Dear Health Ministries Network Community,
Amidst change, the good work and community continue! June is an important month in which we focus on safety! Please see the CDC information and all the links below so that you can share this with your faith community and geographic community. We also highlight Ask a Nurse at the Catherine Mahaffey Wellness Fair, the great work of the WWU RN to BSN Program students and the many opportunities for learning and service that are coming up.
Want to get out and help this summer? We will be participating in two events: the Everson Emergency Preparedness Day and The Bellingham Schools Back-to-School Block Party. We'll be taking BPs and/or sharing health information and connection with folks. Tabling with us, whether taking BPs or having a conversation with someone, is a great opportunity to meet people where they are at--including ourselves. For more information, email director@healthministriesnetwork.net.
Please remember to share the 2023 Fall HMN Foundations in Health Ministry (for prospective Faith Community Nurses (FCNs) and Health Ministers(HMs) and Community Health Advocates (CHAs)! Please share, ask questions and sign up through the links below or at our website!
Our HMN June meeting is scheduled for June 16th at 12:30 via Zoom. Heidi Knickerbocker will be updating us on the Whatcom County Resource Information Collaborative (WRIC). We have been sharing periodic updates about this great initiative to put current resources into the hands of . . . well, everyone! From those who are seeking access to resources for themselves and their families to healthcare and other providers to YOU! This promises to be a great update and a great resource. All are invited. Please join us!
We continue to seek a new HMN Executive Director and Assistant Director, and we ask that you pray about this search and share the information as you feel called. We have extended the search deadline to July 1st, 2023 so that we can ensure we have a full pool of great candidates to continue our work and community into the future!
And see the many events happening around our North Sound community in celebration of Pride Month and Juneteenth! Please see these listings from North Sound Accountable Communities of Health (NSACH) in our Creative Offering this month.
Please check out all of the good information and the many opportunities for learning below. HMN wishes you you peace, love and good community connections today and each day!
With gratitude,
The HMN Board of Directors:
Joni Hensley
Kate Massey
Charles (Chaz) Nelson
Melanie Cool
Sunny Garza
Rebecca Cavanaugh
Bill Lonneman
Anita Busby
It's Carol Blattner and Anita Busby! Two of our newest Ask a Nurse FCNs at the Catherine Mahaffey Wellness Fair on May 20th, 2023 in Maple Falls. Joni Hensley and Rebecca Cavanaugh also served at the health fair, continuing to support our beloved East Whatcom community. In total, there were: 160 total visitors, 21 stopped by our booth for evaluation, and we referred 14 of those to one of the naturopaths or nurse practitioner at the wellness fair. We saw people for many concerns, from blood glucose to orthopedic care. Our FCNs made a number of referrals and worked closely with a naturopathic student and former medical assistant volunteers, deepening the community of caring and loving individuals in the East County and Whatcom County, in general! Thank you to our Faith Community Nurses as well as Jessica Bee of the Opportunity Council and all those volunteers and organizations who made this possible.
HMN June Meeting: Update from the Whatcom County Resource Information Collaborative (WRIC)
According to Kristi Slette, "Whatcom County in Washington state – the northwesternmost county in the continental U.S. – is a resourceful community with many collaborative community-based organizations that serve residents in need.
For many years, the leadership and staff from many of these organizations have voiced a desire to improve the accessibility and reliability of information about resources available in our community. In the past, this desire sparked several attempts to develop a centralized resource directory – but in each instance, our vision was hampered by the complexities of this challenge. We all shared the same goal, but different organizations had different needs and interests. When it came time to address all of them in one single website, we struggled to move forward together." (Introducing the Whatcom County Resource Information Collaborative – Open Referral). Through many challenges and responsive evolutions, Whatcom County is now closer than ever to an easy-to-use, responsive and "living" resource database. Learn about this resource and how it might serve you and those who request resources at our HMN monthly meeting with Heidi Knickerbocker on Friday, June 16th, 12:30pm via Zoom.
We look forward to seeing you there! Please send questions to director@healthministriesnetwork.net
HMN May Meeting Recap! Advance Care
Thank you to PeaceHealth, as always, for their tremendous support. In May, we heard from Hilary Walker and Lindsey Boldrin, the Washington Advance Care Team. We appreciate their updates on Advance Directives and other important Advance Care support.
