| |  | Barnstable County Department of Human Services monthly E-newsletter is the 'clearinghouse' for human services on Cape Cod providing news to human service organizations, elected officials and residents on training, funding opportunities, events and more. Visit our website for information on all BCDHS initiatives. | | Aging Well & Living Healthy | | | | | | Upcoming Community Events | | | | | Food & Community Resources | | BARNSTABLE COUNTY TO HOST OPEN HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH | | |
Barnstable County invites the public to attend the 2025 Barnstable County Open House on Wednesday, September 10, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Barnstable County Complex, located at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable Village.
With the theme “One County. Fifteen Towns. Shared Solutions.”, this free event gives residents
an opportunity to discover how regional government works across Cape Cod and meet the
people behind the services that support all 15 towns.
From health screenings and fire safety training to department displays, historical insights, and
light refreshments, the Open House is designed to promote transparency, encourage public
connection, and highlight the important work being done every day by Barnstable County staff
and programs.
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SUICIDE AWARENESS IN SEPTEMBER 2025 | |
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness, promote hope, and normalize help-seeking. Suicide affects millions of people every year, yet too many struggle in silence. Whether you’re facing challenges, supporting a friend or loved one, or are looking to help, your voice matters. This month is dedicated to recognizing the warning signs for suicide, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and connecting people to proven treatment and resources. When we stand together in strength, dignity, hope, and purpose, we can make a difference—we can help save lives. Learn more on SAMHSA's Website >>>
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National Suicide Prevention Week
September 8-14 marks National Suicide Prevention Week, an annual campaign to educate the general public about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide. Access suicide prevention tools and resources from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing >>>
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988 Day
Mark your calendars: September 8th (9/8) is 988 Day. Join us in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and making compassionate care accessible to anyone in need. You can help by promoting resources, using the #988Day hashtag, toolkit, and encouraging open conversations.
988 Day is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and emphasizing the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. The theme for 988 Day 2025 is Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere. Learn more about 988 day >>>
| | aging well & healthy living | | SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SENIOR CENTER MONTH | | |
The first senior center was introduced in New York City in 1943 to provide social activities, nutritious meals, and case management to adults age 60 and older, particularly those with low incomes. More than 80 years later, senior centers are one of the most widely used services by older adults in the community. More than 10,000 centers support millions of older adults from all walks of life as they continue to thrive in their communities.
Today’s senior centers are connecting older adults with meaningful work and volunteer opportunities and increasing their access to valuable benefits and resources. Through evidence-based programs, older adults are managing their health and finances, so they can continue to live independently in their own homes as long as possible. And they are doing this in a highly social setting. Senior centers power connections, and they are evolving to reflect a new view of aging that empowers the people they serve.
This Senior Center Month we explore 'Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script
The 2025 theme, Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script, invites us to challenge outdated perceptions of aging and senior centers. It celebrates the dynamic role that centers play in fostering creativity, connection, purpose, and resilience in later life.
More than 10,000 senior centers across the country are leading this charge—flipping the script on aging by creating inclusive, engaging spaces where older adults thrive. From their beginnings in the 1940s to their recognition in the Older Americans Act in 1973 to today, senior centers have continually evolved to meet the changing needs of older adults and their communities. Learn more at the National Council on Aging >>>
| | FALMOUTH SENIOR CENTER OPEN HOUSE | | The Falmouth Senior Center is having an Open House on Monday, September 15, 2025 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. We invite residents, families and caregivers to attend. Come and learn about all the amazing programs, services and activities we have to offer. Meet with Senior Center staff, Board members, local, municipal and state representatives. All are welcome to attend! | | BREWSTER COUNCIL ON AGING: SEPTEMBER PROGRAMMING | | |
Join Marty Zurn, Kripalu RYT 500
Tuesdays, 4-week series: $35
September 2nd – September 23rd
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thursdays, 4-week series: $35
September 4th – September 25th
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Looking to stretch, strengthen, and restore balance in your body? Chair yoga is an adaptive yoga practice that allows you to stay seated while practicing yoga focused poses. It can be practiced by anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of yoga and may (or may not) have mobility limitations. Chair yoga is an accessible, inclusive way for yogis to experience the benefits of yoga, without stressing joints, worrying about balance, or supporting body weight.
Advanced registration required!
For more information and to sign up, please call Marty at (508) 326-4224 or martyzurn@comcast.net
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LGBTQ+ SENIOR MEETUP GROUP | BARNSTABLE LGBTQ+ SENIOR MEETING GROUP | |
This is an informal meet up for conversation and community. Very informal, no food or drink, no registration. Just drop in!
Where? Barnstable Adult Community Center, 825 Falmouth Road, Hyannis 02601
Phone Number: (508) 862-4750
Day: Second Friday of every month!
Time: 10:30 AM
| FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS: DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF OLDER ADULT FALLS | |
Most falls can be prevented—and you have the power to reduce your risk.
Exercising, managing your medications, having your vision checked, and making your living environment safer are all steps you can take to prevent a fall.
