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In This Issue
Department Corner
On-Line Resource Directories
Food Pantry Needs Critical
Male Survivor Recovery Group
Support Groups - Grief or Loss
ABC's for Direct Care Workers
Checklist for Quitting Smoking
Visions of Community 2013
Eastham Senior Center Events
Labor Market Trends Report
MASS 2-1-1
Veterans Crisis Hotline
Samaritans Survivor Support Group
E-Newsletter Article Submissions
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ISSUE: 78

December 28, 2012 

Greetings!

Welcome to the information E-Newsletter from Barnstable County Department of Human Services.  This newsletter is designed to provide timely information on health and human service topics of interest for people living and working in Barnstable County.  For additional information visit the Department website at bchumanservices.net.
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DEPARTMENT CORNER

Accessibility Resource Center 

 

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services has recently updated its website to include a new section devoted to accessibility information for people with disabilities. The Accessibility Resource Center provides links to federal and state laws such as the Americans with Disability Act, Fair Housing Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  The Accessibility Resource Center also provides links to commonly requested information such as universal accessibility symbols and guidelines and standards for accessible print materials and meetings. In addition, Barnstable County Policies and Procedures related to accessibility and reasonable accommodations are also on-line.   The Accessibility Resource Center is located at bchumanservices.net.

 

Accessibility symbols  

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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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CASH DONATIONS ARE CRITICAL FOR FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS

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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MALE SURVIVOR RECOVERY GROUP

The Rape Crisis Program of Independence House and the Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project (GMDVP) have collaborated to offer a jointly facilitated "Male Survivor's Recovery Group".  This group is for any person identifying as male who is a survivor of Domestic and/or Sexual Violence and resides on Cape Cod.

 

Meetings will begin in January and will be located in the mid-Cape area.  If you are interested in participating in this group either call Independence House at 508/771-6507 or email [email protected] for more information.

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WINTER SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED TO ANYONE EXPERIENCING GRIEF OR LOSS

Hope Community Care, part of the HopeHealth family of services, announced new community bereavement support groups to be held this winter (January & February) in Brockton, Falmouth and Hyannis.  Hope Health, formerly Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, is a non-profit healthcare organization providing medial care, care management and support services to people living with serious illness.

 

All groups provide a safe, confidential and supportive setting for anyone experiencing loss or grief.  Programs are lead by licensed professionals from Hope Community Care with specialized training and extensive experience.  The new groups will focus on Adult Loss of a Parent, Loss of a Spouse/Partner and Young Widows/Widowers.

 

Advanced registration is required. View Schedule and Locations.  Please call 508/957-0268 for any of the groups or for more information.  All groups are free and open to the public.  New members can join within the first two weeks of the group's official start.  More information can also be found at HopeHealthCo.org.

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ABC'S FOR DIRECT CARE WORKERS TRAINING AT CCCC

The Workforce Education Resource Center (WERC) of Cape Cod Community College is offering FREE training to those that are interested in a career as a direct care worker.  Direct care workers may be employed as homemakers and personal care attendants (PCAs). Homemakers are employed by home care agencies to provide daily care to elder and disabled clients in their home including assisting clients with tasks such as shopping, meal planning, meal preparation, laundry and light housekeeping.  PCAs are hired by a consumer to provide assistance to the client with tasks such as bathing, dressing, foot care, denture care, bedpan routines, eating and assistance with ambulation and transfers.

 

Students must attend all training days in order to successfully complete this program.  Program dates:  Monday - Thursday, January 7 - 17, 2013, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable.  View program flyer.  To apply for this program or with questions contact [email protected] or call 508/375-5010.

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NEW YEAR'S CHECKLIST FOR QUITTING SMOKING

As you consider what your New Year's resolution might be in 2013, consider giving yourself and your family the gift of health.  If you are a smoker, quitting smoking improves your health, no matter how long you've smoked or how old you are.  Here's a checklist to help you get started:  Set your quit date; Make a Plan; Find support; Steer clear of negative folks, Try something new.  Read more details ...  Quitting smoking can be hard but the rewards are immediate.  To learn more about quitting and for free counseling support, call the Massachusetts Smokers' Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (i-800-784-8669).  For more information about quitting and to order your free quit-smoking booklet visit MakeSmokingHistory.org

 

Information from the Seven Hills Behavioral Health Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership

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VISIONS OF COMMUNITY 2013

Visions of Community 2013 is a conference for Families of Children with Special Needs and the Professionals who serve them.  Conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 9th, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA.  For more information visit www.fcsn.org.

