Accessibility Resource Center

October 18, 2013 

Open Enrollment for New Health and Dental Insurance

Massachusetts residents can now apply for health and dental insurance during open enrollment: October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014.  There are new plans and new ways to get help paying for health insurance.  Commonwealth Care consumers must re-enroll in new coverage.

Locally, Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & the Islands is available to inform and assist individuals on how they may qualify for affordable health coverage and help with enrollment in new programs or re-enrollment in existing programs.  To set up an appointment or for more information contact CACCI at 508/771-1727 or walk in at 372 North St., Hyannis.

Individuals can also seek enrollment assistance online at MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765 for questions, help completing an application, and a list of Navigators in your area. 

The Visiting Nurse Association, a member of Cape Cod Healthcare, is presenting My Life, My Health, a FREE six week, one day a week, chronic disease self management

Chronic Disease Self-Management is for anyone living with an on-going medical condition like arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, stroke ... and more.

For more information or to register contact Kathy Berry-McDonagh at 508/957-7613.

Experts from Spaulding Outpatient Center Yarmouth will present "Better, Faster, Stronger: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises for Improved Running Performance" on Wednesday, October 23 beginning at 5:30 P.M. at Bayside Runner 484 Station Avenue in Yarmouth.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.  To pre-register call 508/833-4210. Participants should wear comfortable workout clothes and bring a mat or towel.

Alberto's Ristorante is hosting a Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on October 23rd, 6 -8:00 P.M. in support of the New England Society of Abandoned Animals (NESAA).  NESAA provides a safe haven for abandoned, surrendered and abused animals.  This no kill, humane, nonprofit organizations mission is to end suffering of animals.

To purchase tickets visit www.nesaa.org.  For questions call 774/238-2332. 

The keys to helping families get a handle on mental illness are education, support & understanding.  Join NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Cape Cod on Thursday, October 24, 7:00 - 8:30 P.M. at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 99 Route 28 in Yarmouth, for a FREE short presentation on DMH Psychiatric Care Services by Dr. Aminadav Zakai, Central Medical Director and Steve Jochim, Center Director, both of the Cape & Islands Department of Mental Health office in Pocasset.  Q&A following the presentation. 

SAVE THE DATE: November 20: Dr. Bart  Main, Child Psychiatrist.

For more information contact info@namicapecod.org or call 508/778-4277.

Bridge the Gap is a program for families coping with reentry and provides support for anyone who has ever had a loved one involved in the criminal justice system.

The FREE and confidential meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of every month from 5:30 - 7:00 PM at PAACA (Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction), 360 Coggeshall St., New Bedford, MA.  Call 774/292-0511 to register.    Read more ...

This Forum is scheduled for Friday, October 25, 9:30 A.M. - 12:00 Noon followed by lunch in the Parish Hall at the Church of the Holy Sprit, corner of Route 28 and Monument Road, Orleans.  The Forum provides an opportunity to launch the work of the Network with a focus on Poverty: Expanding and Hidden on Cape Cod.  For more information view Invitation & RSVP form, Forum Program and Forum Flyer.

Please RSVP by Friday, October 18 via the attached form or by email to OUMC2@verizon.net.  The cost of lunch is $6.00 and checks can be made payable to The Network, Orleans United Methodist Church and mailed to P.O. Box 1565, Orleans, MA  02653.  Questions can be addressed to Ruth Bournazian at riborn26@aol.com.

Cape Cod Volunteers (CCV) announces a two-part workshop to train nonprofits on how to run more effective volunteer programs. The workshops will be held October 28 and November 4 from 10:00 to 2:00 (lunch and materials included) at the Mashpee Public Library, 64 Steeple Street, Mashpee.

The cost of the two-workshop series is $80 for CCV member organizations and $100 for non-member organizations for up to 3 representatives, and includes up to 4 hours of consulting time.  Read more ...

Visit www.ccvolunteers.org to register online,orcontact CCV at (508) 362-0242 or info@ccvolunteers.org.  A limited number of scholarships are available. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Talking with Children about Traumatic Loss, a forum for parents and school staff will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 6:30 - 8:00 P.M. at the Morse Pond School, 323 Jones Road, Falmouth.

Members of Falmouth's Volunteer Grief and Loss Team, along with Maura Weir from the Cape and Islands Youth Suicide Prevention Project, will provide practical information, offer guidance, support and resources, and take questions pertaining to talking with children about grief and traumatic loss.  Flyer attached.

Forum is sponsored by Falmouth Human Services, Hope Health, The Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Falmouth Academy, and Falmouth Public Schools.

Cuts in SNAP benefits go into effect on November 1, 2013, so the SNAP benefit amount will be less in November and each month after.  This is a permanent benefit cut. 

