spotlight

BARNSTABLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WELCOMES HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) PROGRAM MANAGER CHARISE MADISON  

The HMIS Program Manager position is fully grant funded and leads the County’s Homeless Management Information System as a required activity of the Continuum of Care (CoC) grant program. HMIS is an information management system used to collect data on the provision of housing and services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.  Barnstable County serves as the Lead Entity for the administration of the Cape and Islands CoC HMIS. 

“We are thrilled to introduce Charise Madison, our new HMIS Program Manager,” said Director of the Department of Human Services, Joe Pacheco. “She comes to the team with over four years of experience working with those experiencing homelessness and utilizing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).” Charise is an advocate for mental health awareness and veteran's services. She's already eager to dive into local initiatives and lend her skills to meaningful projects that benefit the community. 

BARNSTABLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WELCOMES YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT COORDINATED ENTRY SPECIALIST (YYA CES) MARINA TONIAL   

The Youth & Young Adult Coordinated Entry Specialist position is fully grant funded and assists Barnstable County Department of Human Services (BCDHS) in coordinating regional YYA homelessness strategies ensuring that the CE system is a centralized process that will effectively coordinate program participant intake assessment and referrals.  

"It is with great excitement that we welcome Marina Tonial to the BCDHS team as the Youth & Young Adult Coordinated Entry Specialist," said Deputy Director Mandi Speakman. She joins BCDHS with a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research focused on the impact of residential insecurity and mobility on mental health outcomes among adolescents in the US. Bringing diverse experiences from higher education and the nonprofit sector, Marina is committed to ensuring equitable access to resources and support for youth and young adults throughout the County. 

aging well & healthy living

BETTER BALANCE THROUGH GROUNDING AND BODY AWARENESS

Join Carol Marcy, MA in Dance/Movement Therapy for a FREE 4-week series on improving your balance!

This program offers both exercises and meditations geared towards improving balance through developing the ability to become grounded through increased mindfulness and awareness about one's body, resulting in increased confidence in walking and moving.

DETAILS:

Location: Brewster Council on Aging, 1673 Main St., Brewster

Date: Mondays, July 15th – August 5th

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

To Register: Please call the COA at (508) 896-2737

REVIEW THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON LGBTQ+ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY'S CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH!

In celebration of Pride Month, June 2024, we partnered with the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) on a Pride Month Podcast Series bringing you four unique episodes of their Prevention Perk podcast on health disparities and gender affirming care. Prevention Perk is hosted by Steve Miller, CRPS, Project Director of the Mid-Atlantic PTTC.

We hope this learning modality is a breath of fresh air among a world of webinars. We encourage listeners to use this resource as a way to work away from the desk. Listen to these conversations while enjoying a good view, going on a walk, or any other way you are enjoying the summer weather and pride month. 

Happy listening!

Episode 1: Why Focus on LGBTQ+ People? 

Episode 2: Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults & Understanding Historical Trauma 

Episode 3: We have to Support Families of LGBTQ+ People 

Episode 4: What is Gender Affirming Care? 

CHAIR YOGA

Join Marty Zurn, Kripalu RYT 500 for two, four-week chair yoga sessions!

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.

Location: Brewster Council on Aging, 1673 Main Street, Brewster

Date and Time: Thursdays, 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, July 11–August 1, August 8–August 29

Additional Details: $35/session. Advanced registration required. For more information and to sign up, please call Marty at (508) 326-4224 or email martyzurn@comcast.net.

behavioral health

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS (AAP) SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ECHO: STRATEGIES FOR PROFESSIONALS

If you are a professional who works with youth including youth & community service organizations, pediatric health care professionals, technology industry leaders, policymakers, and other collaborators, join the AAP Social Media and Youth Mental Health ECHO: Strategies for Professionals! 

This ECHO (which stands for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) takes place throughout July and August will provide professionals with an opportunity to ask questions, share best practices, problem-solve, and learn from a multidisciplinary faculty team. Topics include Social Media 101, problematic internet use, digital literacy, and more!

SHINE

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY CERTIFIED SHINE VOLUNTEERS!

The Cape Cod & Islands SHINE Program just graduated the largest class ever this spring. A SHINE Counselor is a volunteer who is trained and certified by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in the various options available to Medicare beneficiaries: Parts A, B, and D, Medicare Advantage, supplements/Medigaps. Counselors are also trained in public assistance programs: Prescription Advantage, MassHealth, Extra Help. These individuals attended 40 hours of training and passed an 80-question exam. 

