Next BHCC Meeting

WHAT: "A Community Plan for Suicide Prevention"

WHEN: Thursday, December 4th, 2003, 3:30 PM

WHERE: Head Start Building, 615 North 19th Street

Panel Participants

• Dave Pierce, Mental Health Center

• Alan Hilden, School District #2

• Dee Holly, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

• Marion Scofield, Indian Health Board

What's Happening at Planned Parenthood?

Planned Parenthood is the worlds largest and most trusted voluntary reproductive health care organization.  Founded in 1916 as America's first birth control clinic, Planned Parenthood believes in everyone's right to choose whether or not to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved.  Intermountain Planned Parenthood can be located in Billings at:  Downtown clinic; 721 N. 29th St., 248-3636  or   Westend clinic; 1844 Broadwater Ave., 656-9980.  There are many services provided including:  reproductive health care, birth control, STD testing, emergency contraceptives, family planning, and abortions.  On November 14th there is an adoption liaison.  There will be a master trainer coming to talk to women with unplanned pregnancy about adoptions.  It will take place at the downtown clinic, and for more information you can call the number above.  There is also teen board meetings every Tuesday from 6:00p.m-8:00p.m. The group is a peer mentoring group about reproductive health care and healthy decision making.  The teens in the group go on to discuss the information they learned with their friends.  For more information you can contact the downtown clinic.  There are some changes at the downtown clinic.  They have moved their family services to the west end clinic.  They encourage people to start getting their pill refills at the west end clinic.  The downtown clinic will still offer administration services, limited pill refills, and abortions. Upcoming events include: (1.)  Adoption Liaison- November 14, 2003 (2.)  Teen Board Meeting- Every Tuesday @ 6:00p.m.  For additional information, please contact Marilyn Preston at (406) 248-3636.

Friendship House Holiday Events

The Friendship House is starting a busy time of year. Kicking off the holiday season with the Annual Harvest Carnival. The kids and staff at Friendship House prepared a fun and safe environment for the community to celebrate on October 31. The kids will be collecting blankets beginning November 3 and ending on December 19. Then they will be delivering the blankets to those in need in the community. Rapping up the holiday season will be the Christmas party complete with Santa, presents, good times and good food for the kids.  For more information, please contact Brenda Anthony at (406) 259-5369.

Light Up a Child's Life

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) is holding its 3^rd Annual West Park Plaza “Light Up a Child’s Life” raffle, candle and cookbook sale.  Some of the items being raffled off are, a diamond necklace worth $895, or a weekend getaway worth $1200, among many others.  This is taking place at West Park Plaza from, Friday October 10, through December 20.  Raffle tickets, candles and cookbooks are available for sale at West Park Plaza.  There will be a CFF booth at the craft show every weekend, or see Stapp Jewelers on weekdays to purchase these items.  Ticket prices are $5 for one or $20 for 5.  For more information, contact Gina Young at (406) 628-0628.

Tumbleweed Runaway Program

As seen in the news, violence, substance abuse, suicide, pregnancy, and other serious issues confront our youth more than ever before. Fortunately, there is Tumbleweed. Tumbleweed provides free and confidential services to youth as well as their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their wonderful and caring counselors are available when youth and families are in crisis. This year, Tumbleweed has served 1,146 youth and their families. Tumbleweed is currently offering the following groups available to the community: Life Skills Group, Junior High Boys Group, Junior High Girls Group, Senior High Girls Group, and "Becoming a Love and Logic Parent". If you, or someone you know, is having difficulty with any of these issues or you are interested in a group please call Tumbleweed at (406) 259-2558.

Deaconess Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Health Care Team Up to Lead the Fight Against Obesity

Head Start Opens New Addition

The Head Start program of Yellowstone County recently opened a new addition to its North Park school location.  “This welcomed addition,” says Judy Bryngelson, executive director, “helped free up space once used for offices, to provide a parent room.”  The parent room provides resources to parents of Head Start children to obtain their GED and other educational pursuits, job contacts, and they have computer programs for the parents use to write resumes.  The Head Start program also opened a new west end location at Rimrock School. The main campus serves 210 low-income families and with the new west end location another 65 families are served.  For application information: on applying at Head Start call (406) 245-7233.

Expansion at the Yellowstone County Council on Aging

The Yellowstone County Council on Aging recently received a federal grant to expand the information and assistance departments.  They are planning to set up an office and hire people to help aide the council in finding services to provide specific needs for the elderly.  They will be collaborating with many community services that work with the elderly to form an advisory committee.  Upcoming activities include: (1) November 12^th-St. Vincent's will provide a talk making sure advanced directives are known.  It’ll be held at the First Presbyterian Church. (2) November 18^th-Social gathering at the Council of Aging office. (3) November 20^th-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at all centers and sights.  For more information please contact Joan Kimball at (406) 259-9666.

The Billings Food Bank gathers food and other essentials to meet the needs of the under privileged in our community. The food bank accepts donations of food all year around, but now with Thanksgiving and Christmas nearly upon us, there is a need for food boxes for distribution for the holidays. Also needed are volunteers to help with processing and distribution of the food that is collected. The food bank provides food to various programs at no cost to the agency or their clients. Because of volunteers and their tremendous support, the food bank was able to provide an abundance of support on a low operating budget, a budget of less than 5%. The Billings Food Bank assumes a leadership role in feeding the hungry and delivering quality food and other products through agencies, as well as playing a strong role in education and advocacy and hunger related issues. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please fill free to contact Sheryle Shandy at (406) 259-2856.

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