Family-to-Family Education Program: Mental Illness Support Course for Family and Friends

NAMI's Family-to-Family education Program is a FREE class which meets once a week for 12 weeks. It provides information and support to the families, relatives and friends of loved ones with mental illness, and persons who are in recovery. Classes are designed to provide tools for coping and imparting information about brain disorders and chemical imbalances which cause mental illnesses. Information is provided about medications, coping mechanisms, access to support services and most importantly, opportunities to create community among participants by diminishing feelings of isolation and despair often associated with the illness. NAMI-Flagstaff’s certified instructors are trained family members who teach these classes.

What does the course include?

• Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bi-polar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders

• Up-to-date information about medications, side effects and strategies for medication

• Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and evidence-based, most effective treatment to promote recovery

• Gaining empathy by understanding the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness

• Learning experiences in special workshops for problem solving, listening and communication techniques.

• Acquiring strategies for handling crises and relapse

• Focusing on care for the caregiver coping with worry, stress and emotional overload

• Guidance on locating appropriate support and services within the community

• Information on advocacy initiative designed to improve and expand services

Classes will be held every Tuesday evening at 6:30pm
September 6 through December 6, 2011
NARBHA - Mohave Room
1300 South Yale Street, Flagstaff AZ
(Corner of W. Rte. 66 and Yale Street across from the Radisson Woodlands)
Call Carrie at (928) 606-4859 or Barb at (928) 606-8328 for more information

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the nine graphic warning labels that will appear on cigarette packs and ads starting September 2012.

These graphic warning labels are the first change in the cigarette warnings in 25 years and will include a message to call 1-800-QUITNOW, the cigarette quitline. The warning labels are a part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 that the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, our allies and advocates like you helped to pass.

You can view the final 9 warning labels here and see what stores will look like once the label requirement takes effect by using the “before and after” interactive image here.

Fighting For Air: Secondhand Smoke in Casinos

Roswell Park and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR) Foundation have produced a new 8 minute video to highlight casino workers' struggle for smokefree air. Casino workers are still dying from secondhand smoke and are too often viewed as an expendable compromise. This video helps to put a human face on this issue, and we hope it will help raise awareness of this public health tragedy. There will be additional versions produced that include interviews from policymakers, casino workers from other areas, and tribal representatives, as well as a short version that may be particularly useful for town hall meetings or other events. We want to share this initial version now so coalitions can begin considering opportunities for using it as part of their smokefree advocacy efforts. Please check it out and let us know what you think by clicking here.

This Father's Day tell Little League to Knock Tobacco Out of the Park!

From Brian Hutchinson, Grassroots Director, Tobacco Free Kids:

I am writing to ask for your help in recruiting the nation’s leading youth baseball organization, Little League, to join our Knock Tobacco Out of the Park campaign.

While we have been successful at recruiting allies who support a tobacco ban in professional baseball, including ESPN commentator Bobby Valentine and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, we have been unable to get a response from the leading youth baseball organization in America.

Send your regional Little League representative a quick message asking them to publicly support the effort to prohibit tobacco use in professional baseball!

Little League has taken important steps to reduce tobacco use, including prohibition on tobacco use within their league and an education program aimed at youth on smokeless tobacco use. We applaud them for these important steps. But, in professional baseball, an image truly is worth a thousand words. When kids see their role models use tobacco, many of them want to use it too. The only way to tackle this problem is to remove the image.

Ask Little League to protect the health of current and future generations of Little Leaguers by publicly supporting the campaign to Knock Tobacco Out of the Park. It’s quick and easy to do... simply click here to send a message to your Little League regional representative.
The long legacy of tobacco use in baseball must come to an end. I hope you will join me as we stand up for kids this Father’s Day!

P.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (players’ union) are negotiating a five-season contract that will take effect in 2012. Both have indicated that the only way to prohibit tobacco use during games is through this collective bargaining agreement, so the time to act is now!

Take Action Against the Repeal of the Clean Cars Program

From the American Lung Association:

Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) are working to repeal the Clean Cars Program, which means Arizona will be even farther away from clean air and the public health benefits that clean air brings to Arizonans.

The Clean Cars Program limits health-damaging pollution from automobiles by establishing fleet-wide limits on tailpipe emissions and by requiring the sale of advanced-technology vehicles such as hybrids that have even lower emissions. Cleaner cars not only reduce air pollution and decrease adverse public health effects such as asthma attacks, but they save consumers money at the pump, which is particularly important as gas prices continue to fluctuate. It is no wonder that Arizonans overwhelmingly supported bringing the Clean Cars Program to our state.

