November 30, 2012 

Barnstable County Department of Human Services Announces New On-Line Resource 

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services is pleased to announce a new website find.bchumanservices.net featuring on-line directories of health and human service resources. The Directories are a compilation of local resources organized around areas of critical need such as food, housing, mental health services, energy/fuel assistance, and services for seniors and people with disabilities. Find.bchumanservices.net is a valuable resource now available to Barnstable County residents and human service organizations. This new on-line tool is an effective and efficient way to make local information available on a 'simple to search' website. For more information view press release in its entirety.

If you believe your organization should be included in any of the new Directories or have any other feedback on how to improve the on-line directories, call the Department of Human Services at 508/375-6628.

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The next meeting of the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission is scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2013, 5:30 PM in Rms 11/12, Barnstable Superior Courthouse, 3195 Main St., Barnstable.  Meetings are open to the public.

The Annual Human Rights Day breakfast , originally scheduled for December 8, 2012 has been postponed until Saturday, February 9, 2013.  The speaker will be Julian Tynes, chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.  Nomination forms for the Rosenthal Award and the Cornerstone Award are attached.  The celebration is sponsored by the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission.

Candle Light Vigil to honor all victims and survivors of abuse will be held on International Human Rights Day, Monday, December 10, 2012.  Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, Director of Independence House will speak at the vigil at the Hyannis Village Green beginning at 5:30 PM.  The event, sponsored by the Cape Cod branch of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, marks the last day of 16 Days Against Gender Violence, an international campaign.  Clotheslines hung on the first day of the campaign from two Route 6 overpasses call for an end to violence against women.  For more information contact Elenita Muniz at 508/237-5195.

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The holidays can be a time of fun and happiness, but they can also stir up feelings of grief and loss as families deal with sickness, the death of a loved one, or the feelings of loss when someone special is unable to get home.  These feelings can hit anyone at this season, but they are particularly likely to arise in military families with deployed loved ones, for family caregivers, or in families dealing with a recent death. 

There is a growing awareness of the link between trauma and the development of coping strategies such as self-injury.  However, the concept of coping does not always answer why some people continue to use self-injury even after other, healthier tools are available.  This webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, 2012 from 11 AM - 12:30 PM (EST), will take a look at the impact of trauma on language and relationships to understand how self-injury may also function as the individual's best attempt at connecting and communicating.  Read more ...

Register for the webinar by emailing Brandy Brooks at brandy.brooks@state.ma.us.  This free webinar is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program.

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A bi-weekly interdisciplinary Workshop Series for Service Providers who work now or want to work with older adults will begin starting February 2013.  Learn a focused, practical approach to understanding, assessing and intervening with a variety of service concerns affecting older adults.  20-25 CEU's and a certificate will be issued to those attending at least 8 of the 10 workshops.  Nurses must attend all 10 workshops.  Workshops will be held from 4 - 6:30 PM at the Cape Cod Community College main campus in West Barnstable.  For flyer and registration click here.  For questions contact Susan Maddigan at 508/362-2131 ext. 4337 or smaddigan@capecod.edu

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The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network reported that earlier this month, the Boston Globe reported that this holiday season has already seen a rise in demand and a deficit of cash donations for most Massachusetts food pantries.  According to the United Way of Tri-County, food pantries have experienced a dramatic increase in usership, while cash donations are down due to the still-recovering economy.  The rise has been particularly notable recently among working families, in addition to the homeless or unemployed of previous years.

To make the greatest impact this holiday season, you can donate cash directly to a food pantry.  Cash donations are preferred for a number of reasons, namely for the greater buying power and lack of an expiration date.  Donate to a local pantry  in your Cape Cod community.

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The Gerontological Society of America has released a new resource, Communicating with Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Review of What Really Works. This publication compiles evidence-based recommendations, contributed by experts in the fields of gerontology and communications, to improve face-to-face communication with older patients. The objective is to encourage behaviors that consider the unique abilities and challenges of older adult patients to produce positive, effective interactions and to improve the health of older adults. This publication is intended for anyone who interacts with older adults, including health and human service providers, health policy experts and others. Each copy is $8 and can be ordered at:

https://www.geron.org/Resources/Online%20Store/gsa-products/communicating-older-adults 

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The HomeCorps Borrower Recovery Initiative Program is a support and recovery network to provide advocacy to distressed borrowers in Massachusetts facing foreclosure.  The program offers direct loan modification advocacy to avoid unnecessary foreclosure and to stabilize borrowers' housing situation to help prevent homelessness by connecting families to rental housing, available benefits and financial counseling.  Read more ...

If your are facing a housing challenge or have questions please contact the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc. at 508/771-1727.

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The Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled invites you to relax and enjoy some pampering while helping to support C.O.R.D.  Manicure, pedicure and facial for only $20 at Empire Beauty School in Hyannis.  Appointments are limited so be sure to buy tickets soon (tickets must be bought at lease one week in advance at CORD, 106 Basset Lane in Hyannis.  Call CORD at 5089/775-8300 or 1-00-541-0282 for more information.  View flyer for dates and times.

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Health Imperatives is seeking a part-time (20 hrs/wk, 3 days, no weekends) reproductive health counselor, Spanish speaking, for the Hyannis & Nantucket Family Planning Programs.  Benefits include medical, dental, holiday, paid earned leave, retirement, etc.  View job announcement for duties, qualifications and submission information to Health Imperatives.

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December events: RSVP to 508/862-4761

Coping with the Holidays - December 4th, 9:30-10:30 AM - RSVP/FREE:  This presentation explores the symptoms and risk factors associated with seasonal feelings of sadness and loneliness.  Also included is a brief overview concerning the influences of grief/loss, Seasonal Affective Disorder and coping strategies to combat the blues.

Friends of the Barnstable Council on Aging Annual Breakfast - December 10th, 9:00 AM - RSVP/FREE:  Meet the Friends Board Members, enjoy a breakfast buffet and learn what the FBCOA is all about along with all that they have accomplished for the Barnstable Senior Center.

For more information on programs and services of the Barnstable Senior Center visit the website at www.town.barnstable.ma.us/seniorservices

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• Do you provide health or human services on Cape Cod or the Islands?
• Does the public know what services you provide?
• Do people know how to access your services?
• Do you need assistance in finding services for your clients?

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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