World AIDS Day - Dec 1st

This Sunday, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. It has been more than 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the U.S. but HIV is still a reality for more than a million Americans.

There are new treatments that can help people living with HIV lead long, healthy lives. But first you have to know your status so you can get the care and treatment you might need. To take action for the day, we encourage you to find an HIV test near you and take the test - it's quick, easy, and often free.

You can find HIV testing sites and other services near you by visiting AIDS.gov or calling the CDC information line at 1-800-CDC-Info , or 1-800-232-4636. You can call any time and someone will answer your questions and help you find a free or inexpensive testing center. Here’s the phone number again: 1-800-232-4636.

We encourage you to share this information with your friends and family. On World AIDS Day and every day, knowing your HIV status means taking care of yourself and others.

Here is some more information from AIDS.gov:

#FacingAIDS

Now in it's sixth year, we are once again asking people to upload a photo and a message about how and why they are Facing AIDS. But this year we have a little bit of a twist. In addition to uploading a photo to www.facing.AIDS.gov, we are encouraging people to use #FacingAIDS in their Tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram photos, Vine videos, YouTube and more. We want this to be a national conversation about confronting stigma and promoting HIV testing. How are you #FacingAIDS?

Thunderclap for HIV Testing and Services

We're trying something new this year. Thunderclap is  a tool that helps amplify a message. For World AIDS Day we created a tweet to promote the HIV Testing and Services Locator. If we can get a 100 people to support this message by December 1, Thunderclap will send it out simultaneously to all our supports. Please support and share our message!

Lights. Cameras. Face AIDS.

We've produced several videos this year that you can also promote and share for World AIDS Day. Namely:

• How are you #Facing AIDS (http://youtu.be/1cItOnjq8Do);
• AIDS.gov #FacingAIDS app (http://youtu.be/f2UyS32aon4_; and
• a personal message from Dr. Ronald Valdiserri about how the loss of his brother to HIV contributed to his personal commitment to HIV/AIDS (http://youtu.be/1cItOnjq8Do).

Wait, there's more!

We have lots of other resources and tools on our World AIDS Day page, including badges, links, posters, and more!

Energy Assistance Programs

Hi, If you or someone you know are having difficulty paying for heat this winter and face living without heat, several programs are available to low income households to make home energy use more affordable, avoid shutoff of utility services during the winter, and maintain a warm and safe environment especially for the elderly, the disabled, and households with young children.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (or LIHEAP) is a federally funded program to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet their home heating needs. The program provides:
Heating bill assistance up to $1000 annually
Energy conservation education
Dysfunctional heating system repair or replacement up to $5,000
Broken or inoperable window repair or replacement up to $1,000

Another program, Puget Sound Energy’s HELP provides assistance with the cost of natural gas consumption to qualified Puget Sound Energy (PSE) natural gas customers with an account in their name or in the name of a member of their household. HELP Provides: Puget Sound Energy customers help with their home energy costs and Natural gas bill assistance up to $1000 annually. To apply for LIHEAP or HELP call 1-800-348-7144.

In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Centerstone: Their LIHEAP and PSE HELP programs are already open. If you have an emergency situation such as you have been disconnected from your heat, are out of deliverable fuel such as oil or propane or have received an “urgent” notice from Seattle City Light or Puget Sound Energy and are facing disconnection within 10 days, you must pick up an “Emergency Packet” from Centerstone, so you can fill out the application and submit all of the required documents without waiting for an appointment. For more info visit center-stone.org/programs/energy-assistance

In South King County, The Multi-service center administers the program. Multi-Service center is currently scheduling appointments for PSE HELP. They are NOT scheduling LIHEAP appointments yet, however they are hopeful LIHEAP appointments will begin early December. For more information visit multi-servicecenter.com/get-help/energy-assistance

In North & East King County the energy assistance program is through Hopelink. Their LIHEAP and HELP programs are already open. Appointments open up Monday-Thursday at 9am: 9am is the best time to call because appointments go fast. They have a special line for seniors and people with disabilities which is 425-298-0014.  If you are completely disconnected or has less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood or propane they need to call their local Hopelink center to schedule an ER appointment: Bellevue 425-943-7555, Kirkland – 425-889-7880, Redmond – 425-882-0241, Shoreline – 206440-7300, Sno-Valley – 425-333-4163. For more information visit hope-link.org/get_help/energy_assistance

But no matter where you live (unless you are experiencing one of the emergency situations previously mentioned) to apply for the program, you must call the automated Energy Assistance Appointment Line 1-800-348-7144 to schedule an appointment at one of the three participating agencies, determined by ZIP code. That’s 1-800-348-7144.

