Health & Human Services

Health & Human Services 20 N. Main St. Room 161 Brooksville, FL 34601 352-540-4338 352-540-4339 Fax www.hernandocounty.us/healthandhumanservices At Your Service August 2011 A Publication of the Hernando County Department of Health and Human Services Community Events.....Pages 1-9 Helpful Information.......Pages 2-15 Veteran Services.....Page 11-15 The Hernando County Association of Realtors in conjunction with Friends of the Children Inc. are sponsoring Operation Backpack. Visit www.hernandorealtors.com or call 352-799-1971 for more information. Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011 Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Jerome Brown Center 99 Jerome Brown Place Brooksville ( Off Darby Lane) Eligible Grades: Kindergarten though 8th grade All Children must be accompanied by an adult

http://www.alzheimersfamily.org Alzheimer s Family Support Groups meet at the following locations: Spring Hill Regional Hospital Medical Arts Building Suite 105 10441 Quality Dr. Spring Hill, 34609 Every Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. Leader: Maria Curley (727) 922-1358 The Residence at Timber Pines 3140 Forest Road, Spring Hill, 34606 3 rd Thursday of the month at 2:00 PM Leader: Maria Curley (727) 922-1358 Brooksville Regional Hospital Medical Arts Building Suite 120 17222 Hospital Blvd., Brooksville, 34601 Every Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. Leader: Maria Curley (727) 922-1358 Hernando County Hurricane Shelters XX MOVIES AT THE LIBRARY XX Special Needs Shelter No admission charge - movies are free! Free popcorn and beverages Large screen Surround sound Fun movie trivia For more information regarding show times, please call Library Program Staff at (352) 540-6391

Food Stamps, Cash & Medical Benefits The Department of Children and Families provides immediate online access and assistance is available at the following community partner locations: Department of Children and Families 661 S. Broad Street, Brooksville Health and Human Services 20 N. Main Street, Rm 161, Brooksville Career Central 7361 Forest Oaks Boulevard, Spring Hill The Department of Children & Families, AC- CESS Florida Program has several programs that can help Florida families. They include buying Food, Cash Assistance, Low or No Cost Health Care, or Help paying for Medicare Premiums. Each program has its own eligibility rules, but you may apply for one or all using the same application. Simply log onto the ACCESS Florida from any computer at: www. myflorida.com/accessflorida to see if you are eligible or to apply for benefits. The website can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For questions, please call the customer service call center at 1-866-762-2237. Assistance with the online process, copying and faxing can also be obtained from any of the ACCESS Community Partners listed on the website. Friends' volunteers operate a used book store, the Little Red Schoolhouse Bookstore, located at 1208 Kenlake Avenue, Spring Hill, FL 34606. New and used books are donated by the public. Hours are as follows: Monday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Net proceeds from the Little Red Schoolhouse Bookstore, fund raisers and membership fees, along with business and private donations, go toward library books, equipment and furnishings, special cultural programs and the Florida Library Youth Program.

Call your local library for more information. Main 352-754-4043 East Hernando 352-754-4443 Istachatta Station 352-540-4304 Rock Cannery Station 352-540-4306 Spring Hill 352-540-6374 West Hernando 352-540-6391 Last date to participate 9/9/2011 Last Ball Game September 23, 2011

Free Medical Clinic in Spring Hill Crescent Community Clinic is a free clinic now located in Spring Hill. The doctors serve uninsured, low income residents who might otherwise go without medical care. The clinic is modeled after similar ones in Tampa, Chicago and Los Angeles. For more information about the clinic and services, please call: 352-610-9916 or fax 352-610-9915 Monday, Wednesday or Friday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for appointments and more information on completing applications. Date: First 3 Saturdays of the month Time: 10:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Location: 5244 Commercial Way (US 19) Spring Hill 34606 Pay Less in Your Own Neck of the Woods! The Salvation Army & Hernando County Employees Annual Thanksgiving Basket drive is less than 3 months away. Start stocking up on goodies to donate to your department s basket. Chances are that many people are missing out on Senior discounts for goods and services right in their own neighborhoods, a new website is out to change that. Sciddy.com lists details on how adults age 55 and over can save as much as 15 percent on everything from travel to pet services. People can search for these everyday discounts by Zip code or city; no need to purchase coupons like other websites. www.sciddy.com Always keep the Poison Control Center Number near the phone! American Association of Poison Control Centers 1-800-222-1222 www.aapcc.org Announcing Free and Reduced Price Meals for students under the: National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs Applications forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for Free or Reduced Price meals, households must complete the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal s office in each school. The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. For more information please contact: The Food & Nutrition Department 8050 Mobley Rd. Brooksville, 352-797-7028

