EMPOWERING MINDS MESSENGER
February 2019
Between Black History Month, Children's Dental Health Month, President's Day and Valentine's Day, there is a lot happening in February. This month's newsletter include useful information about local event and resources as well as exciting agency updates.
Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert Information
The Health Commissioner declares a Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert during periods of extremely cold weather. Code Blue Extreme Cold is a multi-agency effort to reduce hypothermia deaths during the winter months by protecting our City's homeless, seniors and other vulnerable populations.

A Code Blue Extreme Cold declaration triggers several responses aimed at providing shelter and services for homeless individuals.
  • Private homeless shelters will be encouraged to extend their hours and keep individuals indoors.
  • Homeless Services Outreach Workers provide cold weather education, encourage homeless individuals to take shelter, and connect them to services as needed.
  • On nights when Code Blue Extreme Cold has been declared, the Salvation Army FEEDMORE canteen provides hot drinks and other items to homeless individuals.
A list of  City Homeless Shelters and Services  is available through the Mayor's Office of Human Services. 
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

Origins of Black History Month

The story of  Black History  Month begins in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African descent.

Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of  Abraham Lincoln  and  Frederick Douglass . The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures.In the decades that followed, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of black identity, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.

President  Gerald Ford  officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Baltimore City
Black History Month at the Walters Art Museum: Searching for Shaniqua

February 17th 2:00pm-4:00pm
This  documentary  by Baltimore-based filmmaker  Phill Branch  explores the impact that unique, Afrocentric, or Islamic names have upon people’s lives in the United States. A Q&A session with the director will follow the screening.
68 mins., NR, 2016

Baltimore City
Baltimore Museum of Art
February 10th 2:00pm–5:00pm

Make a Headdress inspired by works in the African Collection.

Harford County
13th the Film

February 23th 11:00am-3:00pm
From Slave to Criminal with One Amendment

An enlightening film screening addressing the impact of the 13th amendment and the criminal justice system, followed by group discussions to evaluate ways we can make real change in our world. Space is limited. Registration is required through Hosanna's website. Lunch is available.

Anne Arundel County
Deale Community Library

February 22nd 10:00am
Tap your feet to jazz while listening to a story about musicians from the past. Children will handle musical instruments and decorate a jazz instrument with water color paint.

Event Audience: 
ages three through five years, adults

Anne Arundel County
The Historic Annapolis Museum
Freedom Bound: Runaways of the Chesapeake – The Historic Annapolis Museum at 99 Main St. in Annapolis features an exhibit that focuses on the stories of nine real men and women whose lives testify to the universal desire for personal liberty. It uses videos, audio, historic artifacts, runaway advertisements from 1728 to 1864 and hands-on activities to convey the defeats and triumphs these men and women experienced in their struggle for freedom. The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.




PSYCHIATRIC AND
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Empowering Minds has partnered with  Kraus Behavioral Health  and Healthy Minds to provide individual’s needing medicine for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. We recognize that each person’s mental well-being is directly connected with their overall physical health. Experiences like stress or trauma can cause anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed and hopeless. Untreated, these feelings can lead to major psychological and physical illnesses or to behaviors that can become addictive and destructive. A comprehensive psychiatric assessment /evaluation is completed to determine if medication is the best course of treatment for the individual’s presenting illness. Empowering Minds approaches mental health trough a multidisciplinary program that focuses on the whole person — physical, spiritual, psychological and social.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Every year,  approximately 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner . It is also known that  3 in 4 parents have never talked to their children about domestic violence.  In light of these alarming facts, every year during the month of February advocates join efforts to raise awareness about dating violence, highlight promising practices, and encourage communities to get involved.
There are many resources available to provide information and support to victims and assist service providers and communities to decrease the prevalence of dating violence among young people. Anyone can make this happen by raising awareness about the issue,  saying something about abuse when you see it  and organizing your community to make a difference. Learn more.
Empowering Minds offices will be closed on February 18th in honor of President's Day.
Empowering Minds is proud to partner with ShareBaby

Our partnership includes monthly diaper distributions for EMRC clients with children between the ages of 0 - 5 years old.  In addition, EMRC is currently accepting "ShareBaby Coat Requests" for children ages 0 - 5 years old and requests for Boy or Girl newborn bundles.

Newborn bundles include:
1 pack of size 1 diapers
1 pack of size 2 diapers
1 0-3 month onesie
1 0-3 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 3-6 month onesie
1 3-6 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 6-12 month onesie,
1 6-12 month outfit (top & bottom)

 If you are in need of diapers, a coat or newborn bundle for a child between 0 - 5 years old, please contact your  Direct Service Coordinator  to submit your request and provide the sex of the baby and size needed between 0 - 24 months or 2t - 5t. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Tyminski at the Baltimore City office.
Harford County
Project Homeless Connect
Empowering Minds participated in Project Homeless Connect by bringing donations of blankets, hats, scarves and toiletries and providing on-site referrals for mental health services.

Now for the fourth year, Project Homeless Connect comes to Harford County to help hundreds of families and individuals experiencing homelessness obtain critical resources and services to help put them back on the path to a stable life.
Harford County Group
Baltimore City Groups
Mondays 6-7 PM 
Women's Group, Teen's Group, and Youth Group
Tuesdays 6-7 PM
Men's Group
Thursdays 12-1 PM
Families Impacted by Substance Abuse
Anne Arundel County Groups
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Empowering Minds Resource Center is proud to announce there is currently  NO WAIT LIST at the agency. We work hard everyday to ensure referrals are quickly processed and clients are engaged by our staff and partnered therapists immediately. We are ready, willing and able to accept new clients TODAY.  
NOW ACCEPTING HARFORD COUNTY REFERRALS

Empowering Minds Resource Center has no waitlist for our CARE COORDINATION FOR MINORS and our PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAM in Harford County ! 
Empowering Minds recognizes Lisa Miceli as February's DSC of the Month

Lisa Miceli's integrity and ethics continued to show through her work with EMRC. Lisa offers valuable insights and is always willing to collaborate in a team setting. Her great communication skills help her develop solid relationships with her clients. She is a valuable resource to our team and does an outstanding job representing the EMRC agency.  Thanks Lisa!

WE'RE HIRING!

Empowering Minds is looking to add some new members to our wonderful team. Check out the link below for more information!