Please take action against the repeal of our Clean Car Standards:

1. Attend the Public Meeting on June 21 at 2:00 PM at the ADEQ Offices
1110 W. Washington, Conference Room 3175 A&B
Phoenix, AZ 85007

2. Personalize and send a message to ADEQ:
Danielle M. Dancho
Air Quality Planning Section
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1110 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007
Email: Dancho.Danielle@azdeq.gov

3. Send a message to Governor Brewer:
Click here to tell Governor Brewer to keep our air clean.

NACA Movie night!

Sunnyside Exercise-Dance Classes starting soon!

Premiums to Drop 40% in Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

From the Children's Action Alliance:

The federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), created under health reform (the Affordable Care Act), has announced a reduction in premiums for health insurance. PCIP provides health insurance to those who have either been denied health insurance or have been quoted extremely unaffordable prices due to a pre-existing condition. Effective July 1, rates in Arizona will be as low as $104 a month for children and $157 for adults. PCIP enrollment is growing rapidly, increasing by 50% between February 1 and March 31. Visit their website if you or someone you know has a pre-existing condition and has not been able to obtain health insurance as a result.

NACA's Parenting Classes

Native Americans for Community Action's parenting classes will resume in August. Parents, caretakers/guardians of Native American children and youth are eligible to take these classes. There are 10 workshops that are 2 hours long. Participants must complete 80% of the classes to be eligible to receive a certificate. If you have any questions, please contact:

Catherine Esquivel
(928) 526-2968
www.nacainc.org

UPDATE: Lawmakers Fail to Take Action to Help Unemployed Arizonans

From the Children's Action Alliance:

On June 13, 2011, the Arizona Legislature adjourned without taking any action to help the nearly 15,000 Arizonans who will be cut off of unemployment benefits (UI) this week. Despite heavy pressure by CAA, many community organizations, concerned voters like you and hundreds of people who will be affected, legislative leadership refused to take a vote on legislation to change ONE WORD in existing statute.

The fix would have allowed 15,000 workers to receive the last 20 weeks of their unemployment benefits at no cost to the state. Without the fix, these workers will receive their last weekly benefit payment this week. In addition, none of the 65,000 people in Arizona currently receiving UI benefits will receive assistance if they are still job hunting after 79 weeks.

Dana Wolfe Naimark, CAA President and CEO, said "The lack of action will be extremely damaging to Arizona's economy, and the health and stability of our families. Arizona voters deserve better."

The special session started last Friday but despite bipartisan support, no hearings were held and no legislation was discussed. Senator John McComish (R-19) and Representative Russ Jones (R-24) had originally agreed to sponsor the legislation, but were asked by House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Russell Pearce not to introduce the bills. Democrats in both houses subsequently introduced bills to make the needed fix but no hearings or votes were held.

Thanks for joining CAA in our on-going efforts for children and families across the state. We will need your continued support!

Don't Get Dropped Flyers - Call to Action

Don’t Get Dropped is a general retention and renewal campaign that will encourage current AHCCCS members to pay close attention to any AHCCCS letters they receive and to watch for renewal notices. Each year a significant number of Medicaid members (AHCCCS in Arizona) fall off the enrollment list and then re-enter when they get sick. Each time someone re-enters the program the process of reenrolling them adds a substantial cost to our state Medicaid budget. Also, when members lose coverage they risk missing important preventive and routine medical appointments, which are highly cost effective. An inexpensive prescription costs much less than a hospital or urgent care visit and treatment.

Spread the word:

Don't Get Dropped Flyer in English
Don't Get Dropped Flyer in Spanish

Healthy Living Workshops: Learn How to Take Control

Do you have diabetes, heart disease, COPD, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or other ongoing health condition?

The Healthy Living workshop can teach you the skills you need to manage your condition and get your life back.

Workshop meets once a week for 6 weeks. Enjoy the company and support of others living with chronic conditions.

Workshop is free!
Space is limited, call to register.

Next workshop will be offered:
June 16 9:00 – 11:30 AM - Flagstaff
June 22 1:00 – 3:30 PM – Williams

For more information contact:
Carol Sullivan
928-679-7266
csullivan@coconino.az.gov

NACA’S Suicide Prevention Programs

NACA provides four programs designed to prevent suicide in Flagstaff and Coconino County. All are evidenced based programs which are on the Suicide Prevention Re-sources Center’s Best Practice list and are FREE and open to everyone.

Gate Keeper Trainings

1. QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) - takes only an hour. Learn about:

• Suicide myths and facts, clues and warning signs
• Asking the question, persuading and referring a person with thoughts of suicide.

2. SafeTALK training takes three hours. This training helps the learner to:

• Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide
• Identify people who have thoughts of suicide
• Apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe to connect a person with suicide thoughts to suicide first aid).