Enrichment Centers New Locations Spring Hill Location Spring Hill Regional Hospital 10441 Quality Drive Medical Arts Building Suite #105 Spring Hill, FL 34609 352-684-7568 Brooksville Locations Brooksville Regional Hospital 17222 Hospital Blvd. Medical Arts Building Suite#120 Brooksville, FL 34601 352-544-6022 Hernando County Mining Association Enrichment Center 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd. Brooksville, FL 34601 352-544-5900 Life South Blood Bank August 2011 For a complete calendar, please call (352) 596-2002 or visit the website at www.lifesouth.org/schedulehernando.html Date: Sunday, August 7, 2011 Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Location: St. Joan of Arc 2528 Glenridge Dr., Spring Hill Free Chick-fil-A sandwich coupon Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Time: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Location: Mariner Village Center 11092 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill Free Item from Little Caesars Pizza Date: Sunday, August 21, 2011 Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Location: Breakfast Club 148 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill Free breakfast for each donor Donors must be 17 or older (16 year olds may donate with written parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and show a valid photo I.D. Family Support Group Dates: Meetings are held the 2nd & 4th Fridays of each month Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location: Brooksville Enrichment Center Medical Arts Bldg, Ste. 120 17222 Hospital Blvd., Brooksville Date: Every Monday Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Date: Every Wednesday Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Beautiful Mind Center 10554 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill For information please call: Beautiful Mind Center @ 352-684-0004

Cleaning For A Reason If you know any woman undergoing Chemo, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides Free house cleaning one time per month for four months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. For more information, go to: www.cleaningforareason.org Check out www.medicare.gov. People with Medicare can begin to see improvements to their coverage from free preventive care and wellness visits to drug discounts for people in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, known as the donut hole. AUTISM Community Support Group for families of children on the Autism Spectrum. Please join BayCare Behavioral Health Institute in an effort to create awareness in Hernando County. HOTLINE 352-799-0657 SHELTER 352-686-8759 352-683-0110 Date: Time: Date: Time: Location: 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 3rd Wednesday of the month 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm BayCare Behavioral Health Institute 7074 Grove Road, Brooksville, FL For more information, please call 352-346-1677 or 352-544-6233.

Church Name Fellowship 11250 Spring Community Hill Drive Church Spring Hill, FL 34608 (Next to Sweet Bay) Mount Pleasant Ministries First Lutheran Church Address Phone # Website Address 27064 Church Road Brooksville, FL 34602 (Off Spring Lake Hwy) 30419 Park Ridge Drive Brooksville, FL 34602 (RM West near the library) (352) 686 4612 (352) 799 4133 or (352) 584 6641 (352) 796 8898 No website available No website available www. firstlutheranrmw.org This program s standard food box provides families with approximately $65 worth of groceries for $30. Monthly menus differ and consists of fresh, frozen and packaged food. There is no purchase limit for boxes, no applications or qualifications. Specialty boxes of steak, chicken, pork, fruits and vegetables are also available. To better help families in need, Angel Food Ministries participates in the Food Stamp program by accepting food stamps as a source of payment to purchase food and is designed to assist low-income families buy the food. Please contact the three host sites currently available for further information or contact Angel Food Ministries at 1-877-FOOD-MINISTRY or visit their web site at: www.angelfoodministries.com. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will conduct a free bread and pastries giveaway for those in need from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Saturday in the Parish Hall (side entrance) of the church located at 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. For information, call the church office at (352) 683-2010. St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will offer In His Footsteps soup & sandwich outreach program lunch from Noon to 2:00 p.m. the second Thursday of every month in the Parish Hall of the Church located at 13485 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. The meal is free of charge. For more information, please call the church at 352-688-0663 EAT WHAT YOU CAN,CAN WHAT YOU CAN T At the Little Rock Cannery Little Rock Cannery 15487 Citrus Way, Brooksville 352-540-4306 Hours of Operation: Tuesday Saturday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm There is an annual $25.00 membership fee Visit their website at : www.extension.hernandocounty.us

