Helpful Resources

Below are some useful resources that may be helpful for cancer patients and their caregivers. We will continue to update this list regularly.

Financial Assistance

ECHO Foundation: The ECHO Foundation is a unique, non-profit organization dedicated to providing support services, guidance, and education to cancer patients and their caregivers. If you need assistance, call us at (860) 886-8362 x289. Or, click here to learn more.

Medicare Guidance: For over 10 years, ECHO has recommended Craig Thibeau, a trusted advisor who has helped thousands of people evaluate their Medicare choices. He has guided many ECHO patients through the process, educating them on their options, so they can understand their coverage and select the plan with the best options. Click here to learn more.

Financial Support for Caregivers of Medicaid Patients: If you are a caregiver for a medicaid patient and are not their spouse, you may be may be eligible to be paid. The patient and or family should identify they are an ECHO patient if they decide to call this program themselves instead of going through the office for a referral. Click here for details.

Social Security Disability Assistance: Below is a a helpful website that identifies that specific diagnoses can be accelerated in relation to obtaining Social Security Disability in CT. 

• Social Security Disability Application
• Compassionate Allowances Conditions: diagnoses that can have your application for SSDI accelerated.

Eviction: For anyone facing eviction, CT has an Eviction Prevention Fund. Click here.

EBT Replacement Cards: Call 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632) for a direct contact to replace an EBT card. Please listen carefully and select the option to check a connect EBT card balance or to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged EBT card.

Travel Assistance

Transportation: If you are struggling and need assistance with transportation to/from our offices and your home, our social worker can help. Click here to learn more.

MTM Rides:

For Husky or Medicaid insurance holders, the patient or family needs to set-up the ride through MTM (formerly VEYO). The patient will need to call MTM at 855-478-7350, enter an active phone number, and then be connected to an operator. Patient will need to provide Medicaid identification, give first and last name, and provide pickup address and address where you are going. Make sure to get your ride confirmation number. Also, make sure to set up your ride home. If there are any concerns about the trip, call 866-436-0457.

Please note: It is the patient or family members responsibility to set-up the ride. Rides need to be set up 48 hours in advance of an appointment.

UBER Rides:

If a patient has commercial insurance and needs assistance, our ECHO staff can set up an Uber transport and cost will be generously covered by our ECHO Foundation. At this time, only a staff member at ECHO can set up an Uber transport for a patient. We provide Uber your name, best contact number, pick-up address, office address, and date of appointment. It is the patient and or the family’s responsibility to respond to Uber messages.

Please note: if you are utilizing an Uber transport and are using your cell phone with text message capabilities, please know that your trips will be set up as a round trip. What this means is, when you are completed with ECHO visit, open your text message with Uber, type in the number “1” and hit send. This is how you can request a ride home instead of waiting for staff to be available to assist. 

Click here for frequently asked questions about transportation assistance..

Support Groups

ECHO Women’s Cancer Support Group: The focus of this group is to create a space safe to come together, share your story, learn new coping skills, and find out about resources that may help you on your journey. Sessions are facilitated by Alexandra Pitman, APRN and our social worker, Heather Kwasnick, MSW, LMSW.

Support group is held in the Conference Room at the Medical Office Building. The room is on the first floor, past Quest Diagnostics, and before the double doors. Please note that these sessions are only for patients of ECHO and are not open to family members, staff or the general public at this time. Below are upcoming dates:

Friday October 25th 1-3pm

Friday November 22nd 1-3pm

Friday December 13th 1-3pm

Friday January 31st 1-3pm

Due to limited space, RSVP is strongly encouraged. Contact Heather to RSVP at (860) 886-8362, x237 or by email at: hkwasnick@echoct.com

ECHO Men’s Cancer Support Group: Do you have interest in attending a Men’s Cancer Support Group here at ECHO? We are looking to create a new group and are assessing interest. If you would like to be involved, please contact our new clinical social worker, Antonio Okosky, LCSW. He can be reached at (860) 886-8362 Ext 237 or by email at: aokosky@echoct.com

Compassion for Compassions: The UCFS Patient Support Group-Compassion for Companions is a support group for caregivers/ companions of individuals diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. Fridays at 1pm. Contact: Kristin Kiczuk, LCSW 860-822-4429 for details.

Breast Cancer Support Group: run by Tina Kamerica, LCSW. First Friday of every month at 11am. Must RSVP at (860) 235-4816. Held at 83 Boston Post Road, Waterford, CT 06385 (Healing Therapies of SECT).

Support Group for Caretakers: The Town of East Lyme offers a free monthly support group for caregivers. Sessions are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Senior Center from 10am-11am in the Day Room. It is an opportunity for caregivers to share experiences, learn about resources, hear from guest speakers, and support one another. Contact Jennifer Yu at (860) 772-5493 with any questions.

Alzheimer’s Association: A great resource for patient’s or families dealing with any form of dementia. Call Stacy Chavis (860) 828-2828.

American Cancer Society Local and National Programs: Find resources to help you and your loved ones manage your lives through treatment and recovery, and get the emotional support you need. In addition to American Cancer Society programs and services, we can also help connect you to additional free or low cost resources from other organizations. Click here for details.

Therapeutic Services

Therapy: Thriveworks offers online counseling and therapy. You can connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere. You can schedule online, phone, or in-person sessions and they offer flexible scheduling including early, late, and Saturday appointments. They also offer monthly trials. For a monthly fee, you can have access to your therapist by email and phone in between scheduled sessions. They are available to see patients within a day. Patients can call intake to set up their therapy at (855) 641-1379 or can set up an appointment online. Most insurance is accepted. Click here to learn more. 

Norwich Holistic Health Center: Offers a wide range of therapeutic services including acupuncture, oncology massage or yoga, energy work, and support. Patient sessions are offered at a discounted rate. Click here to learn more.

Healing Therapies Thru Sharing: Our Holistic partner in Waterford, Healing Therapies Thru Sharing, offers holistic services to all patients within our community at their center. They provide education and resources for clients and caregivers affected by cancer. They have a great team of therapists and providers at the center ready to provide patients with a relaxing massage or invigorating yoga and more. They are located at 83 Boston Post Road in Waterford.

Types of service: They see patients with hematology diagnoses, caregivers, pediatric oncology patients, and adults.  They provide Craniosacral therapy, Nutrition counseling, Reiki, Manual Lymph Drainage, Lymphedema treatment, skin care while going through chemo and radiation and beyond, Thai Massage, pregnancy massage, in person women’s cancer support group, and of course traditional massage therapy. They also have an LCSW available, an End-of-Life Doula, intermittent food assistance, and we do have home visits available for individuals who are home-bound.

How to contact them: Patients and/or families can call directly and do not need a referral. Call (860) 443-0888 or click here to learn more. The only patients that require a referral are those patients that the ECHO Foundation is subsidizing. Our social worker, Heather, can assist.

They offer a pay-what you can afford programs for all services. There is a discounted rate available to patients and Heather can also provide guidance on financial assistance.

Equine (Horse) Therapy: Held at Mountain View Equine Farm in North Franklin, CT. Accepts Medicaid, CT BHP, Husky, Out of Network. Call (860) 891-3586. Click here to learn more.

CT Suicide Hotline: Call or text 988

Rehabilitation Services

ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation: ReVital provides valuable onsite rehabilitation to help cancer patients get back to the activities they love. Their dedicated and compassionate cancer rehabilitation clinicians specialize in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language pathology. Click here to learn about your services.  Click here to watch a helpful video.

ReVital Living Well Beyond Cancer Series: Monthly webinars on a wide range of topics. Click here for upcoming sessions.

Clothing and Hair

Wigs and Wig Fittings: The Boutique at Backus is on the main floor upon entering the medical office building. Patient’s can either set up an appointment by calling the boutique or stopping by the boutique. Patients should mention they are ECHO patients. Once an appointment is made, the store will be temporarily closed to provide privacy for both the patient and any family members that are present. Call (860) 889-8331, ext 4509.

Tender Loving Care (TLC): Have wigs, headwear, mastectomy products, and hair coverings for men. Click here to learn more. Or, call (800) 850-9445.

Clothing for Breast Cancer Patients: The Busted Tank sells affordable mastectomy clothing and lightweight breast forms.  Their goal is to provide simple modern comfort with NO Broadband Elastic. Click here to learn more.

Grief Services

Grief Counselors:

• HHC Center for Hospice Care 860-848-5699
• Comprehensive Psychiatric Care: 860-886-1508
• UCFS  – 860-892-7042

Grief Services for Children: Below are some programs and websites that are geared to help children with the grief process.

• Expressive Arts for Children: Facilitated by Art Therapist, Linda Bradley. Art therapy and individual sessions available. Free to children within SECT. Call (860) 319-7823.
• Mary’s Place: A center for grieving children and families. Located in Windsor and helping people since 1996. Click here to learn more.
• National Alliance for Children’s Grief: A nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. Click here to learn more.

Bereavement Services: for those in need of bereavement services, please reach out to Heather, our social worker, for resources.  

