Health & Social Services

Overview

On this page you will find information related to:

UNCAS Health services
Information on energy assistance and housing
Emergency food programs
New info Added: Mental/ behavioral health and addiction services
Other community services available to Voluntown residents

Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza has been found in several backyard flocks in CT. For information on reporting Avian flu in your backyard flock, or reporting dead birds, and for more information on Avian Influenza, visit: Avian Flu Info: Reporting Case and More

Private Wells and Abnormally Dry and Drought Conditions

Most of Voluntown's residents have their water supplied by private wells. It is the responsibility of homeowners to test their water and maintain their water systems. Sometimes, abnormally dry and drought conditions affect these wells. Low water in wells can result in illnesses and water pump failure. For more information on private wells and private wells during abnormally dry and drought conditions,

UNCAS Health
The Town of Voluntown belongs to the UNCAS Health District. For more information on the services available, visit UNCAS Health website.

Energy Assistance and Housing

EVERSOURCE

Stay Warm This Winter Posted 11/1/24

Get Help with Your Heating Bills

Dear Voluntown Resident,

The town of Voluntown is partnering with Eversource during the fourth annual Heating Assistance Awareness Month this November to raise awareness of the many programs available to help pay or lower your heating bills and keep your home warm this winter.

If you or someone you know is struggling to keep up with energy bills, now is the time to connect with Eversource to get assistance. To find the right options for you, call 800-286-2828.

State and Other Assistance Programs

Get up to $530 to help pay your heating bill through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and get a bigger match from the Matching Payment Program. Apply online or visit your local Community Action Agency. You may also find your closest agency by calling 211.

Protection from Service Shut-Off

Protect your gas or electric service from shut off from November 1 through May 1 with Winter Protection, for customers facing financial hardship.
You may also be eligible for Medical Protection if anyone in your home is seriously ill or has a life-threatening situation.

Financial Assistance Programs and Payment Plans

The Matching Payment Program can lower the amount you owe on energy bills. For every dollar you pay and every dollar you receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, we will subtract a dollar from the amount you owe.
An Electric Discount Rate is available to you if you have a financial hardship status on your electric account. Based on your household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit, you may be eligible for a 10% or 50% discount off your electric bill per month. For example, if you have a $100 monthly bill, it would be $10 less if you received a 10% discount or $50 less if you received the 50% discount.
Flexible Payment Plans of up to 18 months are available to help all residential customers with active accounts pay off money owed, regardless of income.
With Budget Billing, you pay a fixed amount each month based on your average energy usage and avoid spikes in your bill during the heating and cooling seasons.

Energy Efficiency

Take advantage of Eversource's energy efficiency programs, incentives and tips to help you save money and reduce your overall energy use during the colder months.
Learn more about these programs and apply.

Please help raise awareness by sharing this important information with family, friends, and neighbors. Let's help keep every home in our community warm this winter.

Sincerely, Tracey Hanson, First Selectman

Eversource offers several assistance programs, flexible payment options and energy efficiency resources to help customers with the burden of higher energy costs. Customers can learn more about the available options at Eversource.

YouTube Video: Understanding Your Eversource Electric Bill
YouTube Video: Why Are Energy Bills Increasing?
YouTube Video: July 1st Rate Adjustment

TVCCA

TVCCA provides services and partners with other organizations to address the social determinants of health - housing, food security, employment needs, education, and basic needs - of low-income and vulnerable households in Eastern Connecticut, with a focus on building the community's self-sufficiency and resiliency. TVCCA has a variety of programs designed to assist individuals and families of all income levels. Please contact us to determine which programs you may be suitable for you. housing, food security, employment needs, education, and basic needs or contact at 860-889-1365.

CT Department of Social Services

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) for:

Emergency Food Programs

Food Pantry and Mobile Health Hub

Note that the Griswold United Way mobile has been moved to Griswold Public Works.