Career Central Outreach Center in Brooksville Career Central has a staff representative colocated with Health & Human Services, at the Hernando County Government Center 20 N. Main St., Room 161, Brooksville. Citizens can meet with Career Central s Placement Specialist, Adrienne Bostic, Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or by special appointment. Citizens can learn of the many employment and training programs and services offered through Career Central s One Stop such as youth programs, welfare transition, resume preparation, interviewing techniques, and job search. Career Central is an enterprise sponsored by the Pasco Hernando Workforce Board, Inc. Career Central serves as the area s One-Stop Venue for meeting both employer and employee needs. Sunday Dinner Location: First United Methodist Church 109 S. Broad Street, Brooksville Time: Date: Cost: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Every Sunday FREE to anyone hungry Local restaurants join together to offer meals to those on fixed incomes, single parents, homeless, or anyone that s hungry. Sponsored by numerous businesses and organizations throughout Hernando County. For more information about Love Your Neighbor, please contact John 352-428-9434 or Lisa at 352-428-9275. Salvation Army Mobile Hot Meal Canteen Service Date: Every Friday Time: 5:00 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Location: Hernando Park 205 E Fort Dade Ave. Downtown Brooksville Free to anyone who is hungry or homeless For more information please call, 352-796-1186 PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE OF HERNANDO COUNTY PHP is a program established to help feed those homeless and hungry on the west side of Hernando County. For more information, contact Ron Van Matre at 352-686-4466 or 352-650-3702. Date: Time: Location: Cost: Every Sunday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hernando County Senior Citizens Club 7925 Rhanbuoy Road Spring Hill, FL 34606 FREE to anyone hungry Pay What You Can Donation Station Thrift Store Donation Station is a pay what you can distribution center and food pantry organized to supplement the needs of the less fortunate in the community. The store is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are also open Sundays from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. A bag of food is donated on the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month depending on their donations. Love Your Neighbor Thrift Store 408 West Jefferson St. Brooksville Contact John Rudney at 352-573-8756 for more information.

Volunteers helping seniors with their health insurance option choices. Please call toll free 1-800-96-ELDER or 1-800-963-5337 Spring Hill Regional Hospital/Medical Arts Building 10441 Quality Drive Spring Hill, FL 34609 352-684-7568 Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. to Noon Brooksville Regional Hospital/Medical Arts Building 17222 Hospital Drive Brooksville, FL 34601 352-544-6022 Thursdays 11:00 a.m. to Noon Ridge Manor Library 6457 Windmere Road Brooksville, FL 34602 352-754-4443 Wednesday 12:00 p.m. Noon to 1:00 p.m. If you have been affected by a disaster, this website provides a way for you to register yourself as safe and well. From a list of standard messages, you can select those that you want to communicate to your family members, letting them know of your well-being. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as Safe and Well. To access the Safe and Well program call 1-866-GET-INFO or go to the American Red Cross Website at: www.redcross.org and click on the Safe & Well List, then click on the List Myself as Safe and Well. Next of Kin Registry Emergency Contact System Help for homeowners who are in foreclosure through the Florida Housing Finance Corp. www.flhardesthithelp.org Nationwide Foreclosure Intervention Hotline Foreclosure Help 888-995-HOPE The Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) is a FREE emergency contact system to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased. It provides a proactive service to store emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies. Stored information is only accessible via a secure area that is only accessible by emergency public trust agencies that have registered with NOKR. NOKR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established in 2004, dedicated to bridging rapid emergency contact information. For more information, please call (951) 699-8700 or visit the Report Abuse - Child & Elder Report Abuse on DCF Web Site The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has added a Report Abuse Online icon on its Web site at: www.state.fl.us/cf_web But, pranksters beware! Anyone who knowingly files a false report can be charged with a felony. The traditional abuse hotline remains available at (800) 96-ABUSE or TDD (800) 453-5145. Floridians, please report all child or elder abuse

