Griffin Health to host 'That's It! Learn to Quit!' sessions in Shelton, Derby

Griffin Health offers education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit tobacco and nicotine with upcoming sessions of its free cessation program.

“That’s It! Learn to Quit!” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit tobacco and nicotine over the course of six weekly meetings. There will be a session on Thursdays, Sept. 11, 18, and 25, and Oct. 2, 9, and 16 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Griffin Faculty Physicians Family Health Center, 110 Commerce Drive, Shelton. Another session Wednesdays Sept. 17, and 24 and Oct.1, 8, 15, and 22 from 9-10:30 a.m. at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.

The program encourages participants to acknowledge and honor past successes in their goal to quit tobacco. The goal is to help individuals learn how to stop using tobacco and nicotine without the guilt, shame, and fear of failure by teaching several different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habits. Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all six sessions. 

To register, visit griffinhealth.org/ tobacco-nicotine-cessation or call 203-732-1369.

This free tobacco and nicotine program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Health in Ansonia offers allied health career programs

ANSONIA - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers at 219 Division St. is accepting applications for upcoming semesters of its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Phlebotomy, and Patient Care Technician (PCT) programs.

The PCT and Phlebotomy programs begin May 19. The CNA summer programs will begin June 9 and July 14.

The 15-week PCT program requires students to attend classes Monday through Thursday. The program offers ample hands-on training and opportunities for practical experience in the school's fully equipped mock hospital room and during the 80 hours of clinical experience. 

The course tuition includes textbook, liability insurance, CPR certification, clinical rotations and national certification exams.

The 13-week Phlebotomy program is Mondays and Wednesdays either during the day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or during the evening from 5-9 p.m. The program offers an optional 32-40 hours of clinical experience. 

The course tuition includes lab coats, books, malpractice insurance, CPR certification and a national certification exam fee.

The six-week CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed schedule with classes Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or 5 p.m.-9 p.m. CNA program content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care. 

The program’s clinical experience will be at Griffin Hospital and a long-term stay facility, totaling 40 hours. After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the certification exam for a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut. The CNA course tuition fee includes the course book and workbook CPR training, clinical rotation and liability insurance. 

The School of Allied Health Careers has partnered with TEAM, The Workplace, Inc. and many other grant options resulting in minimum out of pocket expenses.

The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health accepts students 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED or any in-school youth (juniors and seniors) enrolled in high school. Students must be proficient in the English language to apply for admission. The COVID 19 vaccination series is required prior to enrollment.

Early application is encouraged for all courses, as space is limited. 

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or 203-732-7578 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin, Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley to mark International Safe Kids Month

DERBY - In honor of International Safe Kids Month, Griffin Health and Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley are partnering to provide tips, resources, and devices to help parents and caregivers keep their kids safe at a time when preventable injuries are on the rise.

There will be a free child safety education event from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 22 at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St. offering information on proper car seat installations, including when a child can sit without a booster, water safety, and home safety, and prizes and giveaways. 

Summer often includes exciting outdoor activities, vacations, but it’s also a time known as “trauma season” among health professionals because unintentional injuries and deaths increase dramatically among children. 

According to Safe Kids, 42% of all deaths from unintentional injuries occur during the months of May through August.

“During this time when parents are focused on many priorities at once, Safe Kids Month is a national celebration dedicated to raising awareness about child injury prevention and inspiring parents to focus on proven and practical tips to keep their kids safe, no matter where they live,” said Cathi Kellett, Griffin Health Community Outreach & Parish Nurse Department Special Programs supervisor and Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Coalition coordinator.

Preventable injuries are the number one cause of death of children in the U.S., and millions more are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime. Unintentional injuries among children ages 1-4 are 1.8 times higher during the summer months compared to the rest of the year. For children ages 5-9 and 10-14, unintentional injuries are 1.5 times higher during this time period.

“Do you have the right car seat for your child’s weight, height, and age? Do you have a fire escape plan and have you practiced it like kids do at school? Are your medicines out of reach? Usually, parents have these items on their “to-do” list, they just find it hard to make it a priority,” said Kellett. “Safe Kids Month is a perfect time to make it happen.”

This free program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing injuries, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

All In for Seymour community conversation to focus on education

SEYMOUR - Join us at the Seymour Community Center Bingo Room at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 for a Dinner & Community Conversation around EDUCATION.

Come participate in a community discussion focused on education and explore ways for the community to get involved. 

We’ll also share insights into the efforts of the Bungay [Elementary School] building committee. Children aged 5 and older will engage in their own community conversation in a separate area. 