Welcome to the Team!

Doreen Anderson  

Elmer Bartek  

Lori Benjamin 

Kathleen Beriau  

Steve Bodell 

Christine Bosco 

Shawney Carroll  

Rose Cogliano 

Ralph Ferrigno  

Guy Gottschalk 

Rick Hamilton 

Sheri Hunt  

Beth Joseph  

Cheryl Leahy  

Cheryl Leahy  

Deb Maguire 

Cynthia Maritato-Schick  

Linda O’Brien 

Rachel Perry 

Stephanie Prior  

Greg Quilty  

Ann Raymond 

Carol Sadlowski  

Wendy Saunders  

Gayle Simundza 

Victoria Sopivnic  

Teri St. Pierre  

Kevin Voegeli  

SHINE HELPS MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WITH SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS

In 2023, the Massachusetts State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known as the SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) program helped 2,610 Medicare Beneficiaries across the Commonwealth save $8,779,319.94 by comparing and enrolling beneficiaries into Medicare Part D prescription insurance plans.  

Every year, Medicare plans change the monthly premium amount, the annual deductible amount (if applicable), the medications covered, the cost of the medications, and the rules about accessing the medications. It is important to shop and compare plans to ensure the best cost and coverage for the medications you need. 

An example of cost savings:  

A beneficiary had an insulin that was no longer being covered on their plan: 

*Lantus is no longer covered on their original plan. The SHINE counselor found a plan that covered it. Their original plan was going to cost them a total of $671,419.85 for the year, and the new plan that the SHINE counselor found, will cost the beneficiary $973.90 for the year!! 

Another example: 

A Medicare beneficiary was going to be paying close to $100 per month for their monthly premium, and approximately $1,455.12 for the year between the monthly premium and their prescription drug costs. 

A SHINE counselor met with the beneficiary and found a plan with significantly lower monthly premium and their approximate total for their year (total premium and prescription drug costs), will now be $124.32! That is a $1,330.80 savings to the Medicare Beneficiary!!  

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services administers the regional office for the Cape and Islands SHINE Program (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone).  To learn how to compare Medicare plans or for help making the comparison, contact us at (508) 375-6762 for an appointment in-person or by phone. 

scams & fraud

SCAM OF THE WEEK: BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR THESE FAKE CALLS

In this week’s scam, cybercriminals are impersonating U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. The scammers call you and claim that CBP has intercepted drugs or money shipments that are addressed to you. They insist that you must confirm personal details to help them resolve the case. If you refuse to cooperate, the scammers threaten to send police to arrest you.  

To seem more credible, the scammers may provide actual CBP employee names and numbers that they find online, as well as fake case and badge numbers. In some cases, there is a recorded message that says to press a number to speak to a "CBP officer" about an intercepted shipment. The real CBP stresses that these calls are complete scams and that the agency never requests money or personal information like Social Security numbers over the phone.  

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a Border Patrol phone scam: 

• The CBP will not call you to request money or financial information. If you receive a call asking you to share personal information, it’s best to hang up and contact the government agency directly at a verified number. 
• This particular phone scam impersonates the CBP, but remember that scammers could call you and impersonate any government entity. 
• Scammers rely on scaring you into making an impulsive decision. If you receive an unexpected phone call urging you to take action, be extra cautious. It could be a scam.

PAUSE AND REFLECT: PAYMENT SCAMS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS

We invite you to explore the articles, tips, and video assets and links below to learn how older adults can identify scams and protect themselves, and ways that you can help. If you like these resources, share them. We’ve even provided sample social media messaging to help you get the word out to your community.

upcoming community events

SAVE THE DATE: REAL TALK

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, October 10th

Behavioral Health Innovators (BHI) and The Quell Foundation present "Lift the Mask" documentary and interviews on mental and behavioral health for our Cape Cod youth.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend: students, school staff, parents, grandparents, and everyone interested in our youth. We want to hear your voices!

TICK TALK: LEARN HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF, YOUR YARD, AND YOUR PETS SAFE

Ticks and the diseases they carry make spring and summer on Cape Cod considerably less fun. Learn what you can do to keep yourself safe. This program will tell you how you can protect yourself, your yard, and your pet. Tick-borne diseases are preventable! Attendees will receive a FREE high-quality tick-remover tool that fits in your wallet.