Mortgage-help program kicks off A $1 billion program aimed at helping homeowners avoid foreclosure kicked off Monday, though it is less ambitious than originally proposed. The Florida Housing Corp. began taking applications Monday morning at Flhardesthithelp.org the federally funded program that will provide nearly 40,000 unemployed and underemployed homeowners with up to 6 months of cash assistance to make payments on mortgages that would otherwise go unpaid. Florida Weatherization Assistance Programs & Energy Conservation Shanika Figueroa MSW Homeless Student Liaison Hernando County School Board A Free Service For Low Income Homeowners Types of Assistance The following types of assistance may be available for your home, depending upon the results of the assessment. Minor home repairs will assist in lowering your electric bills. Address air infiltration, weather stripping, caulking, thresholds, minor wall, floor, ceiling repairs, and window and door replacement. Install attic insulation Repair or replace water heaters Repair or replace inefficient heating and cooling units Please be aware that due to limited available resources, eligible households will be ranked according to need and placed on a waiting list for services. MID FLORIDA COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. P.O. BOX 896 BROOKSVILLE, FL 34605-0896 Office # 352-796-1425 Fax# 352-848-0808 Toll Free 877-506-2731 From left, Veda Ramirez, HHS Specialist Donna Moore, HHS Specialist Beth Bach Gates, Adm. Secretary II Jean Rags, Director

Veteran Services: Operation Family Assistance Network Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Hernando County Veteran Service Officers will be available at the following locations: West Hernando Government Center Monday ~ Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 7479 Forest Oaks Blvd. Spring Hill, FL 34606 (352) 754-4033 Health & Human Services Every Friday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p. m. Hernando County Courthouse 20 N. Main Street, Room 161 (1 st Floor) (352) 540-4338 Appointments Only Case management & Resource Coordination In Home Individual, Couples, Children and Family Counseling Assessment and Planning Group Counseling Veteran & family Support Groups The Fan Program is available in Hernando and Pasco County. Meetings: Times: Locations: Thursdays 5:30 to 7:00 pm 7074 Grove Rd. Brooksville 14527 7th St., Dade City 8002 King Helie Blvd., New Port Richie For more information, please visit their website at: www.hernandocounty.us/veteran_services/ For more information, please contact: Cindy Lapidus, MS Cell Phone: 352-428-6631 Alison.lapidus@baycare.org 352-232-4770 & 727-420-7943 (Alternate numbers) Hernando County Veteran Services is looking for Veterans to volunteer to lead the County in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at the Board of County Commissioners meetings. Please contact Matt Peters at 352-754-4033 if you are interested.

More News For Veterans Keith Growe, LISW Brooksville Social Worker 14540 Cortez Blvd. Suite 108 Brooksville, FL 34613 352-597-8287 352-597-9816 Fax Keithgrowe2@va.med.gov Hats Off to S.W.F.M.D For their donation of over 200 cell phones and Accessories. Thank you!!! Cell Phones for Soldiers Announces 2011 Goals Cell Phones for Soldiers recently announced it s commitment to provide 750,000 communication tools in 2011 to troops stationed around the world, fulfilling a financial and emotional need of deployed armed forces. The average roaming fees from Afghanistan are $3.00 a minute, making a call home a rarity for many military professionals. Help connect military families, donate today! The Hernando County Veteran Services and Health and Human Services departments are drop off sites for the Cell Phones for Soldiers. For every phone donated, a soldier will receive one hour of phone time to call home. You may drop off the phones anytime during regular business hours, Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cell Phone Drop off locations: A Mobile App for Vets with PTSD VA and DoD have launched PTSD Coach a phone application that offers tools to Veterans experiencing post traumatic stress. The app encourages self assessment, while offering on the spot ways to cope with PTSD symptoms. Read more at VAntage Point and the White House Blog. Hot Topic VA Launches Homeless Prevention Program VA announced $60 million in homeless prevention grants as part of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. SSVF will provide grant money to state and community agencies which provides supportive services to eligible Vets and their families. Veteran Services: 7479 Forest Oaks Blvd, Spring Hill Health & Human Services: 20 N. Main St., Rm. 161, Brooksville For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/index.html IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS FOR VETERANS Education Benefits 1-888-442-4551 Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-829-4833