Food Pantries

Voluntown Baptist Church, 860-376-948552
- Main Street, Voluntown
- The outside food pantry is located by the lower entrance (near the church sign and the clothing drop-off box). For an indoor pantry, call the church to set up an appointment. Normal hours are 9 AM to 1 PM Tuesday- Friday.
St. Mary's Church, (860) 376-2044 34
- North Main Street, Jewett City
- 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month 10 am to11 am and 3 pm to 4 pm. Open To Everyone- Jewett City, Griswold, Voluntown and Lisbon.

For the United Way mobile food-pantry calendar.

Meals-On-Wheels Delivery Available to Voluntown Senior Residents

Serving persons sixty years and older and their spouses, Meals-on-Wheels delivery is available on a referral basis by the Visiting Nurse, Social Worker, Doctor's office, Hospital, municipal agent, family, friends, and clients themselves. Meals are delivered to Voluntown residents Tuesday through Friday with frozen meals provided for weekends. Meals provided are nutritionally balanced and within the guidelines of a no-added-salt and no-added-sugar diet.

Mental/Behavioral Health and Addiction Services

Resource Guide for Mental Health and Addiction Services (PDF)

Matt's Mission

Matt's Mission seeks to connect individuals battling an addiction to medical care, treatment, and services without shame, blame or arrest. It is an effort to help end the stigma of drug addiction and to raise awareness of addiction as a disease, focusing on treatment, not punishment. All our members are volunteers and committed to ending the stigma associated with addiction, providing education on substance use disorders, and assisting individuals on their road to recovery. Our current attitude and our current way of dealing with this issue are not working in light of the rising drug-related deaths.

Connecticut Clearinghouse

Connecticut Clearinghouse, a program of the Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness, and Recovery, hasa Resource Guide for Behavioral Health, which includes contact numbers for emergency services, support groups, Connecticut services, national services, and state agencies. View the Resource Guide for Behavioral Health here.

CT State Police Troop E Montville CRISIS Initiative

Connection to Recovery through Intervention, Support, and Initiating Services

Crisis Intervention Team is a partnership between the CT State Police, substance abuse and mental health professionals, and the community, working toward safety, understanding, and service to people in crisis and their families.

If you need a connection to mental health or substance abuse treatment through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, contact the barracks for a referral to the CIT Clinician at 860-848-6500. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.

Simplify CT

Created out of the need to provide a safe, secure, and contactless way for low-income Connecticut families to access free tax preparation and qualify for state and Federal benefits, SimplifyCT was launched in 2020. We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Seniors, students, individuals, and families of all kinds.

Up until 2020, our IRS trained and certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax preparers met face to face with people across Connecticut in places like community centers and libraries, but because of the COVID19 pandemic, we changed our process to be online-only, launching SimplifyCT to keep our families and our staff safe and socially distant.

Voluntown Community Fund

The Voluntown Community Fund is a fund that was put together through a group effort by the Voluntown Fire Department, Voluntown Selectmen's Office, all Voluntown churches, Voluntown Scouts, BSA and other community organizations. To date we have helped 3 Voluntown families with the money raised by all of us through our community fundraiser.

If you know someone who is falling on bad times and needs a little help, let us know. We will discus with representatives and help out with assistance if approved.

To contact us for help, call the firehouse and leave a message with a phone number for Chief Grenier or call the town hall and speak with our First Selectwoman,n Tracey Hanson. All requests require approval from the community representatives and are kept confidential to respect the family's privacy.

Voluntown Fire Department 860-376-0475
Voluntown Selectman's Office 860-376-5880

Town of Voluntown Prescription Discount Card

The Town of Voluntown Prescription Discount Card is available to all Voluntown residents, no matter their age, employment status, or whether they are currently insured. Residents may print a card by visiting and begin using it right away. If you don't have access to a printer, cards are available on the information wall outside the town clerk's office. Simply bring the card to the pharmacy counter when filling a prescription.

This card was designed to be used if you do not have insurance or if something is not covered by your current insurance program. This card cannot be used in conjunction with another insurance program to discount your co-pays or deductible. This card can be used for pet prescriptions.