Health & Human Services

The state Senate unanimously adopted a measure Thursday aimed at improving coordination between a wide array of caregivers and support services for children with mental health needs.

The bill, crafted in response to last December’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, lays the groundwork for a more comprehensive, coordinated response by mental health agencies, schools and emergency mobile psychiatric services.

Ageism exists and has been unmasked on Facebook.

A startling -- and some say disturbing -- percentage of young people berate old people on Facebook, a Yale study has found.

Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health analyzed 84 Facebook groups and found that all but one had negative stereotypes of older people. Many portrayed them as being debilitated and advocated banning them from driving and shopping. One even suggested they be put before a firing squad.

Testimony about the state Department of Social Services’ handling of Medicaid applications resembled something of a math problem Monday.

At issue in the trial in U.S. District Court in Hartford is whether the department has enough employees to process Medicaid applications in time frames required by the federal government. And on Monday, each side offered its take on what is needed to meet the record-setting demand for the medical assistance program.