Buff alo County Community Partners invites you to join us for our Community Informational Meeting regarding the new HelpCare Clinic. Th e meeting will be Tuesday, April 15, from 7 - 8 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3315 11th Ave, Kearney. Our plan to build a community clinic developed over time as we met community members with unmet health needs and worked to fi nd ways to ensure all Buff alo County residents have access to care. Meet Larry. For over 45 years, Larry has called Buff alo County his home. Over 20 years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes, and since then the disease has impacted his work, his quality of life, and his family. We met Larry two years ago. He was homeless, unemployed, depressed, uninsured, and very ill. A new pilot program powered by Buff alo County Community Partners and led by community health workers at Sentinel Health Care helped Larry access health care and mental health services, fi nd employment, and secure a home. Today, Larry manages his diabetes on his own. He attributes his success to a program that met his individual healthcare needs. Meet Mary. Her story is similar. She is a single mother with diabetes who’s working hard to manage her

child’s diabetes. Her self-care comes last, if at all, as she struggles daily to provide for her child. By providing Mary

with access to her own primary care, she is now managing her health, enabling her to better provide for her child’s needs. Buff alo County Community Partners has learned from Larry and Mary and has plan to build a community clinic in Kearney. Join community leaders from all across our fi ne county at our Community Informational Meeting to learn more about the picture of need in our community, how we have made concrete plans to respond by opening a clinic in Kearney by the end of the year, and what you can do to join the movement. Bring your gifts of talent and time to support those in our community who need a helping hand. We are driven by our faith partners’ mission to serve. “For I was sick, and you cared for me,” Matthew 25:36. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Buff alo County Community Partners Executive Director Denise Zwiener at 308-627-4438 or dzwiener@bcchp.org or HelpCare Planning Team Leader Linda Muhlbach at 308-627-4717 or lindam@kearneyefree.com. We looking forward to seeing you at the Community Informational Meeting on April 15th!

April 2014 HelpCare Clinic Healthy Kids Weekend Prescription Take-Back

Community Informational Meeting for HelpCare Clinic April 15

Larry and Mary’s names have been changed, but they are real people in our community with real, unmet healthcare needs. We hope to bridge this gap with the HelpCare clinic.

Buff alo County Community Partners Contact Information

Visit bcchp.org/board for complete board member listing or bcchp.org/contact for complete staff listing and contact form.

General Information308-865-2284 info@bcchp.org

Denise Zwiener, Executive Director 308-865-2280 dzwiener@bcchp.org

Lisa Reese Parish, Board Chair308-237-6840lparish@uwka.org

Make the most of healthy family activities in Kearney Parks this summer by helping keep the parks tobacco-free. With the beginning of spring park activities, the Kearney Park & Recreation Department is reminding park visitors of a new courtesy rule that discourages tobacco use in Kearney’s parks. The rule, adopted by Kearney’s City Council in November, is designed to help make Kearney’s city-owned parks and playgrounds more family friendly and to promote good health among park visitors. “The message of the rule,” said Kearney Park & Recreation Director Scott Hayden, “is consistent with our goal to provide beautiful park spaces and promote healthy activities.” Signs will be posted in areas where people congregate—such as ball fields, playgrounds, and

shelters—to remind visitors that tobacco use is discouraged as a courtesy to other park users. Tobacco-free parks are becoming the norm throughout the country. Nebraska cities like Lincoln, Hastings, Central City, and LaVista that have already implemented similar policies report strong support from park visitors for their efforts. The Kearney rule is based on a proposal made to the Kearney Park and Recreation Advisory Board by members of the Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board (YAB) as part of its effort to promote good health in Buffalo County. The youth feel the policy will remind adults to set a healthy example for young people, keep the parks cleaner, and encourage healthy activities.

AnonymousBrown Transfer Company

Merv and Bev SchliefertEmma Jane Wilder

Thank You to Our January, February, and March Donors:

If you would like to partner with us through a financial donation, you may:

Contact Denise Zwiener at 308-865-2280 or dzwiener@bcchp.org

Donate on our website, bcchp.org, by clicking the blue “Donate” button.

On April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Buffalo County Sherriff ’s Office, along with volunteers from Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney/Holdrege Elk’s Lodge #984, Positive Pressure, and Two Rivers Public Health Department, will give community members their eighth opportunity in three years to prevent medication abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your unwanted medicine to Good Samaritan Hospital’s north parking lot at the intersection of 35th Street and A Ave. for safe disposal. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local

law enforcement partners. At the Buffalo County Take-Back, law enforcement and volunteers collected over 255 pounds of unwanted and unused medication. Over the course of its Take-Back initiative, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds—more than 1,700 tons—of pills. For more information on the Prescription Drug Take-Back, visit positivepressure.org/rxtakeback or contact coalition coordinator Tana Nelsen at 308-865-2283 or positivepressure@bcchp.org.

Prescription Drug Take-Back: Safely Discard Old Medicine April 26

Over 255 pounds of unwanted and unused medication was collected at the October 2013 Prescription Drug Take-Back.

YAB’s Proposed Tobacco-Free Parks Courtesy Rule Going Into Effect

FRESH AIR

FLOWERS- - -and - - -

TOBACCO FREE PARKThank you for being considerate of others!

