April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Independence House is dedicated to raising awareness of, and preventing sexual abuse of all forms i.e. sexual assault, rape, child molestation and sexual harassment. In acknowledging April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, they are offering easy and effective ways to be an active bystanding in your community.

Join Independence House on Thursday, April 28th at 1:00 PM at the Brooks Library in Harwich for a free seminar/workshop:  "Ending Sexual Violence ... What Can I do?  Engage with your Community in Preventing Sexual Abuse.  Other local libraries are partnering with Independence House during April to help raise awareness.  Click here to learn more.

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The last Youth at Mall Night of the season is scheduled for Friday, May 20th, 5 - 7:00 PM in the food court of the Cape Cod Mall.  Entertainment will be provided by Atlantic Coast Academy of Dance and the Cape Cod Hip Hop Dancers.  If you would like to reserve a table to display the free services you provide to young people on Cape Cod & the Islands please contact Sally-Ann Imes, M.Ed, Town of Barnstable Youth Services at 5098/790-6345 or by email at sally-ann.imes@town.barnstable.ma.us.

Youth at Mall Night is a safe place for young people to meet their friends in the food court of the Mall and enjoy entertainment performed by their peers. 

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Are  you an overwhelmed caregiver?  Elder Services can help!  The Family Caregiver Support Program at Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands provides FREE assistance with counseling, support groups, caregiver trainings and referrals to community resources.  If you are caring for someone over the age of 60, someone with dementia or a disabled person who is not your child, or a grandparent caring for a child under 18, you may be eligible.  Contact Elder services to set up an in-home or telephone assessment at 508/394-4630 or by email at caregiver@escci.org

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The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is compiling recipes to create a Healthy Food Pantry Cookbook for the Cape cod Hunger Network.  Recipes should include foods available at the Food Pantry, not have too many ingredients and taste yummy!.  Recipes will be tested and adjusted to be healthier if possible.

Please submit recipes by May 13th to Kim Concra at kconcra@barnstablecounty.org or Tasha Ramos at tramos@barnstablecounty.org, by fax at 508/362-4518 or by mail to Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, Recipe Challenge, PO Box 367, Barnstable, MA  02630

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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention presents a Symposium on LGBT Suicide Prevention:  A Call to Action, on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Bentley University, Waltham, MA.  Registration begins at 12:00 PM, Program is from 1:00 - 6:00 PM followed by a reception and Dinner to celebrate the Boston Chapter's 20th Anniversary.

The Greater Boston Chapter of AFSP has designed this program to place LGBT Suicide Prevention on the state and national agenda and provide a framework for actions aimed at reducing suicidal behavior in these populations.  This call to action seeks to address gaps in knowledge and prevention.

For more information on Registration, Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities contact Melanie Varady at mvarady@afsp.org or visit the Boston Chapter Website

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A special Retreat Day for Caregivers - Tuesday, June 21st, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Craigville Conference Center, 39 Prospect Ave, Craigville, MA.  Sponsored by the Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod.  Cost is $40 - includes lunch & snacks, reservations required.

Caregiving for someone with Parkinson's disease is challenging and hard work and can tax our bodies, minds and spirits.  Moving in the Spirit, Care for Caregivers is an interfaith spiritual retreat and will be facilitated by Lindsay McGrath, M.Div., an interfaith chaplain.  Sessions will include spiritual exercises, large and small group discussions, caregiver resources, dance/exercise breakout sessions, guided meditation and chair massage. 

To register, contact Jacquaetta Hester at 617/667-0598.  Registration deadline: June 15. 

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Summit will not only bring together training and education leaders, policy makers, labor representatives but also celebrate those employers, training providers and innovative partnerships that are helping to alleviate unemployment and underemployment throughout the state.  It will address topics such as business engagement in skills training, efforts of both the federal and state governments to put people back to work, and employment programs for youth.

Save the Date:  Tuesday, June 21st, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Publick House, Sturbridge, MA. For questions or comments contact Samantha Kuntz at 617/263-3389 or samantha@massworkforce.com.

The 2011 Summit is co-sponsored by Workforce Solutions Group, Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, Crittenton Women's Union, Mass AFL-CIO, Mass Business Roundtable, Mass Communities Action Network, Mass Workforce Board Association, Mass Workforce Professionals Association and SkillWorks.

