Story Time @ North Country Health Care - 1st Tuesday of Each Month @ 10am!

Dear Flagstaff Friends,

Please help North Country HealthCare spread the word about a new Story Time that will showcase interactive books, engaging musical activities, and fun art projects!  Feel free to forward this email or print either of the attached flyer types.  If you would rather have flyers delivered to you, simply let me know how many you would like and I will gladly do that.  I greatly appreciate your help with promotion!

Thank you,

Julie

Julie Jorgensen, M.Ed.
Maternal & Child Health Programs
North Country HealthCare
(928) 522-9430 office
(928) 522-9431 fax
(928) 499-9962 cell
jjorgensen@northcountryhealthcare.org

FREE Employee for Right Situation

NACOG/Area on Aging has a great program that provides training to seniors wanting to enter/re-enter the work force.  They pay for the employee.  The non-profit or government agency would host the senior and provide training.  It is required that the employee have supervision at all times so this would be great for a situation where someone is available at all times and there is consistent work available.  With so many of us short-handed, this could be a great benefit.  Contact Marki at the contact below.

NACOG/Area Agency on Aging is seeking non-profit or government agencies to be a host for seniors enrolled in the Senior Community Service Employment Program or Title V which serves Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo & Apache Counties.  This is a training program designed to help seniors be better prepared for regular employment.  Host Agencies provide the training and supervision.  There is no cost to the host agency and they get the benefit of having extra help to assist them in carrying out their mission. If interested, please contact Marki McCormick at 928-213-5236 or email me at mmccormick@nacog.org<mailto:mmccormick@nacog.org>.

Workshop: Understanding Behavior

House, Senate Consider Cuts In Food Stamp Program

See: http://www.npr.org/sections/politics/

House, Senate Consider Cuts In Food Stamp Program


by Pam Fessler<http://www.npr.org/people/2100470/pam-fessler>
May 22, 2013 4:00 AM
Listen to the Story<javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(185964706,%20185964691,%20null,%20NPR.Player.Action.PLAY_NOW,%20NPR.Player.Type.STORY,%20'0')>

Morning Edition<http://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/>
4 min 8 sec

  *   Playlist<javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(185964706,%20185964691,%20null,%20NPR.Player.Action.ADD_TO_PLAYLIST,%20NPR.Player.Type.STORY,%20'0')>
  *   Download<http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2013/05/20130522_me_02.mp3?dl=1>


Both the House and Senate are considering farm bills that would cut spending on food stamps, one of the most expensive government programs. But people disagree on how much the changes would affect recipients.

Thanks to your continued advocacy, 19 Senators voted yes to approve Governor Brewer's plan to restore and expand Medicaid in Arizona.  This decision protects veterans, rural hospitals, small businesses, and many others.

Please thank these brave Senators for supporting Governor Brewer's remarkable plan! <http://clicktracking.gractions.com/?qs=bG5UKwSavej%2fh8NQ7Fj90bjlcnM6n%2fAYHpQDM6QtST5mrwJt6rE0vmjVxxbi4CYkTqcPtgajgE1PxWj%2bqTMDR36W8G0u%2fsnDLiA7YQVa7flxF0R9Fn1Ay8TjLNAekURntJgUJJXc8z2qnq0rKunKAD4dV%2bvGQpEtWFRBZQbmGPjFJvFFGHbOcBBwlCPxqowfcPSv6VkpgA%2fBQjZXwJtHTyUKSZYYe9Eh%2fbq%2bxrX0O3c6xyGoRf0o3lZLKWhtTRTL5bA9F5fAkw6h04rQ6aBluaqc8w0l5jlAUhAVU0HPbjzESkIil1ulzk2fi8A1bPQg26uvWx5HuN8%3d>

It is estimated that 59.1 million people had no health insurance at some point during 2010.  Unfortunately, the amount of individuals without access to health care has continued to rise over the past decade.  Fortunately, Governor Brewer developed a plan to restore Medicaid back to its original voter approved status as well as expand coverage to over 63,000 low-income Arizonians.

Please take a moment to thank these Senators for supporting the expansion and restoration of Medicaid in Arizona.<http://clicktracking.gractions.com/?qs=bG5UKwSavehLzpoeW5OhlN%2bbqAw67bLtw9qUiiwYqPDlm2qWsaA0EnCnRDEj4j0KTqcPtgajgE1PxWj%2bqTMDR36W8G0u%2fsnDLiA7YQVa7flxF0R9Fn1Ay8TjLNAekURntJgUJJXc8z2qnq0rKunKAD4dV%2bvGQpEtWFRBZQbmGPjFJvFFGHbOcBBwlCPxqowfcPSv6VkpgA%2fBQjZXwJtHTyUKSZYYe9Eh%2fbq%2bxrX0O3c6xyGoRf0o3lZLKWhtTRTL5bA9F5fAkw6h04rQ6aBluaqc8w0l5jlAUhAVU0HPbjzESkIil1ulzk2fi8A1bPQg26uvWx5HuN8%3d>

From one advocate to another,

Josh Brown

Medicaid Expansion

Greetings:  At our Advocacy Meeting today (Wednesday) we discussed Medicaid Expansion and the current Legislative budget process.  Currently it looks as if the Senate budget is very similar to the Governor's without Medicaid.  The House leadership wants to send it (Medicaid Expansion) to the voters, which only delays the process.  You may have seen today's/Wednesday's AZ Daily Sun with a lot of this information.

