Accessibility Resource Center

May 23, 2014

Cape Cod Volunteers is excited to announce the launch of the Million Hour Challenge webpage as part of the first-ever Million Hour Challenge to showcase the extent of the volunteer work done on Cape Cod.  Take the pledge and show Cape Cod you believe in the power of volunteerism.

Your organization, its staff, board of directors and volunteers will have many hours to add and it takes just a few minutes to log your hours.  You will be able to watch the numbers increase in real time as you record your hours.

Everything a volunteer does counts, either personally or through their place of employment.  Volunteers do not need to be residents of Cape Cod as long as the actual time was donated on Cape Cod.  Get involved today by logging the volunteer hours donated during April and throughout the year.

Contact Lisa McNeill at 508/362-0242 or lisa@ccvolunteers.org with questions or for more information.

District Attorney Michael O'Keefe asks that you join in the efforts to ensure that the upcoming Graduation and Prom Season is a safe one for all students as well as the community. Parents can play an important role in prevention efforts.  You have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent your minor children from inflicting harm on themselves or others.  Even if substance use or abuse is not involved, all too often young people fail to recognize the consequences of fatigue.  Read more ...

Let's do all we can to assure a safe and healthy Spring Season.

Aging with Dignity Conference 2014 will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 8:15 am to 4:00 pm at the College of the Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, 1 College St., Worchester, MA.

Click to view the event summary and to register.

Learn self help skills for emotional and physical difficulties and how to incorporate them into your daily life.

Every Friday for 8 weeks beginning June 6, 2014, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Hyannis RCC, 45 Plant Rd., Hyannis.  To register for this FREE class contact Eileen at 508/740-0612.  View flyer.

This two-day afternoon program is offered by Hope Dementia & Alzheimer's Services, part of the HopeHealth family of services, and is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.  8 CE's available for RNs, LPNs, CNAs, MSWs, LHMCs, PCAs, Nursing Home Administrators and Activity Professionals.

Program will take place on June 9 and 16 at the HopeHealth office, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis from 12:30 - 4:30 PM.  Cost of $125.00 includes materials.  For more information or to register please call 508/775-5656 or email info@hopedementia.org

On Thursday, June 12, beginning at 5:30 PM, the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod will be holding a gala event at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth to celebrate their 2014 Youth of the Year and to burn the mortgage for the Club building.  The Club is close to the goal of raising $60,000, only $15,000 left, to finish paying off the mortgage and free up much needed funds to service the ever increasing number of youngsters frequenting the Club.  Please help if you can by attending this event or just making a donation at www.BoysGirlsClubCapeCod.org.

The June 12th event will include cocktails, followed by dinner, dancing and a celebration of the 2014 Youth of the Year.  Tickets are $50 each and a table of 8 is $375.  Sponsorships for the event are still available.  To learn more or to register using your credit card go to the Club's secure event website or call 508/477-8845 for more information.

SAVE THE DATES

• August 4 - 17th Annual Golf Tournament and Auction at the Country Club of New Seabury.
• July 18 - Fishing Tournament at Mashpee Neck Marina followed by a tournament dinner at the Raw Bar.
• September 11 - End of Summer Cocktail Party at the Popponesset Inn
• October 25 - 5K Road Race along Nantucket Sound
• November 13 - Beer, Wine & Food Tasting in Mashpee Commons

The Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition will host Dr. Lisa Machoian at a FREE public speaker event, The Disappearing Teen: Understanding Teens' Mental Health and Stress, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM on June 12, 2014 at the Hampton Inn, Rt. 28 in Yarmouth. 

Teens and preteens today experience severe stressors, from drugs to depression, social media to suicide.  Dr. Machoian, a national authority on adolescent mental health will discuss the impact of these and other stressors as well as offer tools to help the teens in our lives build resilience and be mental healthy and happy.  The presentation is appropriate for parents, teachers, counselors, social workers or anyone interacting with teens.  For more information email Kelly at suicideprevention@capecoalition.com

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands is soliciting proposals for the Title III B & D funds received from the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, for the delivery of services to elders and caregivers in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties.  Read more ...

A Letter of Intent is required by 4:00 PM on June 13, 2014.  An application will be mailed during the week of June 15, 2014 to interested parties.  Letters of Intent should be mailed or faxed to:  Patricia Hart/ Director of Community Services, Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands, Inc. 68 Route 134, South Dennis, MA  02660, Fax 508/394-3712

The Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, in collaboration with the Community Health Center of Cape Cod, will offer this 7 hour suicide prevention training on June 20, 2014 for healthcare professionals, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, substance abuse treatment providers, clinical pastoral counselors and licensed and certified professionals who evaluate and treat suicidal persons.