Free Job Training Programs in Office Occupations and Medical Business Information Technology

If you or someone you know are looking for free job training, I want to let you know about two free job training programs at South Seattle Community College, in office occupations and medical business information technology.  

The 1^st Step Program at South Seattle Community College can help you jumpstart your new career in office occupations! The program is designed to help students meet the needs of the modern, fast-paced business environment. The 1^st Step program is designed for those students who would like to begin their careers or start a new one in office occupations. Entry level workers earn competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement in careers such as customer service representative, records management, office administration and general office support. Graduates will come out of the class with an Office Assistant Certificate and will have the opportunity to continue onto MBIT or BIT classes in the Fall or move directly into job search or internship development. 

Classes included in the 1^st Quarter are: Diversity in Business, Integrated Communications/Business English, Customer Relations, Information Technology, Job Readiness/Resume and Cover Letter Development/Career Exploration

Students who are City of Seattle residents, are eligible for Basic Food, and do not already possess an AA or a BA degree will receive: College Navigation, Tuition Assistance, Transportation Assistance and Case Management Services.   

Classes are scheduled to begin January 14^th 2014. The classes are Mon - Thurs from 9:00am – 4:30pm and Fri 9am-2:30pm

For more information contact Kristi O’Neill, BIT Career Pathways, Career and Education Navigator at: koneill@ywcaworks.org or go to: www.southseattle.edu/workfirst

  

Or you may be interested in FREE Short-Term training in Medical Business Information Technology at South Seattle Community College. This is a 19 week intensive introduction for entry-level employment in Medical Business Information Technology/Office Administration. The last 6 weeks of the program is a built in Externship within the medical field. Prerequisites are strong and up-to-date keyboarding and computer skills and a desire to learn and work harmoniously with others in a medical setting.

Classes are scheduled to being January 14^th 2014. The classes are Mon - Thurs from 9:00am – 4:30pm and Fri 9am-2:30pm. Classes included in the program are:

Insurance Processing, Medisoft Billing, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access/Filing, Medical Terminology, Externship, Professional Business Skills and Job Search and Interviewing.

Some of the careers that this program prepares you for are Entry level Billing and Coding Specialist, Patient Registrar, Patient Services Specialist/Representative, Administrative Specialist, Ambulatory Floats, Teleservices, Patient Care Representative, Health Information Services, Medical Front Office Associate, Claims Representative, Client Services Representative, Unit Assistant/Data Entry, Patient Account Representative, Telecomm Operator and Insurance Customer Services Representative.

If you are interested in participating in the Medical Business Information Technology training please contact Kristi O’Neill at 206-336-6979 koneill@ywcaworks.org or go to: www.startnextquarter.org to sign up for the next orientation.

Day of Dignity - Saturday 11/9, 11am

If you or someone you know are experiencing homelessness, I want to let you know about the Day of Dignity, this Saturday, the 9th at 11am at Millionair Club Charity.

Day of dignity is a national effort in which volunteers provide homeless individuals with basic necessities. Offering a helping hand to those in need.

The following free services will be available:

• Gifts
• catered meal
• health screenings
• hair cuts
• acupuncture
• massage therapy
• resources to know your options in healthcare and beyond

These items will be distributed:

• hats
• gloves
• hoodies
• underwear
• thermal underwear
• hand sanitizer
• hygiene kits 
• school supplies
• socks
• beanies
• deodorant
• scarves

They have only enough for 450 people. First come first served. Please spread the word.

Day of Dignity
Saturday, November 9th 
11 AM
Millionair Club Charity
2515 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Take care!