Cremation Services

Click here to find information and forms from Luddy Cremation Care>

Addiction Support

Gambling Addiction: UCFS Better Choice program offers counseling for adults (18+) who struggle with gambling, as well as those affected by gambling (spouse, family members, and significant others). Individual insurance will not be billed. Call Helpline at (860) 823-3094. Click here for details.

Substance Abuse Resources:

IOP/PHP: PHP- typically 4 groups daily/ IOP- typically 3 groups daily

• Sachem House (Natchaug) Mansfield Center – 860-465-5960- ages 18+- can call/fax referral in
• Stonington Institute- N. Stonington (Detox/PHP/IOP/Military PHP) – 1-800-832-1022
• Perception Program- Willimantic- 18+- offer daily suboxone- 860-450-0151
• Norwich- ROOT Center (formerly Hartford dispensary)- 18+- methadone/suboxone- 860-886-1022
• Willimantic ROOT Center- 18+- methadone/suboxone- 860-456-7990
• New London ROOT Center- 18+- methadone/suboxone- 860-447-2233

AA/NA groups location: Call 211

Child and Adolescent IOP: Natchaug Program. Joshua Center- Willimantic/ Care Plus- Groton- 5+ – 18yrs- (860) 465-5960

Aging Resources

Center for Healthy Aging: (FREE Community Resourcing) SECT:

Shawna Dire- Residential Coordinator (860) 425-5822

Kristine Johnson- Dementia Specialist (860) 425-5823

Elderly Protective Services: patients over the age of 60 that one may have safety/cognitive/familial/abuse/neglect concerns about- please know that you can ask for your identity to be anonymous: 1-888-385-4225

Competency Testing

If a patient or family requests a competency testing, Clarus Alliance Health offers this service within the community. They are located at 150 Otrobando Avenue in Norwich. Call (860) 899-7274 for details. They are open Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Click here for details.

Home Care: State Assistance Programs

The State of Connecticut offers numerous programs to assist individuals in receiving services and support in a home setting. Below are four programs. Click the links to learn about services, if you qualify, and how to apply.

• Community First Choice: a program in Connecticut offered to active Medicaid members as part of the Affordable Care Act. This program allows individuals to receive services and support in their homes. These services can include—but are not limited to—assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring), as well as medication management, transportation, and shopping. Click here to learn more>
• Personal Care Attendant Program: The Department of Social Services operates this program to assist eligible adults who need assistance to remain at home. The types of care and services you require depend upon how much assistance you need with your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Click here to learn more>
• Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders: helps individuals to stay at home instead of going to a nursing home by providing assistance with personal care, cooking, and cleaning. Click here to learn more>
• The Katie Beckett Waiver Program: a program to provide Medicaid services to individuals 21 years of age and younger who have a physical disability and may or may not have a co-occurring developmental disability, who would normally not qualify financially for Medicaid due to family income. Click here to learn more>

Home Care: Private Agencies

• HHC Independence at Home: Liaison Julie (860) 703-1760
• Assured Quality Homecare: Liaison Caleb (860) 373-0428
• Companions & Homemakers: (860) 859-1141
• Visiting Angels: Susan (860) 446-2273; (203) 997-7915 
  

Veterans

Veterans Rally Point: The Easterseals Veterans Rally Point program serves CT Veterans (active, guard, and reserve) and their families. They provide free life-changing services that are philanthropy funded. Programs and services include: VA benefits consultation, behavioral health services, employment assistance, clothing closet and food pantry, a computer center, peer meet-up groups, and health and wellness. Click here to learn more.

Active Veterans and/or surviving spouse of Veteran: please contact our social worker, Heather, so she can assess for needs and program appropriateness. She can be reached at (860) 886-8362, x237 or by email at: hkwasnick@echoct.com

Assistance for Single Parents with Young Children

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): can assist on paying utility and heating bills; 1-800-842-1132

CT Care 4 Kids Program: helps to pay for daycare costs through vouchers and subsidies; 888-214-5437

CT Food Bank Assistance Program: assists in obtaining free or low-cost food; 203-469-5000

Temporary Family Assistance: Cash assistance; 800-842-1508

Social Service and Cash Assistance: single moms can receive funds for energy bills, free food, medical bill/assistance, rent/mortgage help; 860-344-0380

Salvation Army: Emergency assistance for Norwich and surrounding towns only; (860) 559-2245

Salvation Army: New London: (860) 443-6409

For additional information or resources, please contact our social worker, Heather Kwasnick. She can be reached at (860) 886-8362, x237 or by email at: hkwasnick@echoct.com