Intervention Training

3. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) - takes two days. Learn how to:

• Recognize invitations for help, reach out and offer support
• Review the risk of suicide, apply a suicide intervention model
• Link people with community resources

Suicide Prevention Curriculum

4. American Indian Life Skills Curriculum takes 22 weeks or one semester.

• Curriculum for Jr. High and High School students
• Designed to reduce suicidal thinking and behaviors.
• Teaches life skills such as communication, problem solving, depression and stress management, anger regulation and goal setting.

Contact info:

Native Americans for Community Action
2717 N. Steves, Ste. 11
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
Tel. (928)526-2968
Fax (928)526-0708
Email: rbegay@nacainc.org

Children Under Fire in Discussions Over Budget Cuts

Extreme budget plan fails, but remains dangerous

House Budget Chair Paul Ryan’s budget plan, which included extreme cuts to child serving programs like Medicaid and food stamps, failed in the Senate. But the proposal remains the opening bid in a budget battle that so far has produced no consensus in Washington.

Voices for America’s Children launched a campaign to show the true nature of these devastating cuts. For example, the House-passed budget plan would make enormous cuts to Medicaid, even though that program helps more than 28 million children get health care. See just how Ryan’s plan would hurt children’s health and send an online letter to your member of Congress on our America’s Kids, America’s Future page!

Up to 475,000 low-income women and children could lose food assistance in new budget cuts

Food assistance could be cut off for 325,000 to 475,000 low-income women and young children, according to a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The program, commonly known as WIC (for Women, Infants and Children), has traditionally served all who apply, but has now been targeted for budget cuts.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of participating in WIC for mothers and children. For example, pregnant women who participate in WIC have longer pregnancies leading to fewer premature births; experience fewer low and very low birth-weight babies; and consume more of such key nutrients as iron, protein, calcium, and Vitamins A and C. Infants receiving WIC are less likely to be underweight and are in better health than eligible infants not participating in WIC.

Nearly 9 million women and children depend on the WIC program for healthy food and other services. The program has been vital to supporting the health and well-being of many of our most vulnerable populations. Now is a great time to call them and voice your opposition to food assistance cuts for needy children and mothers.

Voices for America's Children
www.voices.org

Learn Hands-Only CPR today. Become a lifesaver!

If you saw someone collapse from sudden cardiac arrest, would you know what to do?

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S. If you don’t already, you should know how to perform CPR. Effective, bystander CPR can more than double a victim’s chance of survival. Recently, the American Heart Association revised their guidelines that show giving bystander chest compression-only CPR can be just as effective at saving lives. Put your hands where their heart is!

Join the American Heart Association in celebrating National CPR Week and learn Hands-Only CPR today!

Hands-Only CPR is an easy to learn, life-saving skill. Studies have shown that children as young as 9 years old can learn and retain CPR skills. It’s easy:

• Call 911.
• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
• Push to the beat of the BeeGee’s "Stayin' Alive."

Click here to see a video of Hands-Only CPR in action.

For full CPR instruction click here and enter a zip code to find the closest class.

From one advocate to another,

Lindsay Williams
Grassroots Director

US Agriculture Policy Promotes Poor Eating Habits

***Action Alert from U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)***

Stop Subsidizing Obesity

Thanks to $245 billion in agribusiness subsidies, the price of soda has gone down by more than 20 percent in the last 20 years, while the price of fresh fruit and vegetables has increased 40 percent.

How You Can Help

Join our call for action

Today, U.S. agriculture policy artificially makes poor eating habits an economically sensible choice, but with growing public concern about obesity and a commitment from Congress to tackle wasteful spending this year, we have an opportunity to build enough public support to win.

Overview

Today, U.S. agriculture policy artificially makes poor eating habits an economically sensible choice: Agriculture subsidies drive down the cost of commodity crops (including corn and soybeans) while prices for fruits and vegetables (grown with relatively little government support) have increased nearly 40% in the past 20 years. 



Low growing costs for corn and soybeans make sugars and fats some of the cheapest foods to produce, and Big Ag has used its clout in Congress to put billions into taxpayer subsidies that make corn sugars, hydrogenated oils and other products tied to obesity cheaper. 



While the cost of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated soybean oil has gone down, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that since 1970, obesity rates in 6- to 11-year-old children have quadrupled. Today, 1/3 of all children are overweight or obese. 



We must reform agricultural subsidies to reduce or eliminate the subsidies for commodity crops that artificially lower the cost of unhealthy foods.



