Healthy Communities
Newsletter

November 2019
Community partners working together
to build health and resilience
Greetings! Here is what's happening in November with the ACEs Action Alliance, Trauma-Informed Schools, Evergreen and Vancouver Faith-Based Coffee groups
and Safe Kids Clark County.
To subscribe to the Healthy Communities Newsletter, please email [email protected].
Our Community Meetings

SAVE THESE DATES!
Please note: You will no longer receive individual Outlook invitations and meeting reminders for meetings.

Please NOTE these dates on your personal calendar.

An updated calendar for all meetings can be found at http://acesactionalliance.org/events/

Nov. 14 - Trauma-Informed Schools Team. 1 - 3 pm at ESD 112, 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver

Nov. 19 - Safe Kids Clark County
10 - 11:30 am at ESD 112, 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver

Nov. 20 - Evergreen Faith-Based Coffee. 8:30 - 10:30 am at Cascade Park Baptist Church, 1201 SE 136th, Vancouver

Nov. 26 - ACEs Action Alliance 1:30 - 3:30 pm at YWCA Community Room, 3609 Main St., Vancouver

Vancouver Faith-Based Coffee will not meet in November or December
ACEs Action Alliance

Meets from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the YWCA community room, 3609 Main St. The Alliance is open to all members of the community.

  • Next meeting: Nov. 26.

  • Future meetings in 2020: Jan.28, Feb. 25, March 23

  • At our last meeting: Debbie Ham, executive director of Support for Early Learning and Families, discussed an appeal from child advocates to the Stronger Vancouver initiative to include a focus on the health and education of children and quality childcare and early learning programs. Cyndie Meyer, program coordinator for Clark County Public Health, presented details about the County's plan to use Maternal-Child Health Block Grant funds to support trauma-informed school policy and system change, to create community education offerings on ACEs and Resilience through Clark College Community Education and Economic Development, to support the ACEs Alliance and Faith Based Coffee programs, and to move Clark County Public Health further down the TI pathway.

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Trauma-Informed Schools Team

Meets from 1 to 3 pm on the second Thursday of each month at ESD 112, 2500 NE 65th St.

  • Next meeting: Nov. 14. Special Presentation by Dr. David Pitonyak on "Handling Difficult Behaviors"

  • Future meetings in 2020: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 12

  • At our last meeting: Tabby Stokes, prevention-interventionist with Vancouver Public Schools, shared how she addresses youth trauma as a prevention strategy. Haley Pickus, evaluation specialist at Clark County Public Health, led participants through a series of workshop activities aimed at informing an environmental scan for trauma-informed approaches and policies that will be presented to local schools and districts this spring.
For more information on the ACEs Action Alliance, resources, links to past newsletters, events and more, go to:
Photo by Laura Pascoe
Special Thanks!
To our planning teams members; to Adventist Community Church and Cascade Park Baptist Church for sharing their lovely meeting facilities and hospitality; to community partner, Thea Weber, for providing snacks and coffee at Vancouver Faith-Based Coffee; to Randy DeWater for providing snacks and Dutch Bros for proving coffee for Evergreen
Faith-Based Coffee.

Meets from 8:30 to 10:30 am on the third Wednesday of each month at Cascade Park Baptist Church, 1201 SE 136th Ave., Vancouver.
No meetings in June, July, August & December.
This year's theme: Growing Together.

  • Next meeting: Nov. 20. Topic: Katie Benzel will speak about the Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer program coordinated by the YWCA. CASA volunteers advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

  • No meeting in December.

  • The Celebration Breakfast will take place on Jan. 15, 2020 in place of the regular meeting. Invitations will be sent in December (reservation required).

  • Future meetings in 2020: Feb. 19, March 18, April 15, May 20

  • At our last meeting: Community partners discussed suicide prevention and crisis response. Speakers included: Adiba Ali, Clark County Public Health; Carl Smith-Knapp, Evergreen Public Schools; Sam Lewis, Beacon Health Services; Kris Henriksen, Teen Talk; Wendy Silverthorne, SMART program at ESD 112; Larisa Klein, Ranier Springs; and PeaceHealth Behavioral Health.

Meets from 9 to 11 am on the fourth Thursday of each month at
Adventist Community Church, 9711 NE St. Johns Road, Vancouver.
No meetings in June, July, August, November & December.

  • No meetings in November or December.

  • Celebration Breakfast on Jan. 13, 2020 will replace the regular meeting on Jan. 23. Invitations will be sent in December. RSVP is required.

