Griffin Health in Derby to offer medical assistant training

 Griffin Health has partnered with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement to offer training./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Health has joined with one of the nation’s most innovative training programs for medical assistants, the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement, to offer affordable, cutting-edge training to those seeking a career in health care.

Applications are being accepted now for the class that will begin in September.

“Griffin is committed to improving the health of our community and providing a wide range of educational opportunities,” said Adam M. Dworkin, JD, MBA, Vice President of Operations for Executive for Griffin Faculty Physicians. “This program offers a rewarding career for graduates and a great starting point for those who want to pursue a clinical career in healthcare. We hope that many of our students will ultimately decide to work at Griffin following graduation.”

Central to the program is hands-on clinical experience at partner medical offices such as Griffin Faculty Physicians, combined with the latest online educational instruction, during a seven-month program. 

Each student works closely with a senior Medical Assistant preceptor to develop the skills and experience needed to work in a high functioning, patient-centered medical team.

NIMAA tuition, at $6,000 for 2018, offers an alternative to more expensive programs. With a 96 percent graduation rate and many students offered employment in the clinics where they undertook their clinical practice, this is an exciting opportunity to enter the growing field of health care.

“We are delighted that Griffin Health is partnering with us to provide this opportunity in Connecticut,” said Naveen Kanithi, Chief Executive Officer of NIMAA. “Students being able to practice their skills in first-rate clinics at the same time that we teach them online is an essential part of the unique NIMAA experience.”

For more information and to apply online, visit nimaa.org.

About Griffin Faculty Physicians

Griffin Faculty Physicians is a non-profit, multi-specialty group affiliated with the award-winning, patient-centered Griffin Hospital. Specialties include primary care, gastroenterology, cardiology, geriatrics, general and bariatric surgery, breast surgery, urology and cardio-thoracic surgery. 

Offices are located throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding towns.

About the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement

NIMAA is a learning institute focused on a new and innovative approach to medical assistant training created in partnership between Community Health Center, Inc. of Connecticut, and Salud Family Health Centers of Colorado. 

The NIMAA program combines the latest online teaching tools with experiential learning in high-performing clinics to train medical assistants to be effective members of the primary care team in community health centers and other healthcare organizations.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

St. Vincent De Paul in Derby seeks community's help with food drives

Seymour Recreation offers Zumba classes at Community Center

Valley Community Foundation funds nonprofits, municipalities

Volunteers and supporters of Adam's House in Shelton, a 2018 VCF Community Grant Recipient, work on the organization's memorial garden and walkway./ Contributed photo

VCF has awarded a total of $23,090 in its Community Grants Program to 11 community groups serving the Valley. 

These grants will support youth, seniors, and wellness initiatives in the region.

“VCF is proud to support these 11 organizations with more than $23,000 in Community Grants,” said Sharon Closius, VCF President & CEO. “Community Grants are responsive to volunteer groups or nonprofits with very limited staff, and support civic and community efforts in our five-towns. With this grant funding, these small organizations can have the potential to make a big impact in the Valley.”

Adam Wysota Foundation - $2,500 to support the next phase of the Adam's House Memorial Garden and Walkway.

Annual Thanksgiving Basket Committee - $2,500 to support the purchase of perishable and non-perishable food items and supplies for distribution of Thanksgiving baskets to 50 families.

City of Derby, Youth Services Bureau - $2,000 to support a program to help students recognize consequences of poor decisions and provide opportunities to make amends.

College Access for all Kids, Inc. - $2,500 to support urban youth access to colleges, universities and other higher education possibilities.

Derby Green Farmers Market - $1,400 to support the innovative Power of Produce Club program, which provides participating children with education and experience in purchasing and using healthy fruits and vegetables at the Derby Farmers' markets.

Derby Historical Society - $2,500 to support transportation assistance for Valley schools to visit the General David Humphreys House.

Shelton Farmers Market - $2,500 to support the Valley Sprouts Club, provide more local music at the market, reach out to Valley schools, and provide health related services for visitors.

Southford Falls Quilt Guild - $2,500 to support “Quilting Outside the Box” programs which focus on new quilting trends, tools, and techniques.

St. Joseph Parish Nurse Program - $600 to support education and wellness programs on CPR and AED use, heart disease and stroke prevention, and the importance of advanced care planning.

Town of Seymour - $1,590 to support the Senior Fit & Strong exercise program.

Youth 2 Youth - $2,500 to support the cost of sending students to the national conference in Rhode Island.

About The Valley Community Foundation

Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. 

In addition to grant-making, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton and receives funding from The Gates Fund and other preference funds at TCF. 

This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Congratulations wished to Derby's 2019 Teacher of the Year

 Teacher of the Year Maureen Zahara

DERBY - Bradley School is proud to announce  Maureen Zahara is the 2019 Derby Public School District Teacher of the Year. 

Zahara teaches all the general music classes, leads the grades 3-4-5 Bradley School Chorus, the grades 4-5 Beginner and Advanced Bands, and runs individual and small group instrumental lessons for students. 

Zahara wants the music program to be the best in the state and is very involved with her colleagues to organize and run the All-City performances in the spring. 
She has been a member of the Bradley School Leadership Team and is musical director and emcee for its monthly pep rallies.

Each year Zahara nominates a fifth grade student to receive the Connecticut Association of Schools Celebration of the Arts in Music and attends the event with the student and his or her family. 
Zahara and her Unified Arts colleagues helped paint and plant the community garden beds in anticipation of the students participating in the Farmer’s Market in the fall. 
Zahara applies for various grants each and every year to be able to get free musical instruments for students to use. 
Many of the instruments, including all the classroom guitars and ukuleles, are grant-funded through her efforts.
Bradley School Principal Mario Ciccarini said, “Maureen Zahara epitomizes everything you would want in a Teacher of the Year. She has a passion for what she does, instills this in her students through meaningful and engaging lesson planning and activities, and is an advocate for the arts throughout the entire school district, not just Bradley School.”

Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea said, “Mrs. Zahara is an amazing teacher who is full of energy and enthusiasm. She has played a pivotal role in the development of our music program and really helped take it to new heights. 
"As a parent, I have seen up close the impact she has on the children she interacts with each and every day. She is loved and respected.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Conway said,“This recognition is a small testimony to the incredible experience Mrs. Zahara provides for her students every day and to all others fortunate enough to have attended a performance by her students.”

The District also announces building-level Teachers of the Year: Ivory Urban at Irving School; James Rosa at Derby Middle School; and Ryan Adams at Derby High School. 
All of these deserving staff members will be celebrated at the Derby Schools' 2018 Convocation Aug. 23.

This is a press release from Derby Public Schools. 

Kids invited to Jenga Challenge at Huntington Branch Library in Shelton

Shared from Shelton Library System Facebook page:

Apple Jenga Challenge
Huntington Branch Library, 41 Church St., Shelton
2-2:30 p.m. Aug. 7

Future engineers entering kindergarten - fourth grade can build towers out of Jenga blocks. 
The challenge: balance an apple on the tower while moving around blocks without causing a crash! 


Registration required by calling 203-926-0111 or registering at: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm…

Save the date: St. Michael Church in Beacon Falls to hold Fall Festival