As the 112th Congress reviews the federal budget and reauthorizes the Farm Bill, we have the opportunity to cut these wasteful subsidies, and we'll be fighting big agribusiness—from Archer Daniels Midland to Monsanto—to do it.

http://www.uspirg.org/issues/toxics-public-health/stop-subsidizing-obesity2

Position Open: Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator North Country HealthCare (Flagstaff)

DESCRIPTION
The Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator is responsible for administering and overseeing the Maternal and Child Health Program through program planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation. The coordinator manages all maternal and child health program finances and is responsible for data/budget collection and reporting. The position recruits, supervises, trains and evaluates the Community Health Workers for the Health Start Program to assure that the goals and objectives are being achieved. The position collaborates with other agencies and service providers to achieve a comprehensive network of available community resources and referrals.

DUTIES
* Support and develop programming pertaining to maternal and child health in the North Country network.
* Prepare grants and manage funded grant's budgets and reporting requirements.
* Develop systems for collecting data elements pertaining to Maternal and Child Health indicators.
* Coordinate Reach Out & Read Program in each clinic in North Country system.
* Maintain car seat program
* Coordinate the orientation and core training of the Community Health Workers (CHW).
* Document and maintain records of community health worker training and develop an annual continuing education plan.
* Oversee home visits and conduct supervised home visits as appropriate.
* Monitor the "caseload", or number, and types of clients being served by each CHW.
* Develop criteria and systems for regular review of client case files.
* Assess the quality and appropriateness of services provided by the CHW.
* Support and develop relationships with partners in the community.
* Work to implement the Primary Care Medical Home model in the Flagstaff site.
* Serve as a liaison to the Pediatric and Obstetric Departments and the rest of the community/clinic departments.
* Represent North Country at meetings in the community related to Maternal and Child Health.

QUALIFICATIONS
* Bachelors Degree in health or human discipline.
* Knowledge about the community where the services are provided.
* Strong writing ability, data analysis and computer skills.
* Ability to work independently, manages multiple tasks effectively, and creatively build program.
* Experience in health or human services preferred.
* Bilingual English-Spanish language preferred.
* Must exhibit culturally sensitive and appropriate behavior.
* Must possess a valid AZ driver's license and be willing to travel.
* Grant writing experience preferred.

For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please do not email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.

http://northcountryhealthcare.iapplicants.com/ViewJob-184377.html

Jorja Nackard
Program Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health

North Country HealthCare
2920 N. 4th Street
Flagstaff, AZ. 86004
Ph. 928.774.8341
jnackard@northcountryheatlhcare.org

Free Self-Care Workshop!

On Wednesday, June 15, 2011 from 3-5 p.m. Further Shore is proud to offer Naturally Caring-TLC for Care Givers Workshop #3 "Tuning In To Healing Vibrations". Your presenter is Jennifer Williams, Sound Healer. This FREE workshop will be held at the Thorpe Senior and Community Center in the arts and crafts room, located at 245 N. Thorpe Road next to Thorpe Park. The 2 hour workshop is designed for professional and family care givers.

You will learn how the vibrations of sound, scent, light, love and breath can help you to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and strengthen your immune function. The Series is funded in part by the Arizona and Flagstaff Community Foundation, Forest Highlands Foundation and Flagstaff Medical Center. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. Questions? Call 928-525-2910. Light refreshments will be served and certificates of completion awarded. Find out more about Further Shore at www.furthershore.org

USDA Announces New Food Icon

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the federal government’s new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.

The MyPlate icon is available to view and download in PDF and JPG formats.

According to the 2010 US Dietary Guidelines, there are six how-to messages to guide healthy eating:

Enjoy your food, but eat less.
Avoid oversized portions.
Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables.
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose the foods with lower numbers.
Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

According to a webmd.com interview, USDA's plan is to stress one idea at a time and first up will be the "make half of your plate fruits and vegetables" advice. We encourage the fruit and vegetable industry and health professionals to prepare to support the message by doing the following:

1. Follow Produce for Better Health Foundation on Facebook to learn about the latest USDA graphic developments and how we can continue to support this message.

2. Follow Fruits & Veggies-More Matters on Facebook or Twitter so that you can retweet appropriate consumer messages or get ideas for your own social media outreach efforts.

3. Link to America's More Matters Pledge: Fruits & Veggies . . . Today and Every Day!, and encourage consumers to pledge to eat half-the-plate as fruits and vegetables. The America's More Matters Pledge offers tools needed to follow through with the pledge, including signing up to receive a recipe of the week and weekly healthy meal ideas.

4. Link to www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org so that consumers can find simple-to-do and easy-to-understand tips and advice to make half of your plate fruits and vegetables including; a recipe database with over 1,000 recipes, many of which can be made in 30 minutes or less, and a video center loaded with informational and entertaining short clips that offer fruit and veggie selection and storage and preparation advice and techniques. A nutrition database is also available filled with selection, storage, and nutrition information.