We’re excited for both groups to exchange their thoughts with each other at the conclusion of the event!

Dinner has generously been donated by Alberto’s in Seymour.

This is shared from All In for Seymour Facebook page. 

Congrats to Ansonia Nature Center staff on receiving Friend of Education Award

The Connecticut Association of Schools selected the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Friend of Education Award!

A big thank you goes out to Mrs. Nimons, Prendergast School Principal, for submitting the nomination.

This recognition is made possible by the hard work of our educational staff, which consists of Alison Stowe-Rubelmann, Daniel L. Bosques, Dawn Sotir, Evelyn Kubik, Jeremy Douglas, and Maria Schreiner.

This is shared from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center Facebook page.

Abundant Life in Ansonia to host domestic violence, breast cancer awareness event

 

Derby Public Library to host Career Resources' program via Zoom

DERBY - Derby Public Library will host a virtual program on creating resumes from 1-3 p.m. June 17.

Career Resources staff provides guidance for creating resumes for the modern work environment, what pitfalls to avoid, and current standards and styles that make resumes stand out. Free.

Registration at https://bit.ly/3fzNHHp by 4:30 p.m. June 16 to receive the Zoom link and password.

This is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page. 

Valley Community Foundation awards $170K in scholarships

Whether at home conducting remote learning, via a hybrid model, or attending full-time and in-person, the start of a new school year looks very different for students pursuing higher education during the pandemic. 

With the 2020-2021 academic year under way, the Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded more than 160 scholarships totaling $170,000 from its 75 scholarship funds. 

While many of these students are entering their first year of higher education this fall, some awards provide renewable tuition assistance for up to four years.

 

“For many Valley residents, establishing a scholarship not only pays tribute to their family but it can also memorialize their name at a local high school,” said Sharon Closius, VCF President & CEO. 

“Whether it’s participation on a sports team, the longevity of family history, or memorializing lifetime friendships that were made, establishing a scholarship to benefit local high schools is an investment in our community’s future and reflects the value of higher education.”

 

For years, VCF has worked with the Valley’s high schools to manage and administer scholarship funds. Rather than a high school holding the scholarship money in a CD or savings account, scholarships are established, managed, and invested with VCF. 

The high school continues to select the recipients of various scholarships, but the staff saves time and money by not administering individual savings accounts. Additionally, the money is invested in a large investment pool that has historically yielded a better return, which increases the size of the fund and the distributable amount over time.

 

Scholarship funds are often created in memory of someone special. 

Depending on preference, the scholarships can support any area of academic need, including tuition, room and board, or books. Donors can simply select eligibility requirements for the scholarship based on a student’s field of study, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, financial need, background, or geography. Some scholarships give a single award to support a graduating senior pursuing higher education while others can be renewable through college.

 

If you are interested in establishing a scholarship fund in honor or in memory of a loved one that can benefit a local graduating senior each year, contact Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President & CEO, at 203-751-9162 or visit www.valleyfoundation.org.

 

About The Valley Community Foundation
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes approximately $1.6 million in grants each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF), to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton and receives funding from The Gates Fund and other preference funds at TCF that benefit the Valley. 

This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Best wishes to Ansonia High Class of 2020 members as they continue their education

 Congratulations!

This is shared from Ansonia Public Schools' Facebook page today. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host talk for caregivers of special needs students

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital will host a free talk to help caregivers of students with special needs advocate for their loved ones' education at 6:30 p.m. May 9.

Kevin Daly, Health Care Information Specialist with PATH Parent to Parent/Family Voices of Connecticut, will lead “The ‘Soft Skills’ of Special Education Advocacy,” a presentation for parents of students with disabilities who want to sharpen their advocacy skills. 

Topics include: best practices for school-home communications; how to get involved in the decision making process; how to prepare for school meetings (including PPT and 504); obtaining a free copy of your child’s school records; where to find help when you need it.

Daly has worked as a special education advocate with hundreds of Connecticut families for more than 20 years.

PATH/FVCT is a statewide grassroots parent organization that has been around for over 30 years. 

PATH/FVCT is dedicated to offering excellence in emotional and informational support to families, promote partnerships with families of diverse backgrounds and collaborate with healthcare providers and community organizations to improve services and policies that serve our children. 

PATH/FVCT has the support of two of the largest networks of families of children with unique abilities and special health care needs.

Free educational forums

This program is part of a series of free, educational forums hosted by the Community Health Resource Center in an effort to help improve the health of the community. 

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399. The hospital is at 130 Division St.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials. 

