LPN to RN, AD to BSN, and CNA to RN
- Provides up to $8,500 per participant
- Eligible participants include those beginning or currently enrolled in programs finishing prior to May 2028
- Includes an upskilling survey conducted in partnership with Listen4Good
- Hiring Event:
Healthcare job fair scheduled for March 2026. More information to follow. - CAHP Website:
CAHP Website Enhancement Action Team members:- Maddy Clark, Hartford
- Daniel Remiszewski, Northeast Medical Institute
- Timothy Haddock, The Village for Families and Children
- Rebecca Couceiro, Hartford Healthcare
- Tiffany Morrissey, Connecticut Health Council
- Incumbent Worker Training:
Capital Workforce Partners is accepting applications for Incumbent Worker Training Grants through Connecticut’s Good Jobs Initiative.- Up to $5,000 per employee
- Supports training that leads to wage increases, promotions, or advancement
- Includes healthcare and technology-related roles
- Covers:
- Skills training
- Career advancement pathways
- Credential attainment
- External training providers (with competitive pricing)
- January 12 Statewide RSP Convening:
- Location: Central Connecticut State University, Alumni Hall
- Focus: Work-Based Learning (WBL)
- Includes industry-specific breakout sessions
- Meeting Purpose:
This meeting brought together founding members from the initial December 6, 2022 CAHP launch to revisit original priorities, review progress made through Action Teams, and align on the 2026 strategic direction.
Members affirmed strong alignment with original priorities and expressed confidence in the planned work ahead.
Action Team Updates
Policy: Elevate the Voice of Healthcare with Policymakers
Action Team Members
- Athena Dellas, Wheeler Clinic
- Carol Fitzgerald, New Horizons, Inc.
- Dan Keenan, Trinity Health
- Keturah Kinch, Wheeler Clinic
- Barry Simon, Oak Hill
- Bruce Stovall, Oak Hill
- Tracy Wodatch, Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home
- Michelle Fuhrman, Office of Workforce Strategy
Action Team Goal
To unify and strengthen the voice of healthcare providers and advocate for public policies that strengthen the stability of the healthcare industry, improve patient care, as well as access to, and quality of, healthcare jobs.
Strategies
Updates were provided by Carol Fitzgerald and Tiffany Morrissey, highlighting:
- Legislative breakfasts held in 2024 and 2025
- Development of a policy white paper outlining key legislative priorities
- Planning for a virtual legislative conversation scheduled for February 6th
Next Meeting
January 12, 2026
Workforce: Building the Healthcare Workforce for Tomorrow
Action Team Goal
Educate, engage, and actualize Connecticut youth and adults regarding healthcare opportunities, careers, and career pathways.
Action Team Members (Those in bold are co-chairs)
- Deborah Bradley, The Village for Families and Children
- Matthew Broderick, Quinnipiac
- Vicki Clark, Blue Hills Civic Association (BHCA)
- Maddy Clark, Hartford Healthcare
- Rebecca Couceiro, Hartford Healthcare
- Kimberly Forbes, ECHN
- Leah Fuhs, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
- Timothy Haddock, The Village for Families and Children
- Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, CT Center for Nursing Workforce
- Anne Rolfe, Mclean
- Janelle Rutledge, Hartford Healthcare
- Joseph Seymour, Manifest Maximum, LLC
- Donna Smith, DOL
- Nancy Taylor, Charter Oak College
- Daria Thibodeau, Hartford Healthcare
Main Focus
Discussion focused on outcomes from the 2024 and 2025 UNconferences and planning for UNconference 2026.
Main Discussion Points
- Increased focus on student engagement and interaction with healthcare leaders
- Exploration of additional engagement strategies beyond the UNconference, including:
- Webinars featuring hiring managers and students
- Participation in YMCA STEM Night
- Engagement with urban planning stakeholders
Next Meeting
Virtual: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Communication & Marketing: CAHP Website Enhancement Action Team
Action Team Goal
To transform the partnership’s website into a central, user-friendly hub that effectively connects healthcare employers, job seekers, educators, and community partners by improving accessibility, streamlining navigation, and providing current resources that support workforce development, career pathways, and regional healthcare needs.
Action Team Members
- Maddy Clark, Hartford
- Rebecca Couceiro, Hartford Healthcare
- Timothy Haddock, The Village for Families and Children
- Tiffany Morrissey, Connecticut Health Council
- Daniel Remiszewski, Northeast Medical Institute
Strategies in Process
- Add CAHP meetings to the events calendar
- Develop a centralized repository for CAHP action plans
- Update website imagery with rotating visuals from events
Additional Considerations
- Contact information for partner organizations
- Shared resource repository (e.g., policy white papers)
- Job seeker placement metrics
- Meeting agendas
- Links to partner organization career pages
Next Meeting
Tuesday, January 20th