NATIONAL DENTAL HEALTH MONTH MARKED: February is National Children's Dental Health Month. The office of Dr. Jeffrey LaFuria is providing a free children's packet to help parents make the right dental choices for their children. The packets include information on when a child should have their first dental visit, ways to prevent early childhood cavities, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and importance of regular dental examinations. For information, call 330-856-4214 or go to www.thesmileguy.com
BLOOD, PLATELETS SHORTAGE OCCURRING: Humility of Mary Health Partners hospitals are experiencing a blood and platelet shortage. The community is asked to consider giving blood or donating platelets to help alleviate the shortage. All blood types are needed, but there is a particular need for O-positive, O-negative and B-negative. It takes about a half hour for a blood donation. Platelet donations take 50 to 90 minutes. It is a one-needle procedure where platelets are removed from the blood and everything else is returned. If interested in donating blood or platelets, call HMHP donor services at 330-480-2595.
HOSPICE OF VALLEY TRAINS VOLUNTEERS: Hospice of the Valley's new volunteer class begins Feb. 15 at the Martin Funeral Home, 15872 St. Clair Ave., Calcutta. Classes are 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Friday for five weeks through March 15. Volunteers are particularly needed to serve patients in the Salem and Lisbon areas. Volunteers will learn what Hospice of the Valley's team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains do for patients and their families and how volunteers fit into that team. New volunteers are needed for all areas of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties as well as western Pennsylvania. Although the training is in Calcutta this time, volunteers are assigned to patients closer to their homes. For more information or to register, call 330-788-1992 or visit www.HMpartners.org.
MEETINGS SET: Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board meetings have been scheduled and include Bridges Out of Poverty: Poverty Simulation from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Trumbull County Children's Services Gym; Addictions and Mental Health Program Committee 4:30 p.m. today in board conference room; Family / Children First Council Executive Committee 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in board conference room; Core Provider meeting 8:30 a.m. Friday in board conference room; and TAPN Clinical Committee 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12 in Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority first floor conference room.
WELLNESS PROGRAM LAUNCHED: PsyCare Inc. is launching a wellness program to offer education to the general public, at no cost, regarding various topics relating to mental health and wellness. The program will consist of several different presentations, each with a specific topic of focus. All programs will be held at One Health Ohio, located at 726 Wick Ave. in Youngstown.
A depression presentation will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. The presentation will focus on recognizing signs of depression and introduce specific skills to assist in managing depressive symptoms. "Wellness Through Mindfulness: A Community Sampler" will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 5 and offer an opportunity to sample yoga, meditation, and conscious dancing/exercise to benefit health and wellness. Additional presentations will also be offered through this Wellness Program launched by PsyCare Inc.
SCHOLARSHIPS CREATED FOR JUVENILE DIABETES SUFFERERS: Thomas J. Seefred of Struthers created the Thomas J. Seefred Trust 17 years ago. It is a perpetual fund that will award scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to college students between 18 and 25 years old who are suffering from juvenile diabetes. The college student must be successfully completing a standard curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree at an accredited junior college, college or university.
Preference will be given to qualified applicants from Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. All scholarships will be awarded by the trust and will be based on academic promise, personal statement, recommendations, and financial need. Applications can be printed from the trust's website, www.seefredtrust.org.
Scholarship applications must be postmarked by April 1. Scholarship recipients will be notified before July 1. For more information, contact Karen Leetch at 330-533-9900.
HMHP OFFERS SLIMDOWN PROGRAM: Humility of Mary Health Partners registered dietitians will offer another SlimDown program starting in the third week of February.
SlimDown is a six-week weight management program that focuses on lifestyle changes in food, activities and behaviors. Registered dietitians trained in adult weight management teach the program.
Classes are held 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 20 to March 27 in the Community Room 2 of the D.D. and Velma Davis Family YMCA, 45 McClurg Road, Boardman; and Thursdays, Feb. 21 to March 28 at St. Joe's at the Mall, Eastwood Mall (Sears concourse). Cost is $40 for new participants and $20 for repeat participants.
