Health Ministers Meeting

We are not meeting this month. Enjoy rest, relaxation and much-need self-care. Thank you for your dedication and service to the Black Infant Health program!

Our next health minister meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 14.

We’re celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week Aug. 25-31. In the next newsletter, learn how to get involved, including trainings, activities and other ways to support the movement.

Questions? Contact Taleema Love.

Family Resources

Learning programs

• Tacoma Learns connects program providers to families to expand learning opportunities. Kids can stay engaged in learning (and FUN) all summer long! Tacoma Learns offers more than 200 programs for all ages. Search the online directory to find programs in your area.
• ECEAP is a free, state-funded preschool that provides experiences geared to meet children's individual needs and skills. Pierce County ECEAP is accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by August 31 to qualify. Learn more and apply.
• Preschool Powered by Play serves children ages 2-5 and their adults. This relationship-based program supports natural, playful discovery, and helps prepare children to be confident and eager learners. Register today for the 2021-2022 school year.

Family activities

• Learn about Pierce County Library System’s Early Learning books, rhymes and fun in their August newsletter.
• Tacoma Public Library offers a calendar full of events for kids and families. Program kits are a fun way to bring our arts and crafts activities home with you. Register for a Tacoma Public Library unique craft projects or special events:
  • Aug. 4—Northwest room scavenger hunt (grades 8-12 and adults).
  • Aug. 4—Pajama storytime (baby- grade 5).
  • Aug. 5—Community coloring quilt (baby- adult).
  • Aug. 5—Family storytime (baby- grade 5).
  • Aug. 6—Explore Tacoma scavenger hunt (grades K-12 and adults).
  • Aug. 6—Baby storytime (baby and preschool).
  • Aug. 7—Storytime on the lawn (baby- grade 5).
  • Aug. 7—Jeff Evans Science Magic Show (grades K-8).
  • Aug. 11—Northwest room scavenger hunt (grades 8-12 and adults).
  • Aug. 11—Pokémon League (grades K-8).
  • Aug. 11—Pajama storytime (baby- grades 5).
  • Aug. 12—Songwriting workshop (grades 8-12 and adults).
  • Click or tap for more events.
• This year, Tacoma Public Library offers a virtual reading log for the Summer Reading Challenge. Through Aug. 14, track reading and activities on a computer or mobile device by visiting the Beanstack website, or downloading the Beanstack app. Complete the challenge by reading and completing activities. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all ages—the entire family can win prizes and have fun!

Food

• U.S. Department of Agriculture extended a waiver to help kids can get free meals through Sept. 30. Learn where you can get meals—English or Spanish. You can text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call (866) 3-HUNGRY (348-6479). Spanish-speaking families can call (877) 8-HAMBRE (842-6273). For more information, contact Child Nutrition Services at (360) 725–6200.

Parenting

• Family Resources Centers (FRCs) want to help your family get ready for the 2021-22 school year. That’s why centers will host back-to-school events this month! Don’t miss your center’s event:
  • Aug. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Key Peninsula FRC (Children’s Home Society) 17010 S. Vaughn Rd.—Vaughn, WA 98394 Contact Lori Mertens at Mertens@chs-wa.org or (253) 290-0486.
  • Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-noon Orting FRC (Orting High School) 320 Washington Ave. N.—Orting, WA 98360 Contact Shannon Butt at sbutt@tpchd.org or (360) 893-8500. Download the flyer—English Spanish.
  • Aug. 24, 3-6 p.m. White River FRC 250 W. Main, Building 200—Buckley, WA 98321 Contact Leah Haugen at lhaugen@tpchd.org or (360) 829-5883. Download the flyer—English Spanish.
  • Aug. 24-25, 2-6 p.m. Sumner-Bonney Lake FRC 1508 Willow St., Portable 705—Sumner, WA 98390 Contact Ida Reyes at ireyes@tpchd.org or (253) 891-6153.
• The Positive Parenting Program—or Triple P—gives you tips and ideas to bring out the best in your children. Triple P is free and open to families with children ages 0-17. Start Triple P Online today for free in English or Spanish. Register for a Triple P group at triplep-parenting.com/pc-en/get-started/check-our-calendar or call (253) 649-1011.
• Help spread the word about Child Tax Credit benefits. Families can get the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act tax credit July 15-Dec. 31. Each month, families can receive $250 per child between ages 6-17 and $300 per child under age 6. Learn more at gov.

COVID-19

• If you’re between the ages of 23 and 26 and you spent time in foster care after your 15^th birthday, you may be eligible for Washington Foster Care Pandemic Aid. Funds can help cover education, housing, transportation and other expenses. To qualify, you must apply by Sept. 24.
• On June 30, Gov. Jay Inslee lifted most COVID-19 restrictions. If you are not vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask in many public settings. Businesses and local governments may require masks. Some restrictions remain for large indoor gatherings. Read more.
• Everyone 12 and older is eligible to get vaccine. Our data dashboard shows how many people who live or work in Pierce County got vaccine. Learn more at tphcd.org/vaxtothefuture.

• Need a free ride to a COVID-19 vaccine event?
  • Around the Sound provides transportation for people with limited mobility, including those who use wheelchairs or scooters. Call (253) 858-7088 or visit atstrans.org.
  • Pierce Transit gives free bus rides to people going to vaccine appointments or volunteering at vaccine events. Call (253) 581-8000 (press 1, then press 1 again) or visit piercetransit.org.
  • Uber and Lyft can also provide rides to and from vaccine events. Call the state COVID-19 information hotline at (833) VAX-HELP for that service.

