Accessibility Resource Center

April 11, 2014

Prevention & Wellness Trust Fund News 

      Vaira Harik, Barnstable                     PWTF Partners

     County Human Services,

        Meets the Governor                                                   

Governor Duval Patrick joined state health officials, municipal leaders, legislators, community members and medical providers to announce the launch of the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF) on March 31, 2014.  Part of Chapter 224 health care cost containment legislation, this first-in-the-nation effort provides more than $40 million in grants to nine community-based partnerships, of which Barnstable County is one, over four years to help fight chronic illness and improve health outcomes while reducing health care costs.  The Governor made the announcement Monday morning at the Holyyoke Health Center.  Read more...

REGISTER TODAY!

Click the direct link to view the entire plan.

This two-day afternoon program is offered by Hope Dementia and Alzheimer's Services and is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.  The program is scheduled for April 21 and 28, 12:30 - 4:30 PM at the HopeHealth office, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis.  Cost is $125.00.  Read more ...

For more information or to register please call 508/775-5656 or email info@HopeDementia.org

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands is offering Healthy Eating for Successful Living which is a free evidence-based program for adults age 60+ or their caregivers who want to learn how nutrition and lifestyle changes can promote better health.  Join us to discover how to make small changes that can make a BIG difference in your health.

Our next workshop begins April 23, 2014 from 12:45 - 3:15 PM and will meet every Wednesday for six weeks from at the Mashpee Public Library, Route 151, Mashpee.  View flyer.

Participants are expected to attend all six sessions. Respite funds are available.

Each year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offers an opportunity to get rid of pills, cough syrup, and other unwanted medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  In addition to offering free, anonymous, and convenient disposal, Take Back Day also educates the public regarding how medications can be misused or abused.

This year's event is scheduled for April 26, 2014 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.  The DEA offers an online locator for local disposal sites.  In Barnstable County, Police Departments in each of the Cape towns offers a prescription medication collection site that is available year round.   

National Prevention Week, May 18-24, 2014, is a Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supported annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

Communities nationwide host prevention-themed events to increase the visibility of behavioral health and the benefits of prevention, provide a forum to educate the public, and create opportunities for networking and collaboration.  For more information view the Save the Date Flyer.

Learn to Cope (LTC) is a support group for parents, family members, spouses and caregivers with a family member who is addicted to opiates, alcohol, or other drugs. 

LTC offers experienced facilitators who have been there, resources, informational material, guest speakers (in long term recovery or professionals in the field), overdose education and Narcan enrollment (an Opioid antagonist that reverses an opioid overdose) at all weekly meetings.  Most of all LTC offers Hope for recovery!

Weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 PM at the Yarmouth Police Station, One Brad Erickson Way.  For more information call 508/738-5148 or visit www.Learn2Cope.org.

13th Citizen's Police Academy is scheduled on Wednesday evenings, for 10 weeks: April 23 - June 25, 2014, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM at the Falmouth Police Department, 750 Main St., Falmouth. Read more ...

Application forms are available at http://www.falmouthpolice.us.  Completed applications can be dropped off at the Falmouth Police Department, mailed to Falmouth PD, 750 Main St., Falmouth, MA  02540 or emailed to Sergeant James Cummings at jcummings@falmouthpolice.us.

The Lower Cape LGBT Seniors (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) meet on the fourth Friday of each month from 6-8 PM at the Orleans Senior Center, 150 Rock Harbor Rd., Orleans.  This group, age 55 yrs of age and over, is an on-going group of women and men who come to network and meet new friends.  The gathering for social time, entertainment and activities includes refreshments and light food, donations are accepted.  Please RSVP to Maryanne at mryan@town.orleans.ma.us or call 508/255-6333 ext. 16 for further information.

Other Upcoming Programs include:

Movie Night, April 24th, 6 pm - light meal served before movie

Should We Marry, May 21st, 4-5 PM: Q&A for same sex couples

Social Night, May 23rd, 6 PM - light meal served

Live Music by "Out Late", June 27th, 6 PM - Light meal served

• Substance Abuse Wellness Night, April 29, 6-8 pm at the Boys & Girls Club Cape Cod, 31 Frank E. Hicks Drive, Mashpee.  Experts from Gosnold, Al-Anon, Ala-Teen, the C&I District Attorney's office and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department will be in attendance.  Governor Duval Patrick as declared heroin overdoses a public emergency, allowing police to carry Narcan, a drug administered to reverse opiate and heroin overdoses.
• Help Burn the Mortgage at the Annual Meeting on June 12 at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth.  If the Club can raise an additional $50,000 by May they can secure a $10,000 match, thus paying off the mortgage of the Club.  Click here to donate or call Cathy at 508/477-8845.
• New round of programs starts on April 7 and ends June 6.  All Club programs are open to any Cape Cod child or teen.  Membership in the Club is just $75 for the school year and $5 for teens in grades 9-12.
• April vacation week:  The Club is open to any Cape child in grades 1-8 during vacation week from 8:30 - 5:30 pm.  There will be no teen nights during the vacation week.  Members are welcome to attend the Club for free and there is a $5 a day fee for non-members.  During vacation week children MUST bring a lunch and a snack as well if they are spending the entire day.  Special activities & trips except for Movie Day require pre-registration.  View a listing of vacation week activities.