  • Future meetings in 2020: Feb. 27, March 26, April 23 and May 22

  • At our last meeting: Nichole Peppers and Tanika Siscoe, both with the YWCA SafeChoice program, engaged attendees in an exercise to build compassion and understanding for victims of intimate partner violence. The workshop experience increased awareness of the roadblocks to services, the stress that gaps in connection can cause, and the difficulty of addressing multiple priorities without support.
Safe Kids Clark County Monthly Meeting

Meets from 1 0 - 11:30 am on the third Tuesday of each month at ESD 112, 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver

  • Next meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 19

  • Future meetings:, Dec. 17, Jan 21, Feb. 18, March 17, 2020
Car Seat Safety Class & Clinic  
Meets from 10 am - 2 pm on the third Saturday of each month at PeaceHealth Southwest Education Center, 400 NE Mother Joseph Place, Vancouver

  • Next class: Saturday, Nov. 16
  • More information here
Product Recalls
Safe Kids Worldwide lists product recalls each month. Please note: Product recalls never expire, so it’s important to check the recalls on a regular basis. This is especially important for hand-me-down or pre-owned children’s products. Used child car seats and bike helmets should never be re-used in case their integrity is compromised.

Announcements & Upcoming Events
WA Firearm Tragedy Prevention Network Fall/Winter Meeting - Nov. 4
The Washington Firearm Tragedy Prevention Network will hold its fall/winter meeting from 11 am - 4 pm on Nov. 6 at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver. Anyone with an interest in keeping communities safe, educated and informed about firearm tragedy prevention is welcome to register and attend. We encourage attendance by individuals, community organizations, businesses, government leaders, public health professionals, social services, law enforcement officers, first responders, educators, firearm advocates, parents, mental health and healthcare providers and community leaders. Learn more and register to attend by clicking HERE for the webinar.
Reserve your space at the Third Annual Hispanic Heritage Breakfast on Nov. 6
Celebrate the heritage of our community's hispanic residents. This event is sponsored by Southwest WA LULAC Council 47013 and Clark County Latino Youth Leadership to increase awareness and comeraderie. Guest speaker, Sir Antonio Sanchez, will discuss the history of Hispanics in Washington State. Reserve your space now!

Where We Live workshop
starts Nov. 18
YWCA Clark County has a bystander intervention skill-building workshop starting on Monday, Nov. 18. This workshop is part of their Sexual Assault Program and teaches by-standers how to safely intervene if they see a sexual assault incident. This four-week free workshop series is for adults. Space is limited. Registration is required.

To register or for more information, contact
De Stewart at 360.906.9151 or [email protected]

Warm-hearted volunteers needed
Share your warm heart with others by volunteering to help staff a Winter Hospitality Shelter. Warm hearts, warm families!

Volunteer mentors needed for
Camp Mariposa
Camp Mariposa is a free, weekend camp program for children ages 9-12 who are affected by the substance use disorder of a loved one.

Responsibilities include a one year commitment, ability to develop positive mentor relationships with youth, ensure camper safety and participate in all activities. Volunteers should enjoy working with kids aged 9-12, be comfortable staying in a camp setting and interacting with campers and staff, be a good communicator, be committed to the safety and well-being of the campers, be friendly, happy and have a good sense of humor.

Volunteers make a difference in these campers lives. Contact Trista Wolles, Program Supervisor, for more information at 360.605.7628 or [email protected]

Camp Mariposa is a program in Lifeline Connections.

Please share: Youth Substance Use Survey

Do you live in the following zip codes: 98661, 98662, 98664? The Central Vancouver Coalition wants to hear from YOU! We are asking community members to complete this survey to help us understand your thoughts and feelings surrounding youth substance use. Your feedback will help us to better serve youth and families in our community. This survey is anonymous, and your responses will be kept confidential. If you’re interested in learning more about the coalition, please join us at our monthly meeting on the 3 rd Thursday of the month at Fort Vancouver High School from 2:30–4:00 pm.
ONLINE SURVEY ENGLISH

ENCUESTA EN ESPAÑOL
ECEAP openings available

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program still has openings at:

  • Captain Strong in Battle Ground (5)
  • Hough ELC on Esther St. in downtown Vancouver (16)
  •  Lincoln on NW Daniels (13)
  • Park Crest in Evergreen District (10)

For more info, call the Enrollment Team at 360.952.3466 or go to https://www.esd112.org/ece/eceap/
R & R for grandma and grandpa

Children's Home Society is holding a respite event for grandparents raising grandchildren. Kids can enjoy a safe, fun day on:
  • Saturday, Dec. 7
  • 10:45 am to 5 pm
  • Jim Parsley Center, 2901 Falk Rd.
  • Includes swimming and lunch
  • Call Sandy to sign up at 360.334.5578
Mentors needed at Fort Vancouver High School

Trappers4Trappers Mentor Group at Fort Vancouver High School needs adult mentors, snacks and small prizes.
Time commitment: two Thursdays per month from 9:30 to 10:30 am.

Clark County survey of low-income community needs coming Nov. 1
Clark County Department of Community Services (DCS) will start their annual survey on Nov. 1. It will be available online in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chuukese. Data collected will inform DCS's funding prioritization for the coming years. Last time the survey was administered, approximately 10% of our county's low-income population participated. Let's see if we can help get a broader voice represented.

