Headlines:

December 2003

Next BHCC Meeting

WHAT: Agency Networking and Suicide Survivors Panel Discussion

WHEN: Thursday, February 19, 2004, 3:30 PM

WHERE: Head Start Building, 615 North 19th Street

December BHCC Suicide Prevention Panel
The BHCC meeting on December 4 focused on Suicide. Thanks to the panel members, Vera Parker, Native American family counselor, Alan Hilden, psychologist with School District #2, Dave Pierce, from the Mental Health Center, and Dee Holly, founder of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Yellowstone County, who provided excellent background on the suicide issue and information about the need for suicide prevention programs. As outcomes of that meeting, BHCC will: 1)make a plan to promoting suicide prevention education from kindergarten through high school and 2) provide information and approaches to suicide prevention by means of a panel discussion by suicide providers. To further this discussion in the community, BHCC members and others interested in suicide prevention efforts are encouraged to attend one of the following meetings:

  • Community Suicide Prevention Group, January 15th, 11:30 AM, Perkins on South 27th Street

  • Presentation on Adult Issues Related to Suicide, January 15th, HUB and 5:30 PM, Wilcox Building, 3200 4th Avenue North

For more information contact Linda K. Wetzel, (406) 256-7783 or FSNToo@aol.com

Substance Abuse Prevention Training
The Community Resource Center is sponsoring a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training on January 27-28 and February 3-4, 2004 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The training will be held at the Mansfield Health Education Center, 1100 Block of North 30th.  There is no cost associated with the training.  Prevention specialists from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Billings Mental Health Center, and the Community Resource Center will lead the training.  32 CEU hours will be available.  For more information contact Kristin Lundgren at (406) 657-1732 or klundgren@msubillings.edu

 

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Family Service, Inc. along with the generosity of over 115 businesses, organizations, and families throughout the community, brightened the faces of over 4,000 children last year through the Adopt A Family program.  Adopt A Family is one part of “The Holiday Program”, based at Family Service, Inc., which links other agencies in their effort to provide for low income families during the holiday season and to avoid the duplication of services.  When you choose to adopt a family, your gracious gifts go directly to the family. You can shop and wrap your gifts or send money for your family to shop for themselves. Each family signed up for the Holiday Program will receive a Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings. Families who have not been adopted will also receive two new toys for each child.  Anyone not wishing to adopt an entire family may bring directly to Family Service, Inc, new unwrapped toys to be distributed. Gifts for teenagers are needed as well. On the wish list: CDs, sweatshirts, make up, sports memorabilia, jewelry, and video games.  For more information on how you can make a difference this holiday season contact Linda Robbins or Paul Chinberg at (406) 259-2269.

Mission and Shelter Holiday Wish List
The MRM and Family Shelter need volunteers to contribute to those in need. Become a Christmas partner by donating NEW items from the following Christmas gift lists:

  • Family Shelter gifts for: toddlers, children ages 5-12, teenager, men, women

  • Gifts for men: t-shirts, sweats, gloves, stocking caps, socks/underwear, winter outerwear, toiletries/bath items

  • MRM Kitchen Wish: kitchen volunteers/cook, 20 pt. Hobart mixer, Hobart Dishwasher, rotating toaster, Christmas dinner food items 

  • Family Shelter Kitchen Wish List: large cans fruit/vegetables, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, ketchup/mustard, household cleaning supplies, 2 people to help, prepare/serve/cleanup after meals either from 11-1p.m or 4-6p.m

  • Also need: winter outerwear, toiletries/bath items, linen/shower curtains

Cash donations accepted.  For more information, please contact Monica Maristuen at (406) 259-3800.

Dental Services at the Indian Health Board
The Indian Health Board (IHB) of Billings, located at 1127 Alderson Avenue has begun offering dental services.  The new dental program officially started August 18, 2003 and has welcomed Dr. Robert Maggard, DDS.  Dr. Maggard first began his dental practice in the Billings Heights.  The new IHB dental program offers general dentistry and the response from the community has been outstanding!  "There are a lot of teeth out there that need attention" comments Dr. Maggard.  In addition, IHB is offering numerous others services to Native American in the Billings area including but not limited to mental health counseling, walk-in clinic, alcohol and substance abuse services, Women's Clinic and Diabetes Clinic.  For more information please contact (406) 245-7318.

Educating Others for a Safer Tomorrow
The Yellowstone AIDS Project creates educational and informational programs to prevent the further spread and transmission of HIV/AIDS.  These programs are more specifically designed to target those who are most at-risk for HIV and STD infection. The Project is currently partnering with a number of organizations and agencies to deliver service including but not limited to: the Montana Women's Correctional Center, Yellowstone County Detention Center, Alternatives pre-Release Center, Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, Tumbleweed street outreach, as well as area schools and shelters.  If your organization, agency or program would like to partner in the service of at-risk HIV and STD populations, please contact Becky Ketterling at (406) 249-2029.

