It is hard to believe that summer is more than half over. Things have been busy at PCW and I hope to give a recap in the Fall newsletter. In the meantime, please spend a bit of time thinking about nominating a person (or persons) plus a business. Last year Jane Stetson received the Ambassador Award and Hypertherm the Business award. See a description of the awards below:
The nominations deadline is September 6. The PCW Executive Committee will vote, and awards will be presented at the November 10th PCW Annual Meeting.
The PCW Alfred L. Griggs’ Ambassador Award winners believe in their community’s ability to sustain a healthy population. They have made a commitment to be a part of Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s global health solution by promoting wellness at every level of their community. They give their time, talents, philanthropic support, or any combination thereof, in support of this endeavor. As innovative thinkers, they understand the need to prioritize health and wellness in their towns and cities. They imagine a future where a healthy population is not just the dream of a few, but an achievable goal for all. Click here to submit your nomination for the Ambassador Award
The PCW Business Leadership Award winners have made the health and wellness of their employees, customers, and communities a priority. They lead the way in recognizing that employers have a vital role to play in encouraging health and wellness in their own communities. Their leaders are vocal in their support of healthy communities and their actions prove their earnestness. They are helping to develop a needed civic mandate to make health and wellness a priority throughout our communities. Click here to submit your nomination for the Business Leadership Award
Introducing: Tipping Points Grant Program
A Tipping Point is the point at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a larger, more important, change.
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition 2011 Houghton Mifflin
A Message from the Director
Dear PCW members,
We’ve all been there. From time to time we all hit bumps in the road while navigating the path of life. Quite often, those bumps can seem insurmountable when you are just barely making ends meet and there is no cushion and no safety net.
When resources and funds are scarce for folks in our communities, they can wind up on a path to homelessness and despair instead of financial stability and success. There is a need for individuals in our communities to gain access to financial and social stability and to have access to mentorship support so they can get back on their feet and on a path forward to stability and growth.
I know you’ll be proud to learn that your PCW leadership team along with the leadership at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and our 4 partner agencies: Upper Valley Haven, Easter Seals, Families in Transition and River Valley Community College have partnered on a program to help individuals when they reach a Tipping Point in their lives.
Through the Tipping Point Grant program, grantees will receive $1,000.00 to help them reach their potential and their goals. Whether the grant is used to support education, to address barriers to employment, child care or assistive technology, license fees or transportation needs, this grant can help folks get the help they need to succeed.
If you are interested in learning more about this program and how you can support it, please contact me at: Karen.J.Borgstrom@hitchcock.org or 603-653-0791.
Be well!
Karen
July Activity Update
Raising of America in Windsor VT
On July 20th the Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership hosted a screening of Raising of America.
The Raising of America examines the way we look at early child health and development and explores how a strong start for all kids leads not only to better individual life courses (learning, earning, and physical/mental health) but also to a healthier, safer, better educated, and more prosperous and more equitable America.
Event Sponsors included Partners for Community Wellness, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Heath Center, Adverse Childhood Experiences in Action, WGXL and WXXK.
Panelists included PCW's own Amanda Osmer of Grappone Automotive Group representing the employer perspective, as well as Bill Brown (Healthcare and Rehabilatation Services), Vicky Senni (Let's Grow Kids),
Karen Townsend (Windsor School Nurse), and
Ellen Taetzsch (Building Bright Futures
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center Pediatrics)
If you would like PCW to help sponsor a Raising of America screening and discussion in your own community, let us know. As part of PCW's early childhood initiative, we are encouraging NH and VT communities to talk about how they can come together to better support kids 0-5.
Events
Advance Care Planning: It's About the Conversation!
Tuesday, August 9th, 12:30 to 2:30 PM Upper Valley Senior Center, Lebanon NH
Presenters: Lora Wise, Belinda Ray, and Lori Fortini
If you were unable to speak for yourself, who would make decisions on your behalf? Would they know what type of decisions you would want them to make? Would they know your health care goals, values and beliefs?
Please join us as we discuss the importance of advance care directives and advance care planning, explain common misconceptions and benefits to advance care planning, and provide you with an opportunity to engage in a conversation and complete the documents if you are ready.
Please register at the Upper Valley Senior Center in person or call (603)448-4213
Or at The Aging Resource Center by calling (603)653-3460 or online at dhaging.org
The CHaD Storybook Ball will be held Saturday, September 17th at the Manchester Community College. Tables and tickets will be available through the www.CHaDStoryBookBall.org website or by contacting Natalie.A.Martinez@hitchcock.org.
The evening’s program will include a look into the lives of infants who are born with opioid addiction and how CHaD’s nationally recognized clinical program is bringing hope to these infants and families.
Plus! Help celebrate PCW Member, Melissa Crews, who is being honored with the CHaD Communitarian Award for her leadership in offering HOPE to so many through her work with Hope for NH Recovery.