The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness, and play an active role in decisions about their health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Diabetes management topic of talks at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY- The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations about managing diabetes with tech Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the hospital.

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, will host “Using Technology to Help with Diabetes Self-Management,” a presentation of available resources such as websites, phone apps for goal setting and tracking, continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps. 

There will also be testimonials from individuals with diabetes and their experience utilizing diabetes self-management technology.

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. The hospital is at 130 Division St.

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Diabetes management is topic of talk at Griffin Hospital in Derby

The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host presentations Tuesday about summer tips for individuals diagnosed with diabetes. /Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations about summer tips for individuals diagnosed with diabetes at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the hospital, 130 Division St.

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, will lead a discussion about managing diabetes over the summer, including healthier food choices, recipe makeovers, and travel tips. 
Additional resources will be discussed such as phone apps and websites.

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. 

Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Center Stage Education Center in Shelton to hold open house

SHELTON - Center Stage Theatre is increasing its education program and offerings with dedicated classroom space in the former St. Joseph School. 
The building is at 430 Coram Ave.

Join us for an open house at the Center Stage Education Center from 10 a.m.-noon June 16 where you can learn about memberships, individual class registrations, after school programs, camps, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and more. 
Raffles, snacks, early bird registration deals and more! 

Don't forget to visit the Shelton EMTs and paramedics downstairs at the Echo Hose Ambulance Center who will be our neighbors.


This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Educational program for veterans, family members slated in Shelton

Caregiver series slated at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital and The Valley Senior Services Council will host a four-part series of talks to provide education, information, and support for caregivers. /Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital and The Valley Senior Services Council invite caregivers - especially those caring for seniors - to a free four-part series to help provide education, information, and support.

The series starts March 15 with “Patient and Family Engagement,” a panel discussion on the “hows” and “whats” when seeking care or assistance from hospitals, skilled nursing care, assisted living facilities, home care, and local or state agencies.

On April 19, the talk will be “Advanced Care Planning,” providing information about advance directives the tools needed to help make decisions about care when one is unable to speak for oneself.

On May 17, representatives from Voices Against Lyme Disease and Griffin will present
“Summer Safety-Lyme Disease and Skin Cancer,” with information on how to help prevent and treat these diseases.

The series wraps up June 7 with “Caring for the Caregiver,” which will provide tips on how caregivers can take care of themselves so they can better care for others.

All presentations will start at 5:15 p.m. at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St. Before each talk there will be a free light meal provided by Valley United Way and Griffin Hospital Lifeline at 4:30 p.m.

Registration is required for each event by calling 203-732-1511 or visiting griffinhealth.org/events.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Banko's in Ansonia slates STOMP awards ceremony to honor students

ANSONIA - The Banko’s Music Foundation has scheduled its next STOMP ceremony to honor distinguished and stand-out music students for each marking period for all local public schools.

The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Banko’s Music Store, 360 E. Main St.

The Banko’s Music Foundation Mission is to advocate for public school music education and to award scholarships to students pursuing careers in music and music education. Visit www.BankosFoundation.org.


This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Rock the Summer fundraiser slated in Ansonia

Learn Excel at Career Coach visit to Ansonia Library

5th annual Vicki Soto 5K is today in Stratford

Daughter Allegra teaches in Stratford and is participating in the 5th annual Vicki Soto 5K this morning with her co-workers. 
The event benefits the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund to support educational initiatives in Stratford. 
Vicki Soto lost her life protecting her first grade students during a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012.

Ansonia Rotary donates dictionaries to Assumption School 3rd graders

Ansonia Rotary Club members John Yeager, left, and Rich Knoll pose recently with students at Assumption School in Ansonia./ Contributed photo 

ANSONIA - Ansonia Rotary Club members John Yeager and Rich Knoll handed out personal dictionaries to Karen Clayton’s third grade class at Assumption School this week, completing the club’s annual contribution to local education. 

The club purchased dictionaries for all 200 of Ansonia’s third graders.  
Assumption staff and students welcomed the gift. They located the longest word in the English language in the books and attempted to pronounce it.  

The distribution of dictionaries at Assumption followed distributions at Mead and Prendergast elementary schools in the previous weeks. The effort was organized by Rotary Club member and Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone and Club President Lori Veillette. 

The annual purchase and distribution is part of the Ansonia Rotary Club’s Community Services program.  
The Ansonia Rotary Club meets for lunch weekly at Crave Restaurant. For more information, go to www.ansoniarotary.org, or call 203-888-1101.

This is a press release from Ansonia Rotary Club.