Select Publications and Presentations
LinkedIn, January 2022
Child Marriage in the United States, by Loretta Jay.
In my first post-undergrad job, I was charged with protecting children from abuse and neglect. Despite this, during those 12 years at Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families, I never heard about the many girls and boys marrying grown-up men and women. Had it not been for the marriage, some of these adults would otherwise have been charged with rape. Read more.
National Eating Disorders Association, May 2016
Strategies for Recovery: Defeating Stigma
The challenge to overcome an eating disorder persists. It’s no wonder. Shame and embarrassment permeate our language and feelings, and hinder treatment. Stigma. Whether imparted by others, or self-inflicted, it sticks – but only if we let it. To get out of this mindset let’s explore the underpinnings of its existence. Read more.
Blog, May 2012 – December 2012
Let’s Talk About Mental Illness, by Loretta Jay.
Charise (name has been changed) spent the last ten years of her life in and out of psychiatric hospitals. When out, she lived at Keystone, a half-way house in Norwalk, and sometimes with her family or in a small apartment close to the hospital. Schizophrenia. It was whispered. Never spoken aloud. There was no outpouring of support to her or her family. Read more.
Supporting Vulnerable Children and Families, by Loretta Jay.
I remember my son Mickey’s excitement when he and his second grade class made the excursion to Southport Beach. The children squealed with anticipation as they explored the tidal pools, looking under rocks and digging in the sand. They found horseshoe crabs, spider crabs, hermit crabs and still other crabs — and they knew the differences between each! Read more.
Get Involved to Prevent Suicide, by Loretta Jay.
Connecticut lost 371 people to suicide in 2011 – a 20 year high.[1]Researchers identify many underlying reasons that lead some to want to end their lives: Intense emotional distress, depression, hopelessness, anger, impulsiveness, psychosis[2]. The list goes on. Remorse, and even feeling the need to be perfect, are identified. The issues are complex and multifaceted. Read more.
Nation is Primed to Ponder Mental Illness and Guns, by Loretta Jay.
Social problems. They are my reason for blogging on Patch: to identify a social problem and then invite our community to get involved and be part of a solution. Sadly, the social problem facing our community – rather, our country, right now needs no introduction. The tragic events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday morning will forever change the conversation. Read more.
Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, June 2011
Letter to the Editor, Re: The Influence of Gluten on Patient Medication Choices, by Loretta Jay.
Understanding what questions should be asked of drug manufacturers to illicit a reliable response regarding gluten content of medication challenges pharmacists, prescribers and patients. Read more.
Celiac 60+ resource guide, September 2010
Collaboration between the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). Loretta Jay of Parasol represented NFCA and was one of a team of four who developed the design and content for the brochure. Download the brochure.
Therapy Times, July 2010
Growing celiac disease: Increased recognition and treatment create opportunities for dietitians, by Loretta Jay
Today life is simpler for those with celiac disease; gluten-free food is easier to find and label-reading doesn’t require a PhD in chemistry and food manufacturing. But that doesn’t mean that the job of the dietitian is done. Read more.
Social Work Today, March/April 2010
Celiac disease: What social workers need to know, by Loretta Jay.
Maria Palazzo was 5 years old when she began experiencing dramatic mood swings. …The fussiness progressed into a full-blown mood disorder before the cause was attributed to celiac disease. Read more.
Today’s Dietitian, February 2010
GREAT Healthcare: Program aims to improve celiac knowledge among professionals, by Loretta Jay. In 1995, newly diagnosed with celiac disease and motivated to educate others, Margaret Weiss Masiello left her lucrative career as a financial planner to go back to school to become a dietitian. Read More.
Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 2010
Letter to the Editor Re: Common signs and symptoms, and a diagnosis that is often overlooked, by Loretta Jay.
Ms. Coplan offered a broad summary of the testing process and the disease’s treatment, the gluten-free diet. Because recognition of the symptoms must occur before practitioners consider the disease and pursue screening, more comprehensive information that supports detection is needed for health care providers to include celiac disease in their differential diagnosis. Read more.
