Local surveys show that most teenagers on Cape Cod do not drink alcohol or use other substances.  But there is still work to be done. 

When it comes to substance use, choice matters - as teens, as parents and as community members.  Believing that "My Choice Matters", we are empowered to make decisions that have a positive impact on our lives and of those around us.

Challenging all of Cape Cod to examine how their choices influence others, "My Choice Matters" is a message of hope - one of a community ready to take action.

Open Enrollment is just around the corner so don't delay!

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plan) and Part D (Prescription Plan) Annual Open Enrollment is October 15 - December 7th.  It is very important to review your Medicare options during this period and you will have a chance to CHANGE your plan during these dates. Changes will take effect January 1, 2017.  Counselors will be available to understand your plan's changes, screen you for assistance programs, and discuss other options you may have.  Read more.....

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE - Appointments fill up fast!  Call your local Senior Center or the regional SHINE office at 508/375- 6762 to make an appointment with a SHINE Counselor for this year's open enrollment.  Bring a list or bottles of your current medications to the appointment.  For couples, please ask for two appointments.   Printable flyer for distribution.

The Cape &Islands Regional SHINE Program is offering community presentations to explain Medicare coverage options, plus plan costs and changes for 2017.  Advanced registration is required.  Click for information on presentation dates, times & RSVP telephone #'s.

It is already time to start thinking about the 2017-2018 grant cycle.  The United Way is announcing the availability of funding for the coming year as well as alerting you to their new grant process.  This year, for the first time, agencies interested in funding for a program(s) are being asked to submit a Letter of Intent by October 17, 2016.

Information about the revised process is outlined in the Funding Announcement.  Please be sure to review this document, along with new Results Framework and Guiding Principles to ensure that your Letter of Intent submission meets all of the guidelines and is aligned with one of the 4 focus areas:  Health, Education, Financial Stability, or Housing.  Letter of Intent will be scored against a scoring rubric  to ensure consistency. 

The United Way will host two Information Sessions:

September 26, 10:00 AM, Mashpee Public Library, (directions)

September 28, 10:00 AM, Cultural Center of Cape Cod (directions)

To participate in one of the sessions please RSVP to Beth Bowman, Community Impact Officer at 508/775-4746 ext. 302 or bbowman@uwcapecod.org.  Please contact Beth with any other grant related questions.

Massachusetts is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has developed educational materials to partner with schools across the state in sharing key information and resources with students, parents and school personnel.  Because of the risk of injury and the subsequent need for pain management, student athletes may be at risk for opioid misuse.

Recent legislation in Massachusetts requires that parents, guardians, and other adults in a middle and high school extracurricular athlete's life such as school nurses, Athletic Directors, coaches and athletic trainers receive educational materials on the dangers of opioid use and misuse.  The educational information, in written form, must be distributed to student athletes prior to the beginning of their extracurricular athletic seasons.

To that end, MA DPH with the MA Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and MassTapp have developed a new set of four fact sheets on prescription opioid prevention. 

The materials can be downloaded from the MassTapp website.

Free Fall programming for children is sponsored by Cape Cod Child Development and the CFCE Grant of the Department of Early Education and Care.

Monday: Playgroup, 9:30 - 11:00 AM

Tuesday: Long Pasture Wildlife Playgroup, 1-2:00 PM

Wednesday: Fund at the Conservatory - 4 week session

     Ballet Together: September 21 - October 21, 9:30 - 10:45 AM

     Art Together: October 19 - November 9, 9:30 - 10:45 AM

Thursday: Playgroup - dates/time TBA

Friday: Little Scientists, 10 - 11:00 AM

Fall session registration opens 9/12/16.  Programs begin 9/19/16 and run for 8 weeks.  Program registration is required and is available online or by phone and is on a first come first served basis. For registration information visit the Cape Cod Child Development website or call 508/775-6240 x512.

Harbor Community Health Center Hyannis welcomes children and families to the Healthy Harvest Celebration at the Center's location at 735 Attucks Lane, Hyannis.  The annual free event will be held on Saturday, September 24, 12 - 3 PM and includes a variety of health screenings, community resources and fun activities for all ages from children through seniors.

A variety of performances and activities are scheduled throughout the afternoon.View flyer for more information or call 508/778-5499.

