2022 Annual Report
Introduction
Many of us have enjoyed playing with a kaleidoscope when we were younger. Turning the tube slightly yielded a new picture, a new view of the existing pieces of colored glass floating next to one another. You may have noticed over the years that our logo has morphed into what might best be described as a kaleidoscope. As we better define our programs, and more fully embrace and support our fiscally sponsored partners, our logo has become more colorful and completed. Still, within the center of the many-colored circles, remains the original logo comprised of 3 individuals - perhaps it represents a family of two adults and one child – perhaps a parent, a child and a support system aide. How we support individuals, children and families changes through our programs just like our everchanging kaleidoscopic logo. Throughout all our efforts, the board of directors and leadership staff continue our focus on ensuring that Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) form the bedrock of all our decisions.
I am pleased to present to our supporters the Advancing Connecticut Together 2022 Annual Report. In this report you will see the numbers and read the stories of our impact. Throughout the year we continued to evolve and sharpen our services within our 4 areas of focus: AIDS Connecticut, providing HIV care and services; CT Association for Human Services, providing financial empowerment services; the CT Center for Harm Reduction, providing harm reduction and syringe services; and Connecticut Pride, a virtual repository of LGBTQIA+ resources. We have added to our latest version of our logo our two key fiscally sponsored entities, Early Childhood Alliance and Keep The Promise as we continue to support their invaluable efforts to join forces with us to make Connecticut a place where everyone can enjoy health, wealth and happiness.
Thank you to our partners and supporters for walking with us on this ever-exciting journey.
John Merz, CEO
AIDS Connecticut works to increase Connecticut's capacity to ensure that all people impacted by HIV/AIDS and related health issues have access to health, housing, and support services. Our services include housing support, medical case management, a drop-in center, financial assistance, training, quality assurance & technical assistance, and transitional case management for HIV-positive inmates (Project TLC).
| Program: | # of Services |
| Medical Case Management | 3,609 |
| Project TLC | 711 |
| Housing Support Services | 2,915 |
| Financial Assistance | 510 |
| Food Services (Meals & Food Vouchers) | 7,928 |
| Case Management Training Institute | 714 |
Program Spotlight: ACT worked with several partners to coordinate the 2022 Point-in-Time Count, a survey of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The 2022 HIC PIT Report compiled data from the statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and supplemental data from the local Coordinated Access Networks (CANs). Key findings included an increase of 13% in overall homelessness from the year 2021 to 2022 and a decrease of 30% in chronic homelessness.
The Connecticut Center for Harm Reduction is dedicated to providing syringe services, drug user health services, overdose prevention, and safer sex education. We educate individuals, social service providers, and communities on the techniques to reduce the spread of HIV, Hep C, and other transmissible infections. We also provide safer sex educational and medical materials through our Community Distribution Center funded by DPH.
| Program: | # Served |
| Testing | 307 |
| Overdose Prevention | 325 |
| Outreach & Education | 408 |
| Community Distribution Center | 297 |
| Syringe Services: | Total # |
| Collected | 259,362 |
| Distributed | 293,863 |
An unincorporated entity that is fiscally sponsored by ACT, The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is a statewide organization committed to improving outcomes in the areas of learning, health, safety and economic security, for children ages birth to eight. Our goal is for all children in Connecticut to enter kindergarten healthy, eager to learn, and ready for school success.
To learn more about the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance visit their website at https://www.earlychildhoodalliance.com/.
The Connecticut Association for Human Services seeks to improve opportunity and prosperity for Connecticut’s children and families by shaping policies and programs that significantly and measurably reduce poverty and promote a secure future. Our programs include Bank On Connecticut, CT Money School, financial coaching and empowerment, VITA tax prep, and the Returning Citizens Program.
| Program: | # Served |
| CT Money School | 2,054 |
| VITA | 10,198 |
| Returning Citizens | 307 |
| Financial Empowerment | 257 |
Program Spotlight: In partnership with local community organizations, CAHS coordinated 52 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites with 425 volunteers. The program helped 10,198 people obtain refunds totaling $12,961,732 and Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) totaling $3,506,586. Over $3 million in tax prep fees were saved based on an average of $300 per return.
An unincorporated entity that is fiscally sponsored by ACT, Keep the Promise is a Connecticut coalition of advocates dedicated to ensuring that a comprehensive, community mental health system is created and sustained across the lifespan. KTP advocates for spending money smarter by focusing on cost effective, preventative, early intervention and community mental health services, supports and housing.
To learn more about Keep the Promise Coalition, visit their website at https://ktpcoalition.org/.
Connecticut Pride is an online resource created specifically for Connecticut's LGBTQ+ community. The website, found at https://pride-ct.org, provides a gateway to LGBTQ+ friendly health organizations, service organizations, and community centers throughout Connecticut. Links to hotlines, terminology dictionaries, and business directories are also located within our resources page. The site provides information on coming out, social groups, and mental health, as well as a calendar to keep our community informed of upcoming Pride events. Connecticut Pride promotes available resources in ACT's monthly newsletter and printed ads in appropriate community publications.
| Website: | Unique # |
| Users | 3,239 |
| Pageviews | 6,489 |
| Contact Form Inquiries | 16 |
Our events, appeals, and community campaigns generated over $86,000 to support our mission. Many thanks to our corporate and community sponsors, in-kind donors, event attendees, volunteers, and everyone else who gave from their hearts to support ACT.
Red Carpet Experience 2022 included a virtual program that could be watched from the comfort of home while enjoying a delicious meal provided by Peppercorn's Grill. Our 13th Annual Art for AIDS event returned to ArtSpace Hartford and featured the popular Art Grab packed with fabulous pieces by local artists. AIDS Walk also returned to its traditional location at the MDC Reservoir, which offered a picturesque spot for a scenic 5K walk.
| Event: | Net Profit |
| Red Carpet Experience | $47,005 |
| Art for AIDS | $11,413 |
| AIDS Walk | $25,328 |
Support and Revenues:
Expenses:
Statement of Activities
| Changes in net assets without donor restrictions: | |
| Support and Revenues: | |
| Grants | $10,120,925 |
| Contributions | 330,476 |
| Investment/Interest Income | 8,647 |
| Unrealized losses on investments | (28,515) |
| PPP loan forgiveness | 167,607 |
| Miscellaneous income | 241,412 |
| Net assets released from restrictions | 615,862 |
| Total Support and Revenue | 11,456,414 |
| Expenses: | |
| Program Services: | |
| Financial assistance and training | 7,224,271 |
| HIV Services | 1,999,631 |
| CAHS Programs | 814,203 |
| Early Childhood Development | 102,264 |
| Keep the Promise | 100,040 |
| Commission on Women, Children & Seniors | 211,619 |
| Advocacy | 13,583 |
| Supporting Services: | |
| Management and general | 758,322 |
| Fundraising | 104,029 |
| Total Expenses | 11,327,962 |
| Change in net assets without donor restrictions | 128,452 |
| Changes in net assets with donor restrictions: | |
| Contributions | 556,552 |
| Net assets released from restrictions | (615,862) |
| Change in net assets with donor restrictions | (59,310) |
| Change in net assets | 69,142 |
| Net Assets, Beginning of Year | 3,113,641 |
| Net Assets, End of Year | $3,182,783 |