To promote greater awareness and understanding here are 10 common myths—and the reality—about older adult falls.
| | CRISIS LINES FOR LGBTQ+ POPULATIONS | | When members of the LGBTQ+ community seek crisis support, safety, consent, and affirmation are essential. This reference sheet is a curated guide to crisis hotlines that do not contact emergency services without the caller’s consent, providing a more respectful and empowering support experience. This resource highlights national crisis lines that prioritize confidentiality, cultural competence, and peer support for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and other marginalized individuals. It includes information on hours of availability, the focus of each line, and the communities they serve. | | CREATING HOPE THROUGH ACTION: CHANGING THE NARRATIVE ON SUICIDE SUMMIT | | Join us on Friday, September 12th at Cape Cod Community College for the Creating Hope Through Action, Changing the Narrative on Suicide Summit. This day will feature Rory O'Connor, world authority of the psychology of suicide and suicide prevention, Co-leads from the National ERPO Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, Sarah Lipson from Boston University and others. It will be a day filled with best practices, insights and inspiration to create hope through action and change the narrative on suicide. | |
Friday, September 12, 2025, 8:30 am TO 5:00 pm | Cost: $55.00
The Summit presents a unique opportunity to bring the community together to create hope through action by sharing best practice and innovation in suicide prevention. This Summit brings together advocates and professionals and those with lived experience to help foster community connections and partnerships to raise awareness, promote education and increase action to reduce suicides. Learn more/register >>>
| BARNSTABLE COUNTY HOME PROGRAM | | Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) For Program Year 2024 | | |
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING, DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY and COMMENT PERIOD
The Barnstable County HOME Consortium has completed its Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Program Year 2024 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). The HOME Consortium was awarded $404,489.63 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out the goals and objectives set forth in the HOME Program’s 2020–2024 Consolidated Plan and 2024 Annual Action Plan. An in-person public meeting on the 2024 CAPER will be held on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at:
Barnstable County Complex
Innovation Conference Room
3195 Main Street
Barnstable, MA 02630
Map of Barnstable County Complex
Comments on the 2024 CAPER may be sent to the Barnstable County Department of Human Services, HOME Program, P.O. Box 427, Barnstable, MA 02630 or by email to: homeprogram@capecod.gov. Comments will be accepted through September 19, 2025 and will be summarized in the final CAPER submitted to HUD.
| | EOHLC HOSTING MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS TO SUPPORT ADUs | | |
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is offering office hours to help municipal planners understand the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) law and regulations, that became effective on February 2, 2025. Communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly may be interested in encouraging local and regional planning partners to attend.
The office hours are once a month (since June) on every second Wednesday, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Registration for any of the office hours is required.
Upcoming Office Hour Dates:
September 10, October 8, and November 12.
To learn more about the office hours, the office hour dates, and to register, please click the button below.
| | SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS TIPS | | Severe weather can happen anytime, in any part of the country. Severe weather can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and flash flooding. Are you ready? Click the button below and visit: www.ready.gov to learn more. | |
MASSHEALTH BLUE ENVELOPES | |
MassHealth members need to renew their coverage annually to maintain their benefits. MassHealth will check for eligibility at least once a year, which is called the annual
renewal or annual redetermination. MassHealth may also request updated information between these annual renewals.
There seems to be an increase in the number of blue envelopes going out to MassHealth and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) members. These envelopes contain either the 40+ page SACA (MH application for a person 65 years or older, or a person of any age in need of long-term care services) or the one-page MSP application.
SHINE counselors are not trained to complete a SACA. Although, some of our more experienced folks will try and help you. SHINE counselors can assist with an MSP application.
If you need assistance with the SACA in Barnstable County, please click the button below for a list of locations.
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In this scam, you receive an unexpected text message that looks like it’s from Amazon. The message claims that an item you bought failed a “routine quality inspection” or has been recalled. The text offers you a full refund, and you don’t even need to return the item. You only have to tap a link in the text message to get your money back.
However, the refund offer is a trick, and the message is not actually from Amazon. This message is a text phishing scam that was sent to you by cybercriminals, also known as smishing. If you tap the link in the message, you will be directed to a fake website that looks exactly like Amazon's official site. This site will ask you to enter your account login information, payment details, and other personal data. If you enter any information here, the cybercriminals can steal your Amazon account and money!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a smishing scam:
- Never tap links in an unexpected text message. If you need to contact Amazon regarding a purchase, always navigate to their official website and use the contact information listed there.
- Be cautious of any offer that promises a full refund without requiring you to return the item. Scammers use these “too good to be true” offers to make you act quickly without thinking.
- Report suspicious texts using your phone’s “report junk” option, then delete the message.
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In this scam, cybercriminals are using Google Workspace's Gemini AI tool to try to trick you in an unusual way. You receive an email that appears ordinary, and it doesn’t have any suspicious links or attachments. But if you ask Gemini to summarize it, the results seem alarming. Gemini’s summary of the email shows you urgent warnings about your password being compromised, along with a support number for you to call so that you can resolve the problem. However, this warning from Gemini is completely false!