Hope Community Care, part of the HopeHealth family of services, announced new community bereavement support groups beginning in April to be held in Falmouth, Hyannis, Mashpee and Orleans.

All support groups provide a safe, confidential and supportive setting for anyone experiencing loss or grief.  Programs are led by licensed professionals from Hope Community Care with specialized training and extensive experience.

The new support groups include: Spousal Loss, Loss of an Adult Child, Loss of a Parent, Young Widows/Widowers, Newly Bereaved and Individual Question and Answer Sessions and a Horizon Cafe.  View schedule and locations.

Advanced registration is required for all support groups.  Please call 508/957-0244 for Falmouth and Mashpee groups or 508/957-0268 for Hyannis and Orleans groups to register or for more information.  All groups are free and open to the public.  More information can be found at www.HopeHealthCo.org

The MA Aging & Mental Health Coalition Annual Conference will be held on May 2, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hogan Center, College of the Holy Cross, One College St. in Worcester.  CEU's will be offered for social workers, nurses and licensed mental health care workers.  Registration deadline is April 25, 2014.  View conference flyer.

Contact Karen Cabana with questions at 413/439-2105 or email kcabana@chd.org

The new Alzheimer's Support Group leader Training provides a foundation for new support group facilitators and serves as a resource for existing facilitators of Alzheimer's support groups.  4 CEU's will be offered.  Cost: $80 - includes materials and certificate of completion.  Training scheduled for May 5, 10:00 AM -2:00 PM at Monarch Homes, 670 Main St., South Weymouth.  Lunch hosted by Monarch Homes.  Register online. 

To learn more or for the full 2014 calendar call 508/775-5656 or info@HopeDementia.org or visit www.HopeDementia.org/ProfessionalEducation

The Massachusetts Walk and Bike to School Day

If you would like your school to participate in the upcoming Walk and Bike to School Day, or to learn more about how to get your child's school involved with Safe Routes to School, please visit the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School website today. Schools who also register their event with the National Center for Safe Routes to School will be eligible to win 10 bikes and 20 helmets!

Registration is now open for the free Coping with Stress & Depression Webinar on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 pm.   Webinar is presented by Families for Depression Awareness. 

Watch the webinar live to submit questions.  After the webinar, complete the online evaluation and receive a free Coping with Stress brochure.  Unable to attend the live broadcast?  Register anyway and you will be notified when the recorded version will be available.  View flyer for more information.

Dance for PD is a free program on Sunday, May 18, 2014 from 2 - 3:30 PM with a panel discussion from 3:30 - 4:00 PM at the YMCA, 2245 Route 132, West Barnstable. 

Dance for PD is a dance class taught by David Leventhal from the Mark Morris Dance Group, in collaboration with local teachers Dorothy DeLutis Beaton, Jane McDonald, & Roberta Risch, with live musical accompaniment.  Dance for PD offers dance classes for people with Parkinson's Disease.  Participants are empowered to explore movement and music in ways that are refreshing, enjoyable, stimulating and creative.

This program is supported by a grant from the Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod and the American Parkinson Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter.  Read more ...

Reservations are required.  RSVP to the American Parkinson Disease Association Information & Referral Center at 800/651-8466 or via email at information@apdama.org.  To learn more about the Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod visit www.parkinsoncapecod.org

The Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition will once again be participating in the Falmouth Road Race's Numbers for Nonprofits program.  Through this program the CISPC is able to offer 10 New Balance Falmouth Road Race registration numbers to people interested in running the race on August 17, 2014 as a fundraiser for the CISPC.  Read more...

Run in memory of someone you've lost, or almost lost to suicide, or run for a family member who is grieving.  Email Kelly Welch at suicideprevention@capecoalition.com for more information.

SAVE THE DATES

April 22, 2014, 3 - 4:00 PM: Webinar - Girls and Substance Abuse: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities. Webinar, offered by SAMHSA 

October 1, 2014: Combating Substance Abuse in Rural New England

October 2, 2014: Federal Day

October 3, 2014: Rural Oral Health in New England

Conference will be held at the Westford Regency, Westford, MA

CAPE & ISLANDS SUMMER WORK PROGRAM RESOURCES

Massachusetts Substance Abuse Helpline Connects People with Services:  For tens of thousands of Massachusetts resident struggling with alcohol and other drug related issues, 1-800-327-5050 is an important number.   Read more ... 

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 ...

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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