May 1, 2023

Welcome to May! We finally hit 70+ degrees here in Western Washington this past weekend. Warmer weather means more opportunities to spend time outdoors doing your favorite activities, such as visiting your local farmer's market. On May 13th, we will be at the Arlington Farmer's Market hosting the Kid's Health and Safety Fair. At this event, we will be fitting kids ages 18 and under with free life jackets (while supplies last). Kids can also bring their bike or scooter and helmet to ride the fun and challenging skills course at the Bike Rodeo. There will be several other organizations providing fun activities and informational handouts to promote summer safety.

Stilly Valley Health Connections now has two certified child passenger safety technicians who will be providing free car seat and booster seat checks by appointment on May 31st from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, as well as on June 3rd from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. If you aren't able to attend either of our events, don't worry, because beginning June 1st you can call 360-386-9918 to schedule an appointment with our technicians.

There will be a number of other classes and programs offered in person and online in the next couple of months. We hope that you will take the time to look through our list below to see all that we have coming up.

Wishing you good health and wellness,

Ardis Schmiege

Unleash the power of dried beans in your kitchen! Chickpeas, kidney beans, and other popular beans are not just affordable, but also a nutrition powerhouse. They are loaded with powerful protein, energizing carbs, and fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Dried beans are also a simple way to boost your gut health by offering oligosaccharides- a nutrient for beneficial gut bacteria. From classic dishes like hummus and chili to more new and exciting dishes, there are so many ways to enjoy dried beans. Our informative presentation and virtual cooking demo will inspire you to incorporate more beans into your diet. This cooking demo class will be led by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Taelin Flores. Recipes will be shared with participants after taking this virtual class.

Wednesday, May 3 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Join Elder Abuse Advocate, Michelle Burke, with Domestic Violence Services, to discuss what elder abuse is and how to recognize it. She will speak about the work she does with survivors of elder abuse, share resources for victims, and discuss what to do if you or someone you know is being abused. This will be an interactive presentation (with BINGO!) There will be time for questions and discussion afterward.

Wednesday, May 10 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am

REGISTRATION

Experience the cuisine of Okinawa, Japan, one of the world's five Blue Zones. Several healthy meals will be demonstrated, and recipes will be shared with participants. Class will be led by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from Sound Dietitians, LLC, and is sponsored by Skagit Regional Health. This event is free and can be attended either in-person or online via Zoom. In-person attendees will be able to sample recipes. Not able to attend? Register and we will send you the recording.

Thursday, May 18 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

REGISTRATION: ONLINE | IN-PERSON

Please join Amy Wheat, Opioid Outreach Specialist with Snohomish County Human Services, to learn how to administer Narcan (Naloxone), a nasal spray that can block the effects of an opioid overdose. This training will include information about what an opioid overdose looks like, why the addition of Fentanyl increases the danger of a deadly overdose, and how to use the antidote to reverse an opioid overdose. The training is free and open to anyone in the community. 

Wednesday, May 24 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Stilly Valley Health Connections recognizes May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. In observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Stilly Valley Health Connections encourages individuals to pause and care for their mental health. A great way to check in on your mental health is to take a few minutes and take a free mental health test.

Your mental health and overall health are connected to each other. Accepting your mental health condition is one of the first steps you can take on your journey. Listed are actions anyone can take to look after their mental health:

• Reach out to loved ones to show them you care. Check in through a text and simply ask, “How are you?”.
• Check in with your own mental health with a mental health online screening tool.
• If you are experiencing stress, call 988, Washington Recovery Help line at 866-789-1511 (24/7), or 211 in Snohomish County for support and resources.
• Look for informative posts on mental health this month on Stilly Valley Health Connection’s social media pages.

Mental health wellness translates to physical wellness and overall wellness. And everyone needs help sometimes. If you find yourself in a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 or chat online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Information provided by Health Care Authority of Washington.

Safe Kids Snohomish County, South County Fire, Skagit Regional Health, and Stilly Valley Health Connections are teaming together on May 31st and June 3rd to provide free car seat and booster seat safety checks to North Snohomish County residents.

If you are interested in signing up to have your car seat or booster seat checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at an event or by appointment, please contact Stilly Valley Health Connections at 360-386-9918 or email info@stillyvalleyhealth.org. 

The person next to a bleeding victim may very well be the one who is most likely to save them from bleeding to death. By learning how to STOP THE BLEED®, you will gain the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly and effectively to control bleeding once you learn three quick techniques. Take the STOP THE BLEED® training course, provided by Skagit Regional Health trained instructors, and become empowered to make a life-or-death difference when a bleeding emergency happens. This training is free and open to anyone in the community. 

Wednesday, June 1st | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Join Sheri Elhoss, with Vital Signs CPR, for Child and Babysitting Safety (CABS) training. This course gives attendees (must be age 12 or older) everything they need to know for safe and successful babysitting. Participants will learn childcare basics, how to interact with parents and children, caregiving tips & tricks, what to do in an emergency, and how to promote their babysitting services. This course includes a 2-year certification in Child and Babysitting Safety. Participants will also receive a CPR/choking review and practice session. The class does not include CPR certification. The cost is $60, which includes lunch & snacks.

Saturday, June 3rd | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Have you been looking for a tasty and healthy vegetable to add to your summer meals? Look no further than summer squash! Squashes are filled with essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. This nutrient-rich vegetable is not only affordable but also easy to grow in our beautiful Pacific Northwest! With a bounty of squash, it’s important to have a myriad of tasty ways to eat it. We will review recipes to inspire endless summer creations. From grilling to salads to soups, you'll never get bored of this tasty garden fruit. Join us for a fun and informative session to discover the benefits of summer squash. Class will be led by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Taelin Flores. Recipes will be shared with participants.

Wednesday, June 7th | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Experience the cuisine of Loma Linda, California, one of the world's five Blue Zones. Several healthy meals will be demonstrated, and recipes will be shared with participants. The class will be led by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from Sound Dietitians, LLC, and is sponsored by Skagit Regional Health. This event is free and can be attended either in person or online via Zoom. In-person attendees will be able to sample recipes. Not able to attend? Register and we will send you the recording.

Thursday, June 15th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

REGISTRATION: ONLINE | IN-PERSON

Questions about an upcoming program or need assistance registering?

Please contact us at (360)-386-9918 or email info@stillyvalleyhealth.org

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