Join us for the second annual Healthy Kids Weekend April 26 and 27. It will be filled with free events, activities, snacks, and prizes for the entire family. Activities start Saturday, April 26, with the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Kearney Public Schools’ PATH Walk event for pre-registered families. Last year, over 2,300 community members participated in the PATH Walk. For community members who aren’t pre-registered for the PATH Walk, the UNK Alumni Association will be hosting the first Bike Bowl in over a decade at the Ron and Carol Cope Safety Center. Team registration will run through April 21, but the event will be open to the public to watch. From 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., there will be a storybook walk through Harmon Park, presented by Kearney Park & Recreation and the Kearney Public Library. Large pages from the book Head to Toe by Eric Carle will be placed throughout Harmon Park. Participants will venture from page to page, completing activities along the way. In addition, KPR and the library will be giving away five copies of the book to lucky participants. On Sunday, from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., the Hilltop Mall will be hosting a Family Mall Walk. Then, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. is Kearney Park & Recreation’s Bicycle Sunday. The loop runs from the UNK spillway through Betty’s Trail and ends at Kearney Cinema 8. Families can start and stop wherever they please and visit activity booths along the trail. Riders who stop at enough booths can turn in a punch card for a chance to win a 2014 family pool pass. On both days, families are encouraged to visit the Kearney Family YMCA, which will have open doors to the public on Saturday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1

p.m. – 7 p.m. This will include free access to the gyms, pool, and family game room. Free t-shirts will be available while supplies last. Elks Country Golf will also be open to the public both days, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday. They will have free mini rounds of golf, free healthy snacks, a bounce house obstacle course, and free golf lessons

and challenges, and more. Stop by to say “hi” to Elroy the Elk and watch the Kids on the Block puppet show. Families will also have a chance to win other prizes by picking up an Activate Buffalo County Unplug Challenge punch card at any of the events or at activatebuffalocounty.com. Anyone who completes five of the eight challenges can turn in their card at the Kearney Family YMCA, Kearney Park & Recreation office, or Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce for a chance to win one of the following prizes: Kearney Park & Recreation gift package, $25 Hilltop Mall gift card, Louie the Loper gear,

free YMCA birthday party certificate, free YMCA Youth Running Club or Strength Training registration, or an Elks Junior Golf gift certificate. Healthy Kids Weekend is a collaborative effort between Activate Buffalo County, Buffalo County Community Partners, Elks Country Golf, Hilltop Mall, Kearney Family YMCA, Kearney Park & Recreation, Kearney Public Library, Kearney Public Schools, Safe Routes to School, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and UNK Alumni Association. For more information on Healthy Kids Weekend, visit activatebuffalocounty.com/healthykidsweekend.

Healthy Kids Weekend Set to Get Families Active April 26-27

PATH Walk Foster Field9 - 11 a.m.Must pre-register.

Bike BowlUNK Safety Center9 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.)After a decade-long hiatus, the Bike Bowl is back! Come compete in the race or cheer on your friends.

Storybook WalkHarmon Park Activity Center11 a.m. - 1 p.m.Follow the pages of Eric Carle’s Head to Toe. Five books will be given away!

Bicycle SundayUNK Spillway to Betty’s Trail2 - 5 p.m.Take a ride and visit fun activity checkpoints. Fill your punch card for a chance to win a 2014 pool pass!

Family Mall WalkHilltop Mall12 - 2 p.m.Team up with your family and friends for some laps around Hilltop Mall!

Kearney Family YMCA Free WeekendSaturday 1 - 6 p.m.Sunday 1 - 7 p.m.Open gym, pool, and family game room. Free t-shirts while supplies last!

Elk’s Country Golf Free WeekendSaturday 2- 6 p.m.Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.Bounce house, healthy snacks, golf lessons, Kids on the Block puppet show, and much more!

PATH Walk Foster Field

to win a 2014 pool pass!

PO Box 1466Kearney, NE 68848

TIPS is a beverage server training approved by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Contact

positivepressure@bcchp.org to register.

Check bcchp.org/tips for future classes.

Join us at the HelpCare Clinic “Community Informational Meeting” at Holy Cross Lutheran on April 15 at 7 p.m.

Coalition Connection

Upcoming Classes: 4/10, 6 - 10 p.m. - On-Premise Sales4/27, 2 - 6 p.m. - On-Premise Sales5/18, 2 - 6 p.m. - On-Premise Sales6/5, 6 - 10 p.m. - Off -Premise Sales

ScreenFree Week is coming up. From May 5-11 we’re asking you to Unplug! Instead of spending time with PCs and TVs, spend it outside with breezes and trees!

Our new community educator has been trained and is ready to teach! Call 308-865-2720 today to schedule a training in your workplace.

YAB is seeking applications from 7th-12th grade students who want to work with other students, policy makers, and community leaders to help make a

positive diff erence and have fun doing it. Apply online at bcyab.org/apply.

Parents, a safe and sober prom begins with you! Take a Stand against underage drinking and ensure your child’s prom is one to remember!

Discussion has started about developing a behavioral health and primary care integration plan for the new HelpCare Clinic.

We are implementing a campaign to prevent youth violence in our schools and community. Contact 308-865-2290 to see how you can assist in our eff orts to keep our community safe for kids.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are reducing health care costs in Buff alo County. View our CHW policy that helped form LB 1051 at bcchp.org/chw.