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You're invited to sign the WE CAN 10th Anniversary Quilt and become woven into the next 10  years of WE CAN history.

DATE:        Monday, April 25th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

LOCATION: Cape Cod Museum of Art, on the grounds of the Cape Cod Center for the Arts

                 60 Hope Lane, off Route 6A in Dennis, MA

Hear about the quilt process, learn  more about WE CAN programs, meet the B.O.D., Staff and others involved.  Chocolate tasting with Beach Way Sweet Shop, Harwichport and Wine Tasting with Orleans Wine & Spirits.  Hors D'oeuvres & beverages will be served.

Please RSVP by April 18th to info@wecancenter.org or call 508/430-8111

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Celebrate Older Americans Month!  The Older Americans Month 2011 theme is "Older Americans:  Connecting the Community".  The theme pays homage to the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities.  Visit the vendor fair with great health and wellness resources for seniors.  Meet representatives from a wide variety of senior-related organizations throughout Cape Cod.  Followed by the annual fashion show: this year's theme will be "Senior Prom".  There will be raffle items, Trader Joe's Juice Bar and a Brunch Buffet.

DATE:           Friday, May 13th, 10:00  AM to 1:00 PM

LOCATION:    Barnstable Senior Center, 825 Falmouth Rd., Hyannis

FEE:              FREE - please RSVP to 508/862-4750

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Making Connections ... Creating Hope ... Saving Lives.: Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan.  The MA Dept of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program presents the 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

DATE:           May 24 & 25, 2011

LOCATION:    Best Western Royal Plaza, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA

COST:           Two Day Registration: $65, Day One Registration: $40, Day Two Registration: $40

For more information or to register please Click Here

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The Massachusetts Cultural Council's Cultural District Initiative is designed to encourage Massachusetts communities to strengthen a sense of place, while stimulating economic activity, improving the experiences of visitors to our communities and creating a higher quality of life.  Spring information sessions are being held in Cambridge, Pittsfield and Worchester in April and May.

Cape Cod residents:  The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce are planning to host a Cultural Districts info session in June.  Please contact them for more information.

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Check out the new CDC resource:  Health Literacy:  Accurate, Accessible and Actionable Health Information for All.  The site provides information and tools to improve health literacy and public health and make health information accurate, accessible and actionable for all.  The resources are for all organizations that interact and communicate with people about health, including public health departments, healthcare providers and facilities, health plans, government agencies, non-profit community and advocacy organizations, childcare and schools, the media, and health-related industries. 

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Good360 is an online marketplace where product donations from America's top brands are donated for the greater good.  The website allows nonprofit agencies to be notified of what products are available in their neighborhoods.  You need to register on the website and can then search by zip code, browse the online catalog, arrange for direct shipping or pick-ups in your area, and build relationships with local donors for recurring pick-ups.  Products include clothing, diapers, mattresses, furniture office/school supplies or personal hygiene products.  Link:  http://www.good360.org/granstation/

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The VA has rebranded the National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline to what is now called Veterans Crisis Line.  The purpose of the change is to shift the emphasis from "suicide" to "crisis" for Veterans and their families to make that critical first call for help.  The Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1) is available 24/7/365 to provide confidential counseling and referrals for Veterans and their families.  This is an integrated national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the Veterans Crisis Line, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among Veterans at risk of suicide and other mental health problems.

For more information about the Veterans Crisis Line please click here.

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This directory contains Cape Cod accessibility information on:  transportation, gas stations, health care facilities, ATM's, restaurants, lodging & accommodations, theatres & cinemas, and beaches.  Information in the directory is based on the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but is a guide, not a legal resource.

The Cape Cod Disability Access Directory is distributed at:  Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and various Chambers of Commerce on Cape Cod, The National Seashore Park Visitor Centers, Disability Organizations, Libraries, Council on Aging Centers, Town Halls, the JFK Museum as well as on the internet at www.capecoddisability.org

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• Support existing programs and practices that encourage happy and healthy eating
• Increase awareness of and participation in food-centered activities
• Increase healthy food options at all Cape Cod food pantries
• Promote community-driven advocacy and public education around healthy and happy eating.

To learn more visit http://www.bchumanservices.net/ or contact Beth Albert at Tel: 508/375-6626 

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