According to USA Today and Military.com, the Army is having a ‘stand down’ (mandatory training) today for suicide prevention, due to the sharp increase in suicides. According to both sources, this is a new battle for a ‘warrior culture’ that has discouraged seeking help in the past. That has changed, and all active service members and veterans are now encouraged to seek help through their buddies, their commanding officers, their local VA or Vet Center, or the suicide hotline at 800-273-8255. Links to both articles are at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/ and http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/09/27/armyStay alert to signs that someone near you may be needing extra help to get through some difficult times. We have a Health and Wellness playlist of helpful videos on our YCVUB YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/ycvub?feature=results_main) to help you learn more about this critical issue.
If getting enough sleep is difficult for you, there is help available! Try this Guided relaxation exercise for help falling asleep from Dr. Oz’s website, by Dr. Breus: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/relaxation
Last week, 400 members of Team USA’s Olympians and Paralympians met at the White House to receive congratulations for their athletic performance, and for inspiring Americans to reach for their dreams. Special mention of our many veteran athletes and their service were also highlighted. See more at: http://youtu.be/r25E9H8_gq0
Our blog, Back in the Mainstream has hit the mainstream! We’ve officially been added to the ranks of Milblogging.com, which has 3,474 military blogs in 52 countries with 20,809 registered members. Check them out – you’ll find every type: active duty, spouse/family, retirees, there’s something for everyone.
Veterans: Registration is open for these Northern Arizona Veterans
Upward Bound Fall Session II pre-college modules. Classes run October 14 to December 15 and are
available in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Verde Valley, or online. Call to see if you qualify at 928-776-7686!
Today’s focus is on the military family. Did you know that 1.9 million children have one or more parents in the military, and 900,000 of them have had a parent deployed multiple times? This places stress on the entire family, so let’s support them whenever and however we can. Here are some ideas and resources:
Today’s video features Queen Latifah and the Sesame Street characters, who offer support to military families: http://youtu.be/4QoOlBjXESU The Sesame Street workshops, in partnership with the USO, just finished spending time in Arizona this month entertaining military children at Luke, MCAS/Yuma, Davis-Monthan, and Ft. Huachuca bases. For more information about their initiatives, see: http://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do
Here are some free services available to children with parents in the military:
If you are interested in having a mentor, or being one, for a child of a military family, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters is part of Operation Family Support: contact dspitler@azbigs.org, or see www.azbigs.org for more information.
A variety of family-oriented services offered through your local YMCA: http://www.asymca.org/
Parenting can be stressful for everyone, but separations and moves common in military families can leave you at a loss for words. A little extra help finding the right words can help you avoid unnecessary pitfalls at those critical moments. Helpful discussion guides for parents who are deploying or reuniting are available at: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/families.asp
There is an online community for military spouses, with free newsletters, financial tips, and information about Blue Star Families, located at: http://www.military.com/spouse If you’re unfamiliar with the good work of Blue Star Families, here’s more about them: http://www.bluestarfam.org/
And…Happy 59th birthday to the Air Force on September 18th.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in your community by volunteering to a worthy cause. Today's video is about Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a national organization that matches adults with children who need a mentor in school or after school. If you don’t feel you can dedicate that much time, they do have fundraising events you can help with for just a day. Our BB/BS Yavapai county fundraiser is called Bowl for Kids, in Prescott and the Verde Valley. See the BB/BS video at: http://youtu.be/xdTpZdp9mYo
If you are looking for a fun event this weekend, try the Village of Oak Creek’s answer to Woodstock: Vetstock! This event celebrates veterans, and will have entertainment, food and music, and all proceeds will benefit veterans’ charities. See the website for more information at: www.vetstock.com
September is Preparedness Month, our friends at military.com remind you to prepare your families for weather emergencies or evacuations by having a plan and supplies. For more info and ideas, see: http://www.ready.gov/
Video of the Day: http://youtu.be/Rek0riapaBk Pause and reflect, the next time you climb a flight of stairs….
Today marks the 11th anniversary of 9/11/01 and across the nation many observances are taking place, including flags at half-staff and moments of silence. Perhaps no recognition events are as moving as the fire fighters, police, first responders, and families of 9/11 victims climbing stairs in cities all over the U.S. They climb to honor those who knew what they were going in to, and still went up those stairs on that fateful day – “and they are climbing still.”
Video of the Week: BBC’s David Attenborough reminds us of all to be grateful for life on this wonderful world with this nature video: http://youtu.be/WQgaVyDAMso
Welcome Home Veterans Event! On Wednesday, September 12, 2012, Yavapai College, Prescott Campus will host a Veterans Resource Fair from 12:00 – 5:00 pm at the Library circle. The purpose will be to provide veterans, spouses, dependents, students, faculty, staff, and local community members an opportunity to learn about information and resources available to veterans and their families at Yavapai College and within the community. Anticipated are resource tables to include: Veterans Women’s Programs, Veterans Housing Resources, local chapters of veteran service organization, DES Veterans Employment Service, Vet Center, Veterans Connection Club, YC resources, and others. Along with browsing tables, there will break-out sessions with a variety of topics such as: Veterans Benefits and Information, VRAP, Post 9/11 Veterans Ed Benefits, Stress Management, Veteran Employment Services, and more. Also watch for announcements about similar events offered at the Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) and Verde Valley Campus, currently being planned for October. Contact Info: Jane Hersh, Director for Trio Programs, 928-776-2091.
Blog Highlight of the Week is from our friends at Guidance Helicopters about career readiness and managing your online presence, at: http://www.guidanceaviation.blogspot.com/2012/09/online-guidance-to-career-placement-in.html If you don’t think you have an online presence because you don’t Facebook, just Google your name and make sure. Unless your future is as secure as Prince Harry’s, guard your online presence just like it’s your wallet.
If you are interested in attending events at Yavapai College (any campus), our main webpage (www.yc.edu) has a Calendar of Events including those that are free and open to the public, and some other fabulous events at our remodeled Performance Hall in Prescott. Here are some other places you can find info, if you are wanting to attend other universities, or are deciding between career options:
Transfer Workshops: FA12 Transfer Events flyer at www.yc.edu/advising, go to the navigation bar under the green “Workshops” heading.
Allied Health Workshops: http://www.yc.edu/alliedhealth (front page has link to workshop flyer)
Pre-Nursing Workshops: http://www.yc.edu/nursing (front page has link to workshop flyer)
Video of the Week is part of the Blue Star Families suicide prevention efforts to raise awareness and let veterans, active duty military and military family members know that they are not alone: http://youtu.be/511081LN5rI
Local event highlight: The 2012 Voices of Recovery Celebrations in Prescott and Cottonwood will feature speakers, resource booths, music, activities for children and free food. Each year hundreds of individuals and families attend these important and award winning events: September 15 - Prescott Courthouse Square, and September 22 – Cottonwood Garrison Park
If you or a loved one has health issues, it can help you overcome your concerns by learning more about what current research and treatment options there are available. Many free health newsletters are available through the internet, like this one by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, which highlights brain and memory issues: Johns Hopkins Health Alert Memory The good news is that our brain doesn’t stop producing new brain cells as we age (phew!), and exercising our brain by learning new things can help prevent cognitive decline. Pick a few newsletters from different viewpoints, not all of them, or you’ll have brain overload.