Cybercriminals have hidden invisible text in the email. This text contains false information about your account being compromised, and it includes a fake support phone number for you to call. You can't see this hidden text, but Gemini can, and the AI tool uses this text when creating the summary. The result looks like a real security alert from Google. If you call the number provided, your call will be answered by a cybercriminal who will try to trick you into giving them your account’s login information!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this AI-powered scam:
- Don't trust urgent security alerts that show up in an AI-generated summary. Real Google security alerts won't appear in a Gemini summary.
- Never call phone numbers that appear in an email or an AI summary, especially if the request seems urgent or unexpected.
- Remember that AI tools like Gemini can be manipulated. If a summary shows urgent warnings or asks you to do something that wasn't clearly in the original email, it's probably a scam!
| | upcoming community events | | WE THRIVE LGBTQ+ AND ALLY CENTER OF CAPE COD | | |
We Thrive began in 1996 by the name CIGSYA (Cape and Islands Gay and Straight Youth Alliance). It is a center where people 22 and under can enjoy meetings, drop in times, field trips, special events, and more where there is camaraderie and support in a peer led, adult advised environment, free from judgment based on inherent differences.
We stand strongly on the belief that making our community safer, more respectful and less judgmental begins by bringing a broad diversity of young people together in an environment where everyone's dignity is appreciated. Young people through this model learn about each other and realize that people are really not very different at all. Through this experience they become more open minded, well rounded, and accepting of others. Youth who in turn are appreciated rather than harassed, achieve higher levels of self esteem and live happier and healthier lives.
We Thrive has weekly programming on Mondays 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM for ages 22 and under and resources for all ages. Check our website: WeThrive.us and social media for calendar and updates. Facebook: WeThriveLGBTQCenterCapeCod and Instagram: WeThrive_cigsya
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION | |
The Cape Cod Commission, in partnership with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA), has launched a two-year Transit Needs Assessment to better understand how public transportation is working—and how it can be improved—for the people who depend on it every day.
Whether you're a year-round resident, a seasonal visitor, or a commuter crossing the canal bridges, your voice matters. This study will evaluate current transit services, identify gaps, and develop strategies to make public transportation safer, more accessible, and more effective for everyone on Cape Cod.
| TOWN OF YARMOUTH SEPTEMBER AWARENESS MONTH | |
The Yarmouth Health Department is excited to launch a new monthly “Awareness” series, beginning this September with a focus on Childhood Obesity Awareness. We have several fun and educational events planned to engage families and promote healthy habits:
1. Drawing Contest – Promoting Healthy Habits
Encourage kids to show what healthy living means to them through art!
Prizes:
🥇 1st Place: $50.00 Shaw’s gift card
🥈 2nd Place: $25.00 Shaw's gift card
🥉 3rd Place: $15.00 Shaw's gift card
2. Healthy Snack Bag Giveaway – Monday, September 23
Location: Town Hall
In collaboration with the Cape Cod Community Pantry, we’ll be giving away free healthy snack bags to families. Educational handouts promoting healthier food choices will also be available.
How You Can Help:
Please help us share this information with families.
We’ve attached a coloring flyer for the drawing contest. We’d be happy to drop off physical copies once school starts in September.
If families are unable to return entries themselves, we’re happy to pick them up near the end of the month.
3. Contest Winner Recognition – October 6
Winners will be announced at the October 6th Board of Health meeting. We’d love for families to attend so we can present prizes in person and capture a photo for online sharing!
Looking Ahead:
Our future monthly awareness topics include:
- October: Breast Cancer Awareness
- November: Diabetes Awareness
- December: “Angel Tree” – Community gift donations for local children
Thank you for your support in helping us build a healthier community!
| | HIRING: PART-TIME LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST – PASS PROGRAM | | |
Behavioral Health Innovators, Inc., is seeking a Licensed Mental Health Therapist to support the Cape Cod PASS Program — an innovative, school-based behavioral health intervention designed to support students facing in-school or out-of-school suspension for non-violent offenses as well as supporting any middle or high school student identified with mental health or substance use concerns.
This therapist will lead clinical assessments, referrals, and counseling sessions while helping students build coping skills and reintegrate into school communities. The role is ideal for a trauma-informed, collaborative clinician who is passionate about supporting adolescent mental health and reducing barriers to care.
| | food and community resources | | Service Directory Opportunity | | Are You Represented on our Network of Care (NOC) Service Directory? | |
The Barnstable County Department of Human Services’ Network of Care SERVICE DIRECTORY website, is a robust local health and human services directory with resources for individuals, families, and agencies on Cape Cod with public health questions and concerns.
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| Newsletter Sign-up & Submit | | |
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Submissions will only be accepted using our online submission form. Attachments must be in .PDF FORMAT ONLY please. Posting of articles submitted for this publication is at the discretion of the Department.
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