Training Sessions to Help Curb Underage Alcoholism Coming to St. Mary’s County
Interested in helping your community make the right changes for a safer and healthier place for youth? St. Mary’s County residents concerned with underage drinking are invited to take part in a FREE training session for Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA). CMCA is a nationally recognized program which provides citizens with the skills and tools to reduce the flow of alcohol to youth from illegal sales by retail establishments, and from other adults community.
Participants will collaborate to plan and implement effective strategies which:
-- address policies and ordinances
-- build community
-- expand outreach and support efforts
-- engage youth in youth-adult partnerships.
The program is ideal for anyone with a strong desire and willingness to lead community efforts to reduce alcohol use among youth.
CMCA will take place on September 26 and 27 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The training will be held at the College of Southern Maryland’s Leonardtown Campus, Building C, room C216. The address is 22950 Hollywood Road in Leonardtown. The training session and all materials are free (provided through a grant from the State of Maryland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration ) but attendance is limited to 25 participants and registration is required. Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will also be provided.
For more information, or to register, please contact the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging and Human Services, Division of Human Services at 301-475-4200, ext. 1681 or by e-mail at Matt.Reisdorph(at)stmarysmd.com.
Registration Now Open for 3rd Annual Long-Term Care Awareness Conference
The time has come to register for the 3rd Annual Long-Term Care Awareness Conference, hosted by the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services. The conference takes Friday, October 11, 2013, at Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, 24005 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown. The fee to attend is $22 and advance registration is required.
The conference begins at 9 a.m. with doors opening at 8:00 a.m. This year’s theme is “A Focus on Services & Supports in Long-Term Care Facilities.” Guest speakers will address important long-term care topics including medical benefits for residents in long-term care, understanding the needs of those with dementia-related illnesses, Medicare updates, legal documents essential for long-term planning, alternative choices for long-term care, and psychosocial benefits of activities and recreation.
Registration forms are available at the Garvey, Loffler, and Northern Senior Activity Centers. Anyone interested can also contact Mindy Carter or Kathy Goodspeed at 301-475-4200, ext. 1055 or via e-mail to Kathleen.Goodspeed(at)stmarysmd.com for further information or to request a registration form.
Design Entries Sought for 2014 St. Mary’s County Technology Handbook Cover Art Contest
Graphic artists are invited to submit designs to be considered for the cover of the 2014 edition of the Technology Handbook for St. Mary’s County. Once again The Patuxent Partnership will sponsor the cover art contest, awarding a $500 prize to the winner. Artists must reside or be employed in St. Mary’s County.
Graphic artists, technical artists and illustrators are invited to log on to The Department of Economic and Community Development’s website at http://www.stmarysmd.com/decd to read and download the contest rules and an entry form. Once on the main DECD webpage, highlight ‘Doing Business’, and then click ‘Downloads.’ You can get directly to this page by going to http://www.stmarysmd.com/decd/FormsandDocuments.asp. Look for the Technology Handbook Cover Contest header to find all the information.
All entries must include two full-size prints of the artwork and the electronic files and be delivered to Laura Boonchaisri, Economic Development Coordinator, St. Mary’s County Department of Economic and Community Development, PO Box 653, 23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650 by 4:00 p.m. on October 25, 2013. Questions about the Cover Contest and the Technology Handbook can be directed to Laura Boonchaisri at laura.boonchaisri(at)stmarysmd.com or 301-475-4200 ext.1408. Entries will not be returned and all submissions will become the property of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic & Community Development and The Patuxent Partnership.
The Department of Economic and Community Development is currently preparing the 2014 Technology Handbook. Technology-focused businesses in St. Mary’s County currently not in the 2013 edition, and are interested in being included, should contact Cheri Noffsinger at 301-475-4200 ext. 1400 or email cheri.noffsinger(at)stmarysmd.com. Companies listed in the 2013 edition will be notified to renew your listing.
Health Department Brings Healthy Eating and Active Living Program to St. Mary’s
In an effort to get adults to eat healthier and be more active, the St. Mary’s County Health Department is now offering county residents a special, time-limited opportunity to improve their eating and physical activity habits. The St. Mary’s County Alive! program is an online tool proven to be effective in helping people eat better and be more active – essential steps in weight management and preventing chronic diseases. This evidence-based program is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and recommended by the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force as an effective strategy to help people improve their lifestyle. Through online feedback and coaching, the Alive! program guides participants towards healthier goals and achievable steps towards wellness.
Through a cooperative agreement with the St. Mary’s County Health Department, the creator of the Alive! program is offering a six month subscription for only $5 to interested St. Mary’s County adult residents. Additionally, the Health Department has arranged for special rates to be available to St. Mary’s County employers who would like to subsidize the subscription for their employees as a way to encourage employee wellness.
The Health Department is encouraging St. Mary’s County adults, employers, and health care providers to consider this evidence-based program as they work to improve their own health, the health of their employees, and the health of their patients.
To learn more about the St. Mary’s County Alive! program and to access a subscription, visit the St. Mary’s County Health Department’s website at http://www.smchd.org/healthy-eating-active-living/