Link to survey:

For more information, click here or contact Rebecca Royce at 564.397.7863 or [email protected]
Become a CASA Volunteer!

For those interested in helping foster youth engaged in the judicial process due to abuse or neglect, learn more about the CASA program. Find out how you can use your heart and skills to support these children. The Clark County CASA program is holding information sessions in November and December at the YWCA, 3609 Main Street, Vancouver:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 pm
  • Thursday, Nov. 14 at 12 noon
  • Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 pm
  • Tuesday, Dec.10 at 12 noon

For more information, contact Katie Benzel at 360.909.9142 or [email protected]

Katie will talk about the CASA program and the children they serve at Evergreen Faith-Based Coffee on Nov. 20. Please see meeting details above.

Don't face brain injury alone

The Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Management Program is free to brain injury survivors and their families. Support Group meetings at 2 pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, Conf. Rm B.

ABCD Dental offers free dental resources for kids on Apple Health

The Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, for children birth to 5 years old, provides resources and an updated list of dentists who accept Apple Health. For information, brochures or a presentation about ABCD dental, please connect with Anna Cruz at 564.397.7371 or via email at  [email protected]
Become a Certified Peer Counselor or Recovery Coach

In collaboration with Washington State HCA, Xchange Recovery is offering two free and/or reduced-cost trainings to become certified peer counselors/recovery coaches. Click on the fliers below to download and print the registration information. Limited space available. Both trainings will be held at Xchange Recovery, 21810 NE 37th Ave., Ridgefield, WA.

  • Recovery Coach Academy Nov. 18-21
  • Certified Peer Counseling Bridge Training Dec. 3-5
News you can use
More Infant Sleep Products
Linked to Deaths

Do you know someone with an infant? More emphasis regarding safe sleep is being publicized to reduce the number of infant deaths from unsafe sleep practices. A recent Consumer Reports article reports on findings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that found additional infant sleep products linked to infant deaths. In addition to the inclined sleepers, their investigation identified the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Infant Sleeper, the SwaddleMe By Your Side and the DockATot. If you know someone who has an infant or babysits an infant, please make them aware of this information. Read the full story in Consumer Reports.
Links to new resources:
  • Tune in to the Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast and listen to episodes featuring Jim Sporleder, Claudia Roodt, and Ingrid Cockhren. The podcast was established out of the Trauma Informed Schools Network, a Facebook group with nearly 17,000 members from 100+ different countries. The network is designed to connect educators and practitioners around the world to share ideas, gain new ideas, and share resources! 
  • Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/mathew-portell-9323374
  • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/group...46206/?ref=bookmarks

  • A new UCLA study shows that black students face "accumulation of disadvantage. Read more here.


  • How do you help a child who struggles with anxiety? This NPR story shares six takeaways that parents, caregivers and teachers can add to their anxiety tool kits, including information on how anxiety works, how parents can spot it and how to know when it's time to get professional help.
About our coalitions and community groups
The ACEs Action Alliance is:
A multi-sector collaborative of public and private organizations and individuals. We raise awareness about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their long-term impact. We promote trauma-informed approaches and policies to support resilience and healing for people of all ages. All are welcome at monthly meetings.

The Trauma-Informed Schools Team is open to anyone who works in or with schools in Clark County. We meet monthly to explore tools, resources and applications of trauma-informed principles for schools.
Check the calendar at ACEsActionAlliance.org for current meeting information and other resources.
Faith-Based Coffee is:
A non-denominational bridge that joins faith partners, communities and local schools to share learning, meet the needs of children, families and neighborhoods, and address emergent needs that arise in our community. All are welcome. Members maintain the separation of church and state at meetings and when fulfilling needs by serving from the heart without promoting personal religious beliefs or engaging in religious recruitment.
Safe Kids Clark County is:
A member of  Safe Kids Worldwide , a grassroots network of more than 600 coalitions and chapters that work closely with law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, health professionals, educators, businesses, public policy makers, and, most importantly, parents and kids to promote safety. Priorities include proper car seat use, baby's safe sleep, reducing child vehicular injuries and deaths, and water safety. Local coordination provided by American Medical Response (AMR).

CHARG is:
A local forum for community members and health professionals to connect and collaborate in order to deliver appropriate services that meet the needs of the diverse populations of Clark County. At each of our bi-monthly forums, the Clark County Community Health Access Resource Group (CHARG) strives to illuminate and educate participants on a handful of themed topics relating to health access.


The Healthy Communities Newsletter is published the first week of each month.
To submit announcements or share information, please send complete information or attach a high resolution .jpg or .png file to [email protected] by the 20th of the month prior.
All submissions will be screened prior to publication.

If you would like to receive the Healthy Communities Newsletter, please email [email protected]