Your Local Nonprofit News

We are thrilled to host Rebecca H. Woodland, Ph.D., Professor of Organizational Development and Leadership, Director of the Program Evaluation Certificate Program, and Co-Director of the Center for Education Policy in the College of Education at UMASS Amherst.

In this presentation, Dr. Woodland will offer a concise overview of the core purposes, principles and practices of high quality, useful, and feasible program evaluation. Those in attendance will consider what types of evaluation are at work (or not) in their own agencies, and be offered resources for strengthening evaluation capacity within and between COSA affiliated organizations so as to more effectively deliver social services in our region.

There is no preparation necessary, but you may want to peruse the website of the American Evaluation Association and read The American Journal of Evaluation article and/or the Practical Assessment article in advance of the meeting.

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COSA Provider's Fair!

is May 30

Have You Registered?

It is time to register your organization for a table at the COSA Provider's Fair. Please spread the word at each of your agencies so that as many staff as possible can come and take advantage of this great opportunity to learn and network.

Here are a few helpful details about the event:

Location: WWII Club, 50 Conz St. in Northampton

Parking: Plenty of parking on both sides of the building!

Tables: Registrants will have a 4' table and 2 chairs reserved.

Time: 9:00 to 10:30am, our regular COSA Meeting time

Set-Up: 8:15 and 8:45. Ideally you should be ready by 8:50am.

Food: Coffee and bagels will be provided as usual.

Fee: Free for members. Non-Members $35 which can be applied to a membership after.

If you have any questions or concerns,

please email Colleen at [email protected]

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An Opportunity to be

Certified to Teach

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Instructors train people in their communities in YMHFA from a national curriculum. This expedited instructor training is being offered locally July 9-11 at a significantly reduced price. The fee of $2,000 will be reduced to $200* per participant thanks to funding support from a SAMHSA grant. You must be able to attend all three days.

Once certified, instructors must teach the course at least three times per year to maintain their certification with the National Council of Behavioral Health. Please only apply if you feel you can meet this commitment.

If you are interested, email [email protected] for an application form. Applications are due May 1st.

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Youth/Young Adults

Needs Assessment

Survey

Community Action is undertaking a community needs assessment for youth/young adults who are at-risk for, or experiencing, homelessness in the Three County region. We need your help to get a full sense of the issues and experiences of young people in order to work toward creating a system that better meets their needs.

We would like to get as much input as possible, both geographically and with service type, and regardless if you focus on working with youth/young adults, so please consider participating. The survey link is below. It will only be open for two weeks, so we would appreciate everyone taking a few minutes in the next day or so to complete this.

Start Survey

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Cancer Connection

Western Mass Mother's Day Half Marathon

Mother's Day Sunday, May 12

Race Registration is now open!

USA Track and Field sanctioned open class race. Run for your mom, in honor or memory of a mom, or just because you are a mom or had a mom! For additional information, visit the official race website

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If I Had a Hammer: The Nields Celebrate Pete Seeger's 100th Birthday
a Benefit for Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity's

Interfaith Build

Join The Nields and special guests on Friday 3 May at 7 pm at First Churches in Northampton for a community sing-along to benefit an organization that relies on community volunteers to build affordable homes for families with low incomes. What better way to mark the 100th birthday of the man who was quoted as saying, "Participation... that's what's gonna save the human race!" Opening the show will be Northampton area youth groups Local Chorus and Focus Chorus.

Proceeds from If I Had a Hammer will go toward Habitat for Humanity and the local interfaith effort to help build a modular home for and with a mother and her two daughters. Over a dozen local faith congregations have contributed volunteer hours, materials and funds toward the building of the modular home on Glendale Rd., and the hope is that with the concert the group will reach its $30,000 fundraising goal.

May 3, 7-9 pm, $10 entry

First Churches of Northampton

129 Main St

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Big Brothers Big Sisters

9th Annual Daffodil Run/Walk!

The 9th Annual Daffodil Run is a festive springtime event to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, taking place on Sunday, April 28th, 2019. This festive, family-friendly event draws over 1,000 people to Kendrick Park in downtown Amherst to participate in the 5K run/walk or 10K run!

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30th Anniversary

Feast For Habitat!