It is important for us to contact our State Legislators, NOW.  as the budget process may move faster than we think.  I have include their contact information below, with a sample of what you might say.  You can email, fax, phone or do all.  I have contact information for District 6 & 7 below. On behalf of the children of our state and the most vulnerable - THANK YOU.  Julianne

Information gathered by NAIC/L
At NAIC/L May 3rd public assembly, Flagstaff resident Nancy Tullis shared that the Medicaid expansion would allow her to have the cornea transplant she needs in order to return to her 30-year journalism career.

Dr. Eric Henley of North Country HealthCare explained that the Medicaid expansion would create about 22,000 jobs statewide, leading to a healthier state budget and more funding available for public education.

But Senator Chester Crandell said that he did not support the Medicaid expansion. Representatives Bob Thorpe and Brenda Barton have also voiced their opposition.  (I am not sure how Legislative District 7 members feel.)

PLEASE, call your Senator and Representative TODAY and tell them that for the health of our state, we need them to support the governor's proposal.

Sample of what you might say.  It doesn't need to be long:
My name is _________________ and I am a member of (your institution), and part of the Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth.   I am calling to ask (Senator or Representative NAME ) to support the Medicaid expansion. This is a win-win-win proposal for our most vulnerable Arizona residents, our health care system, and the health of our state budget.
Chester Crandell
State Senator for Arizona District 6 (R)
Phone Number: (602) 926-5409
Email Address: ccrandell@azleg.gov<mailto:ccrandell@azleg.gov>
Fax Number: (602) 417-3105


Jack C. Jackson Jr.
State Senator for Arizona District 7 (D)
Phone Number: (602) 926-5862
Email Address:   jjackson@azleg.gov<mailto:jjackson@azleg.gov>
Fax Number: (602) 417-3099


< tel:%28602%29%20417-3099>
Brenda Barton
State Representative for Arizona District 6 (R)
Phone Number: (602) 926-4129
Fax Number: (602) 417-3010
Email Address: bbarton@azleg.gov<mailto:bbarton@azleg.gov>


Bob Thorpe
State Representative for Arizona District 6 (R)
Phone Number: (602) 926-5219
Fax Number: (602) 417-3223
Email Address: bthorpe@azleg.gov<mailto:bthorpe@azleg.gov>


Albert 'Ahbihay' A. Hale
State Representative for Arizona District 7 (D)
Phone Number: (602) 926-4323
Fax Number: (602) 417-3160
Email Address: ahale@azleg.gov<mailto:ahale@azleg.gov>


Jamescita Peshlakai
State Representative for Arizona District 7 (D)
Phone Number: (602) 926-5160
Fax Number: (602) 417-3002
Email Address: jpeshlakai@azleg.gov<mailto:jpeshlakai@azleg.gov>

Support fully restoring the K-12 funding formula

 Right now, the legislature is considering a proposal that would restore half of the K-12 funding formula ($130.5 million).

Restoring this funding is important because it will support our teachers and schools in implementing the Common Core Standards, applying new accountability measures, and ensuring our students have high quality teachers.

Will you send the email below to your legislators today to tell them you support fully restoring the K-12 funding formula over the next few years, beginning with an investment of $130.5 million in 2013-2014?

Please cut and paste the message below to these legislators:

 *   Senator Andy Biggs, Senate President, abiggs@azleg.gov<mailto:abiggs@azleg.gov>
 *   Representative Andy Tobin, Speaker of the House, atobin@azleg.gov<mailto:atobin@azleg.gov>
 *   Representative Doris Goodale, House Education Chair, dgoodale@azleg.gov<mailto:dgoodale@azleg.gov>
 *   Senator Kimberly Yee, Senate Education Chair, kyee@azleg.gov<mailto:kyee@azleg.gov>
 *   Senator John McComish, Majority Leader, jmccomish@azleg.gov<mailto:jmccomish@azleg.gov>
 *   Senator Adam Driggs, Majority Whip, adriggs@azleg.gov<mailto:adriggs@azleg.gov>
 *   Representative David Gowan, Majority Leader,  dgowan@azleg.gov<mailto:dgowan@azleg.gov>
 *   Representative Rick Gray, Majority Whip, rgray@azleg.gov<mailto:rgray@azleg.gov>
 *   Senator Don Shooter, Appropriations Chair, dshooter@azleg.gov<mailto:dshooter@azleg.gov>
 *   Representative John Kavanaugh, Appropriations Chair, jkavanagh@azleg.gov<mailto:jkavanagh@azleg.gov>
 *   Your Legislator - Click Here to Find Your Legislators<http://cl.s6.exct.net/?qs=cffe207b1319dbea1ae69840dcf8bdc28ffcd49bf019857918dbfb59311bf423>

Thank you for your help in ensuring that all Arizona students have a world-class education!


Dear [Senator/Representative]:

Our schools, like everyone else, tightened their belts during the recession. At the same time, they have been raising the bar to help all students be better prepared for college and career, working hard to implement new education policies that introduce higher levels of accountability.

Now that the economy is recovering, it's time we begin re-investing in our schools.

Our schools need your support this year and over the next few years to ensure they have the resources they need to better prepare Arizona students for the jobs of the future. A high quality education system will build a stronger workforce in Arizona, a vibrant economy, and will save the state money in health care, crime and remediation costs in the future.

Given these things, I strongly urge you to restore the K-12 funding formula over the next few years, starting with the $130.5 million currently on the table for Arizona schools in 2013-2014.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]