Prevention Works!!!
As a reminder, the Mental Health Center offers substance abuse prevention services. For technical assistance with your prevention activities, please contact Laura Harper-Hall at (406) 254-1314.  

      

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

    

Community Resource Center Report
The Community Resource Center (CRC) continues to work on its two priority areas:  1) Coordination, and 2) Data.  Highlights of the last two months include:

  • The AfterSchool Task Force hosted a successful Lights On Afterschool Event, with VIPs touring afterschool sites in Billings. 
  • The Family Task Force formed a subcommittee to create a plan for United Way’s CIP extension grant targeting children ages 0-6.  The subcommittee included School District II, the Family Tree Center, Headstart, Family Drug Court, and Maternal Child Health/WIC.  The group decided to narrow the target group to Native American children ages 0-6.  The CRC is currently working with community members and Helena to finalize an acceptable plan.
  • The Information Task Force worked to develop its ATOD report card for launch in January.
  • The CRC was able to provide data for projects at the school district, Friendship House, Headstart, and Billings Healthy Community Coalition.
  • CRC was able to assist in the organization of a Native American Community Meeting for the Northwest Area Foundation.
  • CRC was able to host a dinner for the high school students in the pilot program at Senior who demonstrated great success this semester.

Projects which will be of great benefit to the community are “in the works:” for example, the online parenting classes directory; a summer and fall directory of out-of-school-time projects; and Community Information System partnerships and funding.  Work is ongoing to research grants which will enable the community to tackle the alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues that have been identified as priorities for Billings.  Please contact the Community Resource Center at 657-2349, if you are interested in working with us on any of our task forces, or on our ATOD prevention goals.

Thank you to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for making the work of the Community Resource Center possible through a Drug Free Communities Support Grant to the Drug Prevention Planning Committee.

Location, Location, Location
Young Families Early Head Start is now located at 1345 Elaine in the Billings Heights.  Due to a need to relocate, Young Families’ partnership with Billings School District #2 has allowed them to lease the former Beartooth School.  The phone number will remain the same at 259-2007 and will be open to clients Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  Beartooth School can be accessed by turning East on Wicks, North on Dogwood and West on Elaine.  Young Families Early Head Start has a long tradition in the Billings community of delivering comprehensive and high quality services to low-income families with children under age three.  The Program is currently serving 36 families with a capacity of up to 40 families.  Karla MacCatherine, Human Resource/Fiscal Officer said they are very happy to be at this larger location, and they look forward to many more years of service with the possibility to expand in the future. For more information, please contact Karla MacCatherine at (406) 259-2007.

Flu Season is Here!
Recently Dr. Doug Moore, Yellowstone City-County Health Department reported the "flu season is here!"  In a recent conversation with the Billings Gazette, Dr. Moore reported just 1500 doses of the flu vaccine are left causing healthcare providers to ration supplies to high risk groups.  These groups include:

  • people 65 and older

  • people with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease

  • women who are at least three months pregnant, and

  • children between 6 and 23 months

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 114,000 people will require hospitalization due to complications resulting from the flu.  Another 36,000 people, mainly elderly, will die,” says Tamalee Eberle, RN in the Preventive Health Services program with the YCCHD.  Please contact YCCHD for immunization sites, dates, and times.  For more information, contact Barbara Schneeman at (406) 651-6420 or barbaras@ycchd.org

ACS Planning Ahead
Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s unique signature activity and nationwide phenomenon, rallies communities to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise funds to eliminate cancer. Lasting overnight as team members take turns walking around a track, Relay inspires, entertains, and touches the hearts of all who participate. July 9th and 10th, 2004 is the date for the Yellowstone Relay for Life; and teams are forming now.  There were five youth teams in last years Relay in Billings. We are looking to ad at least 5 more youth teams this year. If you know any youth who may be interested in participating in Relay for Life pleas call Vonda Lancaster, Community Cancer Control Manager, at the Billings American Cancer Society office at 256-7156.

Friendship House Branching Out 
The Friendship House has been very busy partnering with other organizations in the community to work with the children of Billings.  They work directly with the Women and Family Shelter transporting children to the Friendship House for activities such as a Christmas party later on in December.  This service is offered free of charge and provides the kids with presents, snacks and pictures with Santa.  Friendship House is also a part of the After School Task Force and is currently offering transportation to and from school for Ponderosa, Orchard, and Newman schools. 

 

Contributing editors for this issue were: Cara Hughs, Joni Carter, Jeri Cuellar, Marilyn Carpenter, Erin Guith, Lisa Pierce, April Stark, Richard Fox, Shannon Left Hand, Lindsey Miller, Amber Dandliker, and Trudy Hatzenbihler.

PARTNERS is published once a month and distributed to members of the Billings Healthy Community Coalition (BHCC) and others interested in the health of our community.  The mission of BHCC is: to develop, maintain and strengthen collaborative community networks committed to improving overall community health status and quality of life.

If you have information you would like to see included in the newsletter, please contact Carl Hanson at chanson@msubillings.edu

Billings Healthy Community Coalition Homepage

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