Accessibility Resource Center

December 19, 2014

The holiday season is upon us - a time for joyous celebration with family, friends and loved ones!  And while many of us are busy going to holiday parties and finding last minute gifts, there are others who need a little extra support.  If you or someone you know would like to make a difference this holiday season, consider giving

the gift of time.  You can find ways to help on the

All of us at the Barnstable County

Department of Human Services

wish you and yours a very merry and safe

holiday season and we're looking forward to another fantastic year as we create a

Healthy Connected Cape Cod!

Barnstable County receives $550,00.00

Opioid Prevention Award

We are pleased to announce that the Department of Human Services on behalf of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council was awarded a five-year $550,000.00 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to support an Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative.   

Barnstable County's Substance Abuse Council (SAC) was established in January 2014 by the County to coordinate a regional public health approach to substance abuse across the continuum of prevention, criminal justice, treatment and recovery.   The purpose of SAC is to establish a communication infrastructure across municipalities; identify needs and addresses gaps and disparities in the service system using SAMSHA's Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model; maximize interagency and inter-municipality collaboration; and maximize funding and resource opportunities to address the problem of substance abuse in our region. 

The grant award will support a Barnstable County Opioid Abuse Collaborative (OAC) and will be structured as a working committee of the SAC with a specific emphasis on planning and implementing opioid prevention strategies.  The funding will allow the region to build upon existing collaborations among members of the SAC and enhance, expand and formalize collaborations between participating municipalities. 

Members who are currently enrolled with Commonwealth Care, MSP, Temporary coverage, or a QHP will need to re-apply by December 23, 2014 to avoid a loss of coverage.

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.

Navigators will be available for application assistance in our Falmouth Office, Jones Rd. 8am-4pm 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, and 11/25 or the Falmouth Service Center 10am-2pm 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, and 11/18 by appointment only.

The Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team's (DART) 2-day training event will be held at the Falmouth Fire Department on January 10 & 11, 2015 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., where volunteers will have an opportunity to learn about the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC), and its sheltering plan, the role that DART plays in that plan. Read more....

This event is open to the public from all areas of Cape Cod.  There are six regional shelters that need volunteers. 

The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands seeks an Assistant Director.  This is a part-time salaried position that reports to the Executive Director.  Seeking an individual who can be a strong, dedicated, and flexible member of the organization.  The qualified applicant will have good written communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills and experience with volunteer training and management preferred.  Knowledge of social media marketing a plus!  Read more...

Email resumes to ccsamaritans@verizon.net.  Use "Assistant Director" in the subject of the email.  Only electronic responses accepted.  Deadline for submitting resume is January 11, 2015.

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

The new support groups are:  Adult Parental Loss, Caregiver Loss and Spousal Loss.  The groups are designed for people experiencing the loss of a loved one in the past year.

Advanced registration is required for all support groups.  To register or for more information please call 508/957-0244 for Falmouth or 508/957-0268 for Hyannis and Orleans groups.  All groups are free and open to the public.  Read more ... for schedule and locations.

Enough Abuse Cape Cod & Islands (EACCI) is committed to the primary prevention of child sexual abuse through public education and awareness.

Please join our Community Forum on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 6 - 8:00 P.M., at the First Congregational Church, 68 Main St., Falmouth, to learn about the current efforts of the Enough Abuse Campaign and how you can get involved in this community initiative.  This Forum is for service providers, educators, parents, community members and all those concerned about the safety of our children.

Limited seating, registration required.  RSVP to chrism@indhouse.net.

The Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD) is having a Rock to the Oldies Dance on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 6:30 - 10:30 P.M. at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa, 1225 Iyannough Rd., Rt. 132, Hyannis.  

Cash bar, light refreshments, live music, and prize drawings.  Tickets are $15.  Read press release.  View flyer.

Combined Crisis Line/Senior Outreach

Volunteer Training

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can really make a difference?  The Samaritans could be a great fit for you!  During our 37 year history, the Samaritans have come to understand how powerful listening can be.  We hope that you will consider sharing the responsibility we all have to care about, listen to, and help those in need.

The next Crisis Line/Senior Outreach Volunteer Training dates are January 26, 27, 28 and February 2 and 3, 2015.  Call 508/548-7999, email at ccsamaritans@verizon.net or visit the website at CapeSamaritans.org to sign up today or for questions.

Falmouth Wants a YMCA (FWAY) Community Information meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2015 from 6 - 8:00 P.M. at the Falmouth Public Library, Herman Foundation Room, 300 Main St. in Falmouth.

Come find out what's happening!

 The Orleans Winter Farmers' Market will take place on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon through Saturday, April 18, 2015.  Each Market will be held in the Nauset Regional Middle School cafeteria.  20 vendors are slated to participate and offer a variety of produce and locally made products.  Read more.....

Your Cape & Islands Neighbors Need Your Help!

Who We Are:  RSVP/Senior Corps of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands is America's largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over.

How Do We Help You Volunteer:  For over 20 years we have paired senior volunteers like you with meaningful opportunities in your  community that match their skills and interests.  From building houses to educating children to protecting the environment to supporting seniors in your community-RSVP Senior  Corps volunteers are making a difference!

And A Plus... RSVP/Senior Corps on Cape Cod partners with over 90 non-profit organizations helping to recruit volunteers, while providing supplemental volunteer liability insurance, some mileage reimbursement and recognition. 

The Best Part... YOU choose HOW, WHERE and WHEN you want to serve.  We help to find the opportunity that is right for YOU.

Do It Now! Contact Linda Merrill, Volunteer Coordinator at

508-394-4630, x522 or 1-800-244-4630 or email at linda.merrill@escci.org 

SPAULDING CENTER FOR CHILDREN

EXPANDS SITE AND SERVICES

Elder Mediation Program:  This program reaches out to elders, their families and peers.  One new element of this program is a partnership with the Barnstable Housing Authority to help resolve some of the issues that can arise in group living.  These conflict management services are available at NO COST to Housing Authority residents.

Court Mediation programs:  Continue to experience success of our programs in the Barnstable, Falmouth, Orleans and Nantucket district courts.  These programs offer mediation services in small claims and landlord/tenant disputes.

Volunteers: More than 60 volunteers provide a regular, professional presence while providing extraordinary services to people in conflict in many settings.

GOSNOLD ON CAPE COD

WEEKLY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS 

The Gosnold Reaching Out program is a resource for family members and loved ones affected by addiction.  It assists the family at all stages of addiction through education, intervention, and support.  Weekly support groups are held at the following locations:

• Gosnold Counseling Center, 1185 Falmouth Rd., Centerville on Tuesdays, 6-7:30 PM
• Gus Canty Community Center, 790 Main St., Falmouth on Wednesdays, 6-7:30 PM
• Falmouth Hospital - Faxon Center, 100 Ter Heun Dr., Falmouth on Sundays, 4-5:00 PM

View flyer for more information.  For additional support call 781/366-0143 or email ljmccarthy@gosnold.org

Over 800,000 people worldwide end their lives annually leaving parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren and close friends who deeply feel the devastation of each loss.  Samaritans on Cape Cod & the Islands has survivor support groups in Falmouth and Hyannis.  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.

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 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. 

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.

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?  

• Descriptive Title
• Brief Description of the Content (the who, what, why, when, where) 
• Attachments must be submitted in PDF and text format (either DOC or RTF files are acceptable)
• Weblink or Hyperlink if available 
• Contact information of the person submitting the information and if appropriate, the contact person for the event (include name, address, phone, TTY, email)