Join Pioneer Valley Habitat and our co-hosts rk Miles for the annual FEAST for Habitat, a fun after-work party to be held this year at rk Miles from 6:30pm - 9:00pm on Tuesday May 7th. This year will be a special celebration of our 30 th anniversary as a Habitat affiliate!

For the $45 ticket price, party goers will feast on delicious food, enjoy a beverage, meet new people, hear some jazz provided by local musicians, and find some hidden gems at the fabulous silent auction table.

Come join us to celebrate 30 years of good work being done by so many including our volunteers, building and housing community, and building supply donors.

Limited tickets will be available at the door. Online ticket purchases available until May 5th or mail your check for $45 per person payable to "Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity" to PO Box 60642 Florence, MA 01062.

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Sharpen Your Kitchen Knives and Benefit the Cancer Connection

If your kitchen knives are dull (which often is the reason for finger cuts) then take them to The Bakers Pin in the Talbot strip mall in Northampton. They are sharpening knives and the proceeds go to the Cancer Connection all this month. $ 3 for paring knives and $ 5 for larger chef's knives. Makes a big difference, you will be glad you did!

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CORRECTION

Domestic Violence: A View from the Bench Judges Panel

Come meet judges in your community and be part of a discussion on risk assessment and lethality in domestic violence cases.

May 23, 3 to 4:30 PM

Old Superior Courtroom, Hampshire County Courthouse

15 Gothic St., Northampton

To register, or submit a question, email Mary A Kociela

This is a corrected email address

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Valley CDC

May First-Time Homebuyer Series

Valley CDC and Freedom Credit Union are sponsoring the May First-Time Homebuyers Series on May 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Classes take place at the Easthampton Municipal Building

50 Payson Ave, Easthampton. 6 - 9 PM

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Cooley Dickinson Hospital's New

Community Benefits Advisory Council

Please join on us April 30th at 4:30pm in the Dakin Conference Room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital as we kick off our new community benefits advisory council (CBAC).

The purpose of the CBAC is to advise our Board of Trustees, through our Healthy Communities Committee, on community health needs and priorities. Specifically, to review needs and strengths determined through the community health needs assessment process and recommend action steps as part of our 3 year implementation plan.

Non-profit hospitals are required by the Affordable Care Act to demonstrate community benefit through the health assessment and implementation plan. Additionally, the Mass. Attorney General has released updated guidelines that recommend creation of a community benefit advisory council, see attached.

We are planning a second meeting on June 20th to release draft community health assessment results.

The CBAC will be an ongoing Council with a projected 2 meetings per year. This serves as a great opportunity to network with other local health care agencies and professionals.

If you are unable to attend, please consider asking someone from your agency or program to represent you. RSVP Here

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HSF Upcoming Events

Nonprofit Finance, Risk Management, &
Benefit Strategy

May 2, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Delaney House

This workshop will instill the tools needed to understand the financial components of management and clearly and confidently communicate financial information to others in the workplace. New supervisors will learn a basic understanding of accounting and budgeting process and explore the importance of assessing and managing different types of risks that impact supervisors and their organizations. Gain insights on how to mitigate and reduce risks in programs to ensure an effective and efficient delivery of services to clients.

Paid Family Medical Leave April 30, 9 am - 12 pm

In 2018, Massachusetts signed into law a statute that provides paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits to workers. Join HSF and Skoler, Abbott, & Presser Attorney Tim Murphy to learn more about what effects PFML will have on your organization. This training includes a facilitated roundtable discussion. REGISTER

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GCC Health Career Job Training in Pioneer Valley

Thanks to a recent Skills Capital Grant award from the Commonwealth, Greenfield Community College will soon be increasing its capacity and upgrading its Medical Assistant Certificate (MAC) Program by offering additional training at its existing satellite location on the campus of Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School in Northampton, MA.

The expansion of GCC's MAC program will provide greater access to technical education and training in Franklin and Hampshire counties to attract recent high school graduates, incumbent workers looking to gain new skills, and displaced workers training for new careers in health care.

GCC's one-year certificate program provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of medical assisting and includes hands-on learning with a practicum in a local health care setting. The MAC Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs.

Click here for more information about the Medical Assistant Certificate Program

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