They have sent along a note that they'd like to share with you. Please also find their good resources, here: Advance Care Planning Packet and Your Voice Your Slide Packet
Lindsey asked that we share this note with all of you as well:
Greetings,
Thank you for joining Hilary and me for the PeaceHealth ACP update. Very sadly, our program has sustained major reductions, including my position. The plan is to stay involved with this work in some capacity. Attached is the “ACP Packet” that we hand out to patients and community members, including participants in the in-person “Your Voice Your Choice” class and our PowerPoint. We have many resources for the community to share. We did make a Zoom recording of the call, but it is too large to attach to an email, so I will have to figure out a way to share the link with you.
Our website has all of our resources https://www.peacehealth.org/advance-care-planning including the recording of Hilary and her colleague teaching the new 4-page Honoring Choices PNW durable POA for Healthcare document. There are also additional links to videos such as “ACP + D(ementia)” with Denise Weeks and Dr. Lombard’s “Realities of Advanced Medical Interventions” presentation.
We would like to have a regular check-in with your group (perhaps quarterly) so we can stay in touch. We appreciate HMN as a community partner in this work.
I am teaching the “Your Voice, Your Choice” ACP workshop at the Burlington Senior Center on Friday, 5/19 – 12:30 -2:30 p.m. and at the Lynden Senior Center on Tuesday, 5/23 – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., if anyone would like to attend the live class. I very much enjoy teaching the content, and notarizing people’s documents for them during the session is the icing on the cake.
Take care, and it has been a pleasure working with you all!
Sincerely,
Lindsey and Hilary
You can learn more about PeaceHealth Advance Care on their web page: page: https://www.peacehealth.org/advance-care-planning
Submit your application by July 1st! HMN is seeking a new Executive Director and Assistant Director!
Click on the buttons below for the position description and instructions. Please share!
Registration is OPEN for the Fall 2023 HMN Foundations Course
FCLs: Does Your Faith Community Need Mental Health First Aid Training?
We have heard from a number of you, regarding the need for Mental Health First Aid to Faith Community Leaders and FCNs/HMs/CHAs for your faith community, health ministry or yourself. If you have not responded yet, please do! We simply do not have enough mental health resources available across communities. However, we have each other--loving and able to learn and practice the skills of caring for each other in a mental health crisis.
Please send a quick email to director@healthministriesnetwork.net, and if there is good interest in this, HMN can pursue this in upcoming months. If we request this training, we will have room for up to 30 participants, and these individuals must complete a simple registration with us.
If you believe that your community of 20-30 individuals could use this training, you can also inquire specifically for your community. In this case, contact AHECWW@whatcom.edu
From NSACH: Upcoming Learning Opportunities
The 2023 WA DEI Empowerment Conference will be held virtually over Zoom each Wednesday in June (June 7, 14, 21, & 28). This year's conference theme is all about Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action, highlighting the importance of supporting statewide and agency-specific equity and anti-racism work to build more just systems and promote a culture of inclusion and belonging in the state workforce. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn and grow!
Admission is free and open to all employees from Washington state agencies, boards, and commissions. Register by clicking here.
Region 10 Opioid Summit is an educational and networking event for those delivering opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services in the Pacific Northwest.
This year's summit theme is "The Road to Healthier Communities," and will be July 19-20 as a hybrid event – you can register to attend virtually, or in-person in Vancouver, Washington. More information and registration here.
National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) Annual Meeting and Unity Conference
Unity is the annual meeting and interactive event of the National Association of Community Health Workers, designed for our CHW and ally members making a difference. 2023’s theme is “Community Health Workers: The Workforce We Need for the World We Want." The conference will take place in person in Austin, Texas, August 3-5. In addition to the in-person conference, there will also be a virtual option where we will be livestreaming the annual meeting, our keynote speakers, and several workshops and trainings. Registration is open to members and non-members. More information and registration here.
Calling all healthcare providers! We have a few amazing, and free, trainings for you to boost your knowledge and skills.