This information is shared by the Cape & Islands Partnership for Nonprofit Advancement, a regional collaborative whose mission is to leverage resources to effectively coordinate and expand training and educational opportunities for Cape Cod and the Islands in order to support the health and vitality of the nonprofit sector.  All professional development opportunities should be vetted by the interested organization and questions should be directed to the group organizing the training.

Managing at the Next Level: Executive Training for Nonprofit Leaders, September 27, 2016, 2-5 PM, Cape Cod Community College, Tilden Arts Center. Presented through a partnership with BSU Cape Cod, Cape Cod Community College and Sulfolk University.  Learn more.  Register online.

Building Stronger Leadership Teams: Chairs & Executive Directors, October 7 (8:30 AM - 1 PM) and October 28 (8:30 AM - 12 Noon) at Cape Cod Community College Hyannis Campus, 540 Main St.  A workshop for Nonprofit Board Chairs and their Executive Directors on understanding roles and responsibilities and build stronger leadership teams.  Fee: $40 per team.  Register online.  Contact Marc Goldberg  at SCORE Cape Cod & Islands for more info.

Skills for Influential Leadership: September 26-28 at Gestalt International Study Center in South Wellfleet.  Fee: $2,250 and $2,200 for GISC members.  50% tuition reimbursement is available for qualifying organizations.   Learn more.

View more information on these and other workshops & trainings.

Enhance and EnrichYour Mediation Practice

You are invited to participate in a workshop on Friday September 30, 10 AM - 12 PM at the Dennis Union Church, 713 Main St. (Rte 6A) presented by Rev. Mariama White-Hammond.  This opportunity will examine implicit bias and identity in our society.

View more information and Register.

On October 14, 2016, at 9:00 AM, the Cape & Islands Workforce Investment Board, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Corporate and Professional Education at Cape Cod Community College are hosting a workshop to help businesses apply for training funds from the Commonwealth's Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) and also from the State's Safety Training Program.  The WTFP provides businesses with up to $250,000 to train their employees and also provides grants to small businesses through their Express Program.  The Safety Training Funds are available through the State's Division of Industrial Accidents and  provides up to $25,000 for a company to provide its workers with safety training. 

The workshop will be held at the Hyannis Campus of Cape Cod Community College, 640 Main St.  For more information or to register click here.

The Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD) need volunteers to:

• Drive the mobile food pantry bus (valid MA driver's license but no CDL required)
• Distribute food at sites around Cape Cod

Call CORD at 508/775-8300 (V/TTY) or by email to cordinfo@cilcapecod.org to find out how you can help provide food to the estimated 10,000 people with disabilities on the Cape who live with food insecurity.

Donations of non-perishable food are gratefully accepted and may be dropped off to the CORD office at 106 Bassett Lane, Hyannis. View flyer. 

The Cape Cod Center for Women is growing and is pleased to announce that they have a new name, new shelter and new logo!  They will now be known as "Cape Cod Shelter and Domestic Violence Services".   Visit website.

For many years the Center was limited to housing only 4 clients/families at a time which meant 40-60 families each and every month were turned away.  In April the Center purchased and moved into a ten-bedroom house which more than doubles capacity to assist more victims of domestic abuse and helps them to become survivors.  There is a new community children's therapy program that offers counseling to children who are victims of or have witnessed domestic violence.  This program includes wrap around services for families to help implement an individualized plan of care for each child.

As summer comes to an end, we start to prepare for new schools, new schedules, and a new season.

September is National Childhood Obesity Month and this time of year is perfect to get your family on track for health and wellbeing.  According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1 in 3 children in the US are overweight or obese and that can lead to health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.  Visit the Y's website  for activities and programs to get kids moving in the right direction.

Are you tired of sitting all day?  Working at a desk, sitting in school, or having limited activity during the day can leave us sore, inflexible, and tired.  Why not try some yoga.  Yoga can be a great type of exercise that helps you stretch and strengthen your body while allowing for relaxation and concentration.  It can also be helpful for digestion, circulation, sleep and energy.

Now accepting Type 2 Diabetics for Free Nutrition Counseling.  Available to members and non-members.  Visit the Y's website  for more info.