DETAILS

Location: Harwich Council on Aging, 100 Oak Street, Harwich

Date: Friday, July 12th

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration requested: call (508) 430-7550 x2 or email jen.andersen@harwich-ma.gov to sign up!

CAPE ORGANIZATION FOR RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED (CORD) TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD PROGRAMMING

Driving to Success

Do you have or know a teenager on an IEP or who has a disability looking to ace their Learner’s Permit exam? Call CORD now to sign up for their free Driving to Success Permit Test Preparation Course starting on August 2nd. The course will run every Monday and Friday in August. This course will help prepare future drivers with disabilities to pass their learner’s permit exam. Some topics covered include road safety, road signs and signals, tips and tricks for passing the exam, and so much more. If you’d like to learn more about CORD’s Driving to Success course, give Marissa a call at (508) 775-8300. Please note all classes are scent free. Please RSVP or ask for communication access by July 22, 2024. 

Parent Support Group

Do you have a high school student on an IEP or who has a disability? Are you worried about what comes next after high school? Do you want to meet other parents and guardians with similar concerns? Join CORD’s parent support group to get information and to share tips on navigating this time in your child’s life. The support group will be held every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Attend in person at CORD, 765 Attucks Lane in Hyannis or join us online – we’ll send you the link. Call (508) 775-8300 or email marissa@cilcapecod.org to RSVP or to request communication access. Please note that CORD is a scent-free office. Please refrain from wearing scented products.

Transition Workshop

Do you have a middle school student who has an IEP or a disability? Are they entering high school this fall? This is a critical transition point in their lives. Come join CORD on August 28th from 5:30 PM – 8:15 PM at CORD’s office in Hyannis and learn what to expect during the high school years. Listen to educational advocates talk about what changes when your middle schooler becomes a high schooler. Hear from other speakers on high school life and learn how CORD can help you and your child – for free! There will be crafts available for the kids along with pizza. Call Marissa at (508) 775-8300 to RSVP. Request communication access by August 21st. CORD is a scent free office. Please refrain from wearing scented products.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR STORMS AND OTHER CLIMATE EMERGENCIES

Join Chip Reilly, Emergency Preparedness Director for Barnstable County, for a discussion on best practices for preparing for storms and floods just in time for hurricane season. In this workshop, you will learn how to build an emergency kit, safety tips for sheltering in place, emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities, and how to support your family and neighbors before, during, and after a storm. Free and open to the public; refreshments will be served.

DETAILS

Location: West Dennis Library, 260 Main St., West Dennis

Date: Friday, August 16th

Time: 1:00 PM

food & community resources

SUMMER EATS

FOR ALL KIDS & TEENS 18 AND UNDER NO I.D. OR SIGN-UP NEEDED!

Food 4 Kids is supporting communities on the Lower and Outer Cape for its 12th summer in the MA Summer EATS Program.

Each weekday for 9 weeks this summer, F4K will serve 450 – 550+ kids breakfasts, lunches, and/or snacks. We serve them right where children are – community-sponsored summer programs in all 8 towns from Harwich to Provincetown.

All meals are provided free to ALL kids and teens regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL CAPE COD

Nutrition educators have assisted in coordination of Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod with the mission of connecting people and businesses on the Cape with locally grown farm and sea products. Through Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, resources are created to assist individuals and families in purchasing, cooking, and storing fresh foods.

CAPE COD FOOD ACCESS GUIDE SUMMER 2024

FARMER'S MARKET COUPONS COMING SOON

Beginning Monday, July 8, Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc. will once again be distributing coupons for individuals who are 60 years of age or older and low income (i.e., individuals who qualify for programs such as Food Stamps, Mass Health, fuel assistance) for the purchase of produce at local Farmer’s Markets in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties.

A Federal Grant from the Department of Agriculture provides these coupons which are now worth $50.00. There are a limited number of coupons available, and these will be distributed on a first come first serve basis at selected Elder Services Senior Nutrition sites (click the button below for more information).

Service Directory Opportunity

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.

Newsletter Sign-up & Submit

Yes! I'd like to received the Human Services e-newsletter. When you click 'sign me up!' you will have a choice to receive both the Human Services and/or RSAC e-news delivered directly to your inbox.

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.