Creating Spaces of Safety and Belonging for LGBTQ+ Clients and Staff, a three-hour professional development training in partnership with Catalyst Community. This training will be in-person on June 22, from 7-10 a.m. at 1900 D Street, Bellingham. More information can be found by clicking here
TraumaPlay™ A Cutting Edge, Attachment-Based Treatment Framework, all-day seminar in Lynnwood on June 9. This components-based model demystifies play-based trauma treatment by outlining the scope and sequence of trauma-specific work with children. More information can be found by clicking here.
ODD, ASD, ADHD, and Mood Disorders in Children and Adolescents, all-day seminar in Spokane on June 30. this seminar will guide you through focused, clear, and successful methods for treating children. More information can be found by clicking here
Community Events & Info
In an effort to connect our volunteers with relevant resources, we publish community events and information in our monthly newsletter and on our website. Email director@healthministriesnetwork.net to add your own.
From the CDC: It's National Safety Month
From the CDC: "Each June, we celebrate National Safety Month. Safety matters every day of the year, but during June it gets the extra attention it deserves so we can all stay safe from the workplace to anyplace. As part of the celebration of safety, the National Safety Council (NSC) selects themes for each week of the month. This blog will highlight research and prevention efforts from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and NSC in this year’s focus areas of emergency preparedness; slips, trips, and falls; heat-related illness; and hazard recognition.
Please download and share the free safety materials from NSC including a poster, social media toolkit, animated graphics, articles and more – plus NSC members get additional exclusive resources.
Visit the NIOSH website, eNews, blog, and social media accounts to stay safe this month and all year long." Please see this link for complete resources from the CDC.
HMN would like to add food safety and water safety to the list of 2023 safety foci! Please see the following, and click on the photos for more information:
From the Red Cross, find resource and classes in English and en español, click on the photo:
Continue to learn about diabetes prevention, blood pressure and chronic kidney disease
Learn:
Resources from the Mount Baker Foundation
More resources from the Mount Baker Foundation
Check:
Change:
More resources from the Mount Baker Foundation:
and
NephU Kidney Kitchen Creations Cookbook from NephU
From NSACH: Health coverage for all Washingtonians: expanded access for immigrants in 2024
An estimated 105,000 uninsured Washingtonians are currently ineligible for health care coverage due to federal immigration status restrictions. Things will soon improve - during Open Enrollment 2023, all Washingtonians will be able to sign up for health coverage starting in January 2024 regardless of immigration status on Washington Healthplanfinder. View more information about this change here.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
Creative Offering
This month, we highlight celebrations around the North Sound, as we recognize and celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth!
Celebrating PridePRIDE is a powerful symbol for the LGBTQ+ community, representing love, acceptance, and equality. June is PRIDE month; through events and parades, individuals can express themselves freely and embrace their identity without fear of discrimination, creating a safe and welcoming space. These celebrations foster a sense of community and unity, increasing visibility and awareness for LGBTQ+ people and their allies. By celebrating PRIDE, we acknowledge the ongoing fight for equal rights and honor the historical accomplishments and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Don't miss out on upcoming events in your area:
Whatcom Youth Pride: Saturday, June 3
Everett Pride: Saturday, June 17
Anacortes Pride: Saturday, June 17
San Juan Island Pride Festival: Saturday, June 17
Bellingham Pride: Sunday, July 9
Celebrating Juneteenth!
Juneteenth represents an important milestone in American history – June 19, 1865 – as it marks the end of slavery and the beginning of a new era of freedom and equality. Through celebrating Juneteenth, we can come together to honor the sacrifices and struggles of our ancestors and gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse cultures that make up our society. By recognizing and respecting the past, we can create a brighter future for all. Here are a few local event taking place:
Saturday, June 17, from 2- 6 p.m. at Maritime Heritage Park
500 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Saturday, June 17, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Willis D. Tucker Community Park
6705 Puget Park Dr, Snohomish, WA 98296
Monday, June 19, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Cedar Valley Community School
19200 56th Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Season one is all about the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being. Listeners will learn about the Vital Conditions framework from national, regional, and local leaders working to expand access to the Vital Conditions we all need to thrive. To learn more and check out our trailer, click here. First episode coming in June!
Coast Salish Octopus Design by Marysa Sylvester
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