 

Presented by the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

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EASTHAM SENIOR CENTER UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Alzheimer's Specific Group: 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThis group is facilitated by Molly Perdue of Alzheimer's Services of the Cape & Islands. There is one group for the caregivers and one for the newly diagnosed who may want to learn more about their disease process. Please call the Center at (508) 255-6164 with any questions or to let us know you may be coming. This group is free of charge.
  • General Caregivers Group: 1st & 4th Wednesdays of the month, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThis is a general caregiver's group facilitated by Beacon Hospice's Brooks Reinhold. All are welcome! This group is free of charge.
  • Skills to Help Manage Life, January 25, 2013Learn new ways to make life a little bit more manageable. Join Darlene Perkins of the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc. for a presentation on "Skill Building for the Caregiver." Chicken soup and good conversation to follow! This program will take place on Friday, January 25 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. For information or if you'd like to attend the program please call us at (508) 255-6164.
  • Learn a New Language - Successful Conversations with Alzheimer's PatientsJoin Maureen Bradley of The Royal Health Group as she presents "How to have Successful Conversations with Alzheimer Diagnosed People." This program will take place on Friday, February 8 at 11:00 AM. For information or if you'd like to attend the program please call us at (508) 255-6164. Join us for this informative program!

View Jan/Feb Newsletter for more activities and events at the Eastham Senior Center, 1405 Nauset Rd.

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LABOR MARKET TRENDS IN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONS: CAPE AND ISLANDS

The Commonwealth Corporation and the New England Public Policy Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently released a report: Labor Market Trends in Massachusetts Regions: Cape and Islands.  Using the most recent data available, the Cape & Islands regional labor market profile provides a detailed picture of the region's current and future labor supply. For context, it also provides detailed information on labor demand in the region over the past decade.  This profile is designed to help guide workforce development professionals, policy makers, and civic, education, and business leaders as they make decisions about education and training opportunities. www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/labor-market-trends-in-massachusetts-regions/cape-and-islands/index.htm

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MASS 2-1-1 RESOURCE LOCATOR
Is your organization listed on 2-1-1?  If not, take some time and list it today!
  • 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?
Not sure how to use 2-1-1?  Want to learn how to create your own directory of resources?  It's easy - call us for free training.
  
MASS 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, 24/7 information and referral database and hotline for access to health and human services for consumers and providers.  Multi-lingual translations are also available.  The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has designated it as the official point of contact for receiving emergency information during a time of crisis.  

MASS 2-1-1 is a project supported by the Barnstable County Department of Human Services in partnership with the Cape & Islands United Way.  For more information contact the Barnstable County Dept. of Human Services at [email protected] or call 508/375-6626.  To locate services dial 211 or 1-877-211-MASS on your telephone or go to www.mass211help.org
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VETERANS CRISIS HOTLINE

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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SAMARITAN SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUPS
Over 800,000 people worldwide end their lives annually.  Seven to ten people -- parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren and close friends -- deeply feel the devastation of each loss.  
That means that approximately 5 million "survivors" are left behind every year.
Samaritans has expanded the number of sites on the Cape & Islands for their survivor support groups including Falmouth, Hyannis and Nantucket.  These groups honor and respect the needs of the survivors, provide unconditional emotional support, help survivors gain courage and comfort from one another, and deal with a unique grief that is often not understood by others.

For more information contact the Samaritans office at Tel: 508/548-7999
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E-NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
To submit materials, please include the following information and forward to [email protected] :
  • Descriptive Title
  • Brief Description of the Content (the who, what, why, when, where) 
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  • Weblink or Hyperlink if available 
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Barnstable County Seal

Posting of articles submitted for publication in the Barnstable County Human Services Newsletter is at the discretion of the Department.  All articles must be submitted in text format to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  To request this newsletter in alternate formats, please call Kathie at 508-375-6628 or TDD at 508-362-5885.