Behavioral Health

• YES Tacoma is a new collaborative treatment model that will provide behavioral health support and intervention services to Tacoma Public School (TPS) families. You can refer students ages 13 and up who are enrolled in Tacoma Public School District. Questions? Contact Ashley Mangum at (253) 403-1363 or amangum@multicare.org.
• For the Culture Counseling Services offers an adult outpatient substance use disorder program for people 13 years old and up. Download a For the Culture Counseling Service brochure.
• Comprehensive Life Resources (CLR) is launching a pilot program, Msaada. And they need your help! CLR wants to learn what mental health support services would be beneficial to a specific population—Black and Brown women and children. Complete this short survey to help shape Msaada program structure and services. All responses are anonymous, and CLR will only use the information to pursue funding opportunities to launch the program.

Employment

• Join the Washington STEM team and help remove barriers to STEM education and postsecondary credentials as a Senior Program Officer or an Impact Director.

• First 5 FUNdamentals is hiring a Help Me Grow Pierce County Manager! Responsible for the coordination of comprehensive initiative, Help Me Grow Pierce County, this position manages community partnerships engaged in collective efforts to build a comprehensive system of services and supports for families with children from pregnancy through five years old. Open until Aug. 9.

• Join the MultiCare team as a Childbirth Educator. Childbirth Educators provide education and support to families in the community who sign up for classes, instruction and unit introduction through tours. You must have attended a Childbirth Educator Training Workshop and be able to teach within a hospital environment. MultiCare encourages Black Indigenous People of Color to apply for this great opportunity to increase diversity amongst childbirth educators.

• The King County Language Access Team needs experienced community translators and reviewers. They have part-time positions with flexible hours, offering $70 per hour. If you’re a native speaker and have experience translating health-related documents, email your cover letter, resume and language to ESJLanguages@kingcounty.gov.
• Child Care Resources is recruiting childcare professionals for programs throughout the Puget Sound. Learn more.
• Building Changes is seeking a Senior Program Manager. This position will provide project management, technical assistance, training, facilitation of group processes and support relationships with the goal of improving services and supports for families and youth experiencing homelessness. Learn more and apply.

Get involved

• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH) initiative will host PPH Learning Collaborative Sessions. Beginning March 2023, you can join 4 learning sessions on the 3^rd Thursday of each month, 2-3:30 p.m. Each time you participate in the Zoom session and complete the pre and post quiz, you’ll receive a $20 online gift card. Learn more and register.

Professional Resources

Training opportunities

• Aug. 4, 1-2:30 p.m., Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC)—in partnership with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon—presents Harm Reduction 101. Learn more and register.
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department invites you to participate in free Motivational Interviewing (MI) training Friday, Aug. 6, 1-3 p.m. The training is for public health and community health workers who provide COVID-19 vaccine outreach and COVID-19 care coordination. You can attend if you provide health, behavioral health or social work help in Pierce County. You must register by Aug. 3.
• Are you a home visitor? Join Betty Peralta for a special series of self-care learning. Tuesdays in August, 10-11 a.m., learn how to envision and make self-care a reality. After you register, you’ll get a confirmation email with a calendar invite and the Zoom link.
• Mahogany Moms Community Coalition and Breastfeeding Friendly Washington presents Shifting the Conversation: Black Voices Matter. Aug. 26, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., learn about implicit bias, racism's impact on Washington's birth and breastfeeding/chestfeeding outcomes and maternal-infant mortality. This virtual training honors the stories and lived experiences of Black birth workers and community. Learn more and register.
• Sept. 16-17, join the virtual conference, National Latino Behavioral Health Conference: Envisioning Latino Behavioral Health Equity in the Next Decade. Learn about the contributions of Hispanic and Latino professionals to the future of behavioral health for all communities. Hear from national keynote speakers, choose from 20 workshops, breakout sessions and more. Learn more and register.
• The Take Ten podcast features 10 minutes of ideas and inspiration focused on provider self-care and well-being during COVID-19. Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC wrote and hosts the podcast. Listen to the most recent episodes.
• In this new 22-page advisory, the Surgeon General warns public about the urgent threat of health misinformation, particularly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He calls for a whole-of-society approach to address health misinformation during the pandemic and beyond. Download the advisory.

Funding opportunities

• During the 2021 state legislative session, the Washington Legislature appropriated $30M for a new premium assistance program for licensed childcare workers (LCWs). This funding can help LCWs afford health coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
• The Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) provides behavioral health providers up to $250,000 to repay school loans in exchange for working full-time for 6 years at an approved site. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

Get involved

• Want to engage in deeper discussion around race? Join United Way Aug. 12, 12-1 p.m. for lunch and learn sessions, Race as a Public Health Crisis. Register here.
• Join partnering to make the most of child development supports Aug. 25, 1-2 p.m. This webinar introduces “Help Me Grow”, “Learn the Signs. Act Early” and “Vroom,” and shows how they fit together and can reinforce each other. Learn how you can get started with all three. Learn more and register.
• Learn about resilient communities through human-center design in the 2020 Poverty to Possibilities Summit Report.
• The Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) wants to learn about the training, technical assistance and resource needs of the substance misuse prevention workforce. Complete PTTC’s needs assessment and register to enter into a drawing to receive a fully paid registration to the National Prevention Network (NPN) conference!

Find more family and professional resources here.