Connecticut Area Health Education Center Program

The Connecticut AHEC Program was established in 1995 with an appropriation from the Connecticut General Assembly.  These funds allowed the development of a program office at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the formation of the first AHEC in Norwich.  Federal AHEC grant funding began in 1997.  The four AHECs in Connecticut together provide statewide coverage. All four centers are now independent 501(c)(3) organizations. 

The Connecticut Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program works throughout Connecticut to improve access to basic health care by linking local community groups with the resources of the University of Connecticut Health Center and other health professions training programs.  For example, the AHEC Program brought University of Connecticut Health center students and faculty together with several community-based organizations to establish migrant farm worker health care in Connecticut.  The AHEC Program is based at the University of Connecticut Health Center and is implemented through four regional centers located in the Norwich, Hartford, Waterbury, and Bridgeport areas. 

	Connecticut Area Health Education Centers AHEC Location Area Served    Central AHEC, Inc. Hartford Hartford, Tolland, and Middlesex Counties and Northern New Haven County    Eastern AHEC, Inc. Jewett City Windham and New London Counties    Northwestern Connecticut AHEC, Inc. Middlebury Litchfield County and northern Fairfield County, including Waterbury and Danbury    Southwestern AHEC, Inc Bridgeport Southern Fairfield and New Haven Counties, including Bridgeport and New Haven
AHECs improve access to health care by:
Recruiting minority students into the health professions.  AHECs work with Connecticut’s public schools to provide health career programs for grades K-16.   Partnering with community organizations to address local health issues.  AHECs have helped local groups secure federal and private funding by ensuring an efficient and effective group process. Providing continuing education that improves the care received by vulnerable populations.  Conference topics include HIV/AIDS, Cultural Competence and Continuous Quality Improvement.  Developing and supporting community-training opportunities for health professions students.  The AHEC program has been instrumental in helping UConn place more of its students in underserved communities.