The training will be held at Child and Family Services, 1019 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis.  The cost is $99 and includes meals and 7 CEs.  Contact Maura at 774/392-5420 to register or for more information or email yspp@chcofcapecod.org

• June 24, 4-7:00 PM - Volunteer Appreciation Potluck Gala & Skills-Building Workshop.
• The Cape Cod Foundation & the Cape Cod Five has awarded grants to Cape Mediation to help support the Elder Mediation Program.  These funds will be used to help meet the growing needs of the Elder community on Cape Cod.
• July 22, 1-4 PM -Managing Conflict Among Elders and Their Families program presented by Cape Mediation will be held at Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak St., Harwich.  Cost $35, early registration $25 (by July 8th).  To register call 508/240-1717 or email info@capemediation.org
• October 20, 21, 27 & 28 - Intensive Mediation Skills Training.  Cost: $550 ($495 if payment received 30 days before training).  Limited number of partial scholarships are available.  30 CEU's available for SWs & LMHCs.  Visit www.capemediation.org for more information or email at info@capemediation.org or call 508/240-1717

Attached is a save the date flyer for the upcoming DMH-Sponsored Peer Employment Trainings in July at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester and in August at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center.

The program is presented by the Recovery Opportunity Center, and has been taught across the country and in England and New Zealand.  Individuals need to complete an application, which will be available through email in a few weeks.  There are 20 seats available in each class.  We have had two offerings last year in Boston and Springfield that received very positive feedback from participants and employers.

this would be a great opportunity for older adults to attend the class, to develop our older adult peer workforce.  Anyone in the community can apply, as long as they have lived experience and a desire to share their experiences with others.

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands are in need of volunteers for the Meals-on-Wheels program in Harwich and Orleans.

If you have an extra hour to spare, you would be helping our growing population of elders on the Cape.  Please contact Nancy Wolf at 508/394-4660 or nancy.wolf@escci.org for more information or to volunteer.

RSVP/Senior Service Corps of Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands matches volunteers.  RSVP/Senior Service Corps is America's largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over.  We connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities that match their skills and the capacity of non-profit organizations.  Read more ...

Contact Linda Merrill, Volunteer Coordinator at 508/394-4630 ext. 522 or linda.merrill@escci.org for more information.

This is a one-year AmeriCorps position, August 2014 - June 2015, through the Highland Street/Mass Mentoring Partnership program.  The position will work with the Falmouth Volunteers in Public Schools to strengthen its school-based mentoring program.  The position will be based at Falmouth High School and will involve work at all district schools within the community.  The successful candidate will help Falmouth VIPS with recruiting and marketing efforts for the school-based mentoring component of the program.  Read more...

Interested applicants should contact Tracey Crago, VIPS Director, at tcrago@falmouth.k12.ma.us or 508/548-1621 for more information.

The Health and Disability Program (HDP) at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is pleased to share Health Needs Assessment of People with Disabilities in Massachusetts, 2013. HDP and the Disability, Health and Employment Unit at the University of Massachusetts Medical School conducted this needs assessment through a grant provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This report documents the health disparities and unmet health needs experienced by people with disabilities across the state. The assessment was carried out with the assistance of the Massachusetts Health and Disability Partnership, a statewide coalition of state agencies, disability advocacy organizations, self-advocates and other stakeholders. 

Please feel free to read and disseminate the six-page Executive Summary of the report. Both the summary and the report are available in PDF and accessible Word formats.

Should you have questions concerning this Health Needs Assessment of People with Disabilities in Massachusetts, or questions about the work of the Health and Disability Program at the Department of Public Health, please contact Rachel Tanenhaus at 617.624.5957 or by email at Rachel.Tanenhaus@state.ma.us or Bridget Landers at 617.624.5540 or by email at Bridget.Landers@state.ma.us

• New legislation, unanimously passed in the Massachusetts House, will overhaul the state's domestic violence laws.  New legislation will increase levels of protection for victims of domestic violence.  Read full article.
• Cape-Wide Raffle in June will benefit Independence House outreach and services.
• Cape Wide Softball Tournament on June 14th, 10:00 AM at Sandy Pond Recreation Area.  Suggested donation: $5 per person with all proceeds from food sales will benefit Independence House.
• Zoe Lewis Concert, June 14 @ 7:30 PM at First Parish Brewster - Brewster Meeting House, 1696 Main St. in Brewster.  Desserts served 5:30-7:30 PM.  Concert proceeds benefit Independence House.  Purchase tickets online.
• Cape Cod Inflatable Park Kids Fun Day, June 21, 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM.  25% of all ticket sales on this day will be donated to Independence House to support child and teen services.  Tickets: $27 (kids under 42" - $15)

For more information on these and other news from Independence House visit their website.

You may qualify for help paying for coverage through programs like MassHealth or a Connector Care Plan.  If you think you qualify for a subsidy you can apply at any time, even outside the open enrollment period.  Some conditions may apply.  View flyer.

For more information or to set up an appointment contact Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands (CACCI) at 508/771-1727.  Walk-ins accepted at CACCI, 372 North St., Hyannis

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.

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 ... 

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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