To register, call Humility of Mary Healthline at 330-480-3151 or toll free at 877-700-4647. Deadline for registration is Feb. 13.
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS: The Alzheimer's Association will be holding its monthly Caregiver Support Groups on the following dates:
For more information, call the Alzheimer's Association at 330-650-0552 or 800-272-3900.
OSTOMY GROUP TO MEET: Rhonda Newell-Horton, a staff pharmacist at St. Elizabeth Health Center, will discuss how ostomies affect the absorption of medications during the February meeting of The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group.
Sponsored by Humility of Mary Health Partners, the group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Cedar Room at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.
The group provides information and encouragement to individuals who have or will have ostomies.
The meeting is free and open to ostomy patients, families and friends. Refreshments are provided and parking is free. For information, call 330-480-3440.
The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group meets once a month at alternating locations in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET: A cancer support group meets 7 p.m. every third Thursday at Calvary Bible Church, 2878 Warren Meadville Road, Cortland.
For more information, call Tom at 330-772-3652.
CHURCH OFFERS SCREENING: Cortland Christian Church will host Life Line Screening on Friday at the church, 153 Grove St. in Cortland.
Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.
All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, call 877-237-1287 or visit the website www.lifelinescreening.com.
BRIDGES GROUP TO MEET: Bridges, a free mental health educational, 10-week course, will meet 5 to 7 p.m. today and each Tuesday after at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, 1350 E. Market St., Warren. Call Nancy at 330-747-5111 to sign up.
WARREN CITY OFFERS IMMUNIZATION CLINIC: The Warren City Health Department will hold a childhood immunization clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday and Feb. 25 at the Warren City Health Department Community Services Building, 418 Main Ave. S.W., Warren. Child must feel well and have updated shot record. A $10 administration fee is charged or Medicaid cards are accepted. For more information, call 330-841-2596.
NILES OFFERS IMMUNIZATIONS: Niles City Health Department, 34 W. State St., is offering immunization clinics from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and Feb. 20. Child's immunization records are needed and the child should be feeling well, with no illness, fever or rash. Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
GIRARD OFFERS FLU SHOT: The Girard City Health Department will offer flu vaccines between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the health department at 330-545-6048.
FLU CLINIC TO BE HELD: A flu clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. daily at Warren West Community Health Center, 716 Tod Ave., Warren. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 330-373-0222.
SRHS SPONSORS SPECIAL EVENING FOR WOMEN: The third annual "I Love My Heart - Meet Me at the Mansion" special evening for women, sponsored by Sharon Regional Health System's Heart and Vascular Institute, is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Buhl Mansion, Guesthouse, and Spa, in Sharon, Pa.
The event offers women an opportunity to treat themselves to an evening of pampering, shopping, local celebrity fashion show, mini spa services, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and an update on heart disease in women and minimizing one's risk for heart disease.
The fashion show features local models wearing fashions from local businesses. Discounted mini spa services include neck/shoulder massage, reflexology, hot stone massage, and paraffin dip treatments for hands. The evening's shopping features jewelry, hand bags, cooking, nail polish, Philadelphia Candies, Signature Homestyles, and more. Also included are tours of the mansion and a Chinese auction to benefit heart patients.
The grand prize for the evening is a Mary Kay makeover. Health events include blood pressure checks, smoking cessation, ABI (ankle brachial index), and heart health information for women.
Tickets are $35 and attendance is limited. For more information or to register, call 724-983-5518 or 800-346-7997.
PROGRAM OFFERED FOR DEALING WITH ISSUES: An eight-step Christian program based on the Beatitudes is open to anyone dealing with a life-controlling habit or issue. It meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at the Bloomfield Recovery Center, 10113 Creaser Ashtabula Road, Bloomfield.
For more details, call 330-599-2402.
ST. JOE'S AT THE MALL: open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the facility is next to Sears at the Eastwood Mall. To make an appointment, call 330-652-7542 unless otherwise noted.
St. Joe's at the Mall is a Silver Sneakers site. Call or visit for more information.
TRUMBULL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
NORTHSIDE MEDICAL CENTER