Foods Matter, November 2009
GREAT Healthcare Coeliac Disease Education, by Loretta Jay
Loretta Jay describes the excellent new educational resource developed by the US-based (NFCA) National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. NFCA has developed the first of its kind, medical education program for the entire healthcare system: Gluten-free Resource Education and Awareness Training (GREAT) Healthcare. The crux of GREAT Healthcare is that the entire spectrum of medical professionals needs to be made aware of coeliac disease in order to better recognize when a person may be experiencing symptoms. Read more.
Foods Matter, June 2009
Eating Gluten Again? by Loretta Jay
Loretta Jay investigates a possible new vaccine for celiac disease.
It was just ten years ago that Dr. Bob Anderson got the coeliac bug. No, he didn’t develop coeliac disease. He became enamored with the common disorder. Ten years later Dr. Anderson and his team initiated the world’s first clinical trial to develop a vaccination for coeliac disease. The premise of the vaccination study is to build up a tolerance to gluten in people with coeliac disease, similar to current desensitsation work that is being done with hay fever and allergies. Read more.
Foods Matter, February 2009
Dining in Disneyland, by Loretta Jay
Loretta Jay and her two children are both coeliac;
the children are also allergic to milk, soy, nuts, rice and sorghum — so traveling is challenging, but enjoyable. Many readers will remember Loretta’s article (FM May 08) on how to absorb local food culture when on a restricted diet. The Jay family’s latest expedition was to Disney Orlando and, Loretta reports on what they found. Read more.
Foods Matter, September 2008
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders, by Loretta Jay
In this article Loretta Jay discuses the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of EGID. An increasing number of people are experiencing numerous foods allergies: not just nuts and milk or eggs, but many other foods as well. Some of these people have something called eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID). Most EGIDs are triggered by food and environmental allergens. Read more.
Foods Matter, May 2008
Food, Travel and Culture , By Loretta Jay
Before food restrictions became part of Loretta Jay’s family’s life, she researched vacation destinations and planned daytrips. Now much of her pre-travel homework consists of learning the types of food and mode of cooking indigenous to a region. Even though she and her family don’t eat in restaurants, she still wants her family to experience the culture of the land they are visiting – including the food. She explains how she does it. Read more.
CAEYC Annual Conference, October 20, 2007
Planning for Children with Food Allergies in the Classroom, Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) 2007 Annual Conference, October 20, 2007, Hartford, CT. Loretta Jay of Parasol gave a presentation during this conference to early childhood educators about food restrictions in the classroom. CAEYC Annual Conference Flyer.
New Haven Register, September 20, 2007
Sad Goodbye to Gluten-Free Gourmet, by Loretta Jay.
I never met Bette Hagman. Nonetheless, I mourn her death on August 17th in Seattle. Bette made a significant impact on my ability to give my children choices – to let them fit in with their friends. Bette was a pioneer. Because of her, my kids eat pretzels, bagels, pancakes, pizza, muffins and more. It may not sound like much, but for those of us with celiac disease and some food allergies, it is a lot. Read more.
Expectant Mother’s Guide 2007-2008
Recognizing Digestive and Allergy Issues, an editorial by Loretta Jay.
The excitement of pregnancy can sometimes be offset by the fear that the new baby may have medical issues. Most children are born healthy and beautiful. Even among our thriving kids, one issue that seems to be affecting our children frequently is food allergies or intolerance. There is no need to fear this. A little knowledge now will give you loads of power to help your growing baby and child. Read more
Parenting Solutions
Parenting Solutions: Frank discussion about real parenting challenges.
A column by Loretta Jay addressing questions parents face when raising children. Topics discussed included play dates, separation anxiety, sexual abuse, sibling rivalry, toileting, too many toys, allergies, bedtime routines, death and dying, lying, overscheduled kids and playing nice
Changing the World for Celiacs: Education, Outreach and Fundraising, Oct. 6-8, 2006.
Celiac Sprue Association/USA’s 29th Annual Conference, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Loretta Jay was a panelist and presented information about raising awareness, conducting media campaigns and organizing fund-raising and awareness-building events.
Expectant Mother’s Guide, 2003-2004
Life with Baby, an editorial by Loretta Jay.
Bringing up a baby can be exhilarating, overwhelming, exhausting, and inspiring, sometimes all at the same time. But few first-time parents are prepared for how dramatically a new little person can impact so many parts of their lives. Read more