SNAP benefits are based on monthly income and expenses and household size.  Actual benefit cuts will vary according to individual households.

For more information view flyer in English and Spanish.

You are invited to attend a community forum ~ Coping with Depression and Suicide: The Role of the Community on Thursday, November 7, 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Hampton Inn, Route 28, Yarmouth.

Representatives from the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, The Samaritans on Cape Cod & the Islands, the Department of Mental Health, the Youth Suicide Prevention Project, the Barnstable School District, NAMI Cape Cod and SAVE (Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment) will be on hand to talk about resources available in the community and provide an open forum for the community to talk about this important health issue.  Please distribute flyer to colleagues.

For more information contact Beth Albert at 508/375-6626.

You are invited to attend the upcoming Cape Cod Bicycle Summit: Healthy Cyclists, Healthy Communities 

If you are interested in learning how to increase safety for bicyclists on the Cape and Islands, encourage more locals to use our beautiful pathways, and educate our communities on the economic, environmental, and personal benefits of cycling, please register for this event today!  Read more ...

Doors open at 8:30 a.m..  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.  There is no fee to attend, but participants are asked to RSVP as limited space is available.

For more information or to register for this free event, please click here.

FREE 3-part Parkinson Disease Caregiver Symposium will be held at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, 311 Service Rd., East Sandwich on October 29, November 5 and November 12 from 4:30 - 7:00 PM.  A light supper will be served.  The Parkinson's Support Network welcomes family members and caregivers to attend this symposium which will provide education and support services to people who are living with a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

Reservations are required.  Please RSVP to the American Parkinson Disease Association Information & Referral Center at 800/651-8466 or via email at information@apdama.org.

• Hope Dementia & Alzheimer's Services will host the 16th Annual Dementia & Alzheimer's Awareness Conference: What We Know Now, on November 8, 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. at the Double Tree by Hilton Cape Cod, 287 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis.  Conference Fee is $115.00 and includes course materials, six continuing education units and lunch.  Registration must be received by November 4th.  View press release for more information.  To register for the conference call 508/775-5656 or visit HopeDementia.org  to register online.
• Hope HouseCalls Expands Service area:  New physicians have been added to their practice and can now service more patients in the community within its expanded service area including Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth and parts of Middlesex counties.  Read more ...

Forum on healing our culture of violence will take place on Saturday, November 9, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Rd., Orleans.

This half day forum is a community gathering seeking to better understand and begin healing the culture of violence that envelops us and provide an opportunity for dialogue with panelists by all in attendance followed by an opportunity to meet in small groups to share stories of violence and healing and consider next steps.  Read more ... 

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.  For more information and to register contact Fr. Ken Campbell, 508/240-5169/413-478-5719 or ksbcampbell@verizon.net or PO Box 306, South Orleans, MA  02662. 

The Community Network of Cape Cod has the mission to provide a collaborative forum for people and organizations to learn, share, and develop ideas to enhance the visibility and quality of programs and services for the well-being of children, youth and families on Cape Cod; a place where the conversation begins.  

The topic for the November meeting is Housing and Homelessness on Cape Cod.  Join us for the discussion on Tuesday, November 12 from 3 - 4:30 P.M. at MSPCC, 206 Breeds Hill Rd, Hyannis.   For questions or more information please contact cnofcc@gmail.com. 

The Community Network meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except July and August) and meetings are open to the public.  For more information visit the website at www.communitynetworkcapecod.org

Mass 211 is offering free, anonymous mental health screenings online.  This program is an an easy way for people to monitor their mental health and learn about local treatment options.  Although online screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight helping to identify if someone is exhibiting symptoms association with depression and other mood disorders and if they should seek help.  Read more ...

Cape Mediation's Elder Program is now co-managed by Tricia Gilligan and Val Stinson.  This program consists of 3 components:

• Training: Train mediators to facilitate family meetings and offer Conflict Management Tools training to Elder Care Professionals
• Mediation: Mediate cases between seniors - age 60+
• Family meetings:  Facilitate discussions among adult siblings and their elderly parents. 

 Contact Tricia @ triciagilligan@yahoo.com or Val at valstin@aol.com with questions or info about this program.

The purpose of the project is to improve access to information and the coordination and delivery of home based long term services and supports for residents of Cape Cod aged 18 and over who have chronic health conditions and disabilities, regardless of income.  The Navigator Pilot does not duplicate existing programs and services and is FREE.  To be connected to a Navigator call 508/957-7629.  Click to download program flyers for the community and for professionals.

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services website find.bchumanservices.net features 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,  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.

• 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.

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.  

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