Indiana Families

Annual Children's Health Fair Offers Free Immunizations and Sports Physicals
Blackburn Health Center to host free health fair on Saturday, July 11

Indianapolis, June 22, 2009 -- As summer heats up, children will soon be preparing for the start of the school year. With the school year approaching, it is important for children to have regular medical checkups and screenings.

On Saturday, July 11, Blackburn Health Center will host a free children's health fair featuring sports physicals, immunizations and exciting children's games. The annual Randall S. Smith Jr. Children's Health Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blackburn Health Center, 2700 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Indianapolis. The event will also feature a college fair with representatives on hand from various universities.

Healthcare professionals will be available to answer questions and provide free immunizations for all ages and sports physicals for junior high and high school students. Parents are asked to bring their children’s immunization records. In addition to free health screenings and information, games, food and music will also be part of the day’s activities.

"With the start of the school year just around the corner, the fourth annual Randall S. Smith Jr. Children's Health Fair offers an excellent opportunity for children to get the healthcare and information they need," said Dr. John Kunzer, a pediatrician at Blackburn Health Center. "We hope the public comes out and enjoys the free food, games and music, and at the same time takes advantage of the wonderful services that will be available at Blackburn Health Center."

Featured screenings and information booths will include dental services provided by the Marion County Health Department CornerStone Diabetes & Medical Supplies, Wishard Health Services and eye exams provided by Prevent Blindness Indiana. In addition, WIC and Covering Kids and Families will have educational booths on various programs. For the fourth straight year, bone marrow registration and education will also be offered throughout the day. Fair participants will also be able to donate blood to the Indiana Blood Bank.

Randall S. Smith Jr., a 14 year old patient at Blackburn Health Center, passed away on June 8, 2006 from a combined form of blood cancer (leukemia/lymphoma). Randall was an inspiration to others as he fought his illness with courage while always keeping a positive attitude. He never complained; instead, he worried more about how his illness affected his family. Prior to his death, Randall made his mom promise to always try and help other children.

Sponsors for the Randall S. Smith Jr. Children's Health Fair include the IU School of Medicine Pediatric Student Interest Group, Monarch Beverage Company, MDwise, Teamsters Local 135 and Wishard Health Services. Donations have been made by Steak n Shake, McDonalds, Target, Wonder Bread and Mead Johnson. Refreshments will be provided by Teamsters Local 135.

The Blackburn Health Center, one of eight Wishard community health centers, provides healthcare services including primary care, family planning, social and dental services. For more information about the health fair, please call (317) 931-4306.

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SOCIAL NETWORKING:
What You Need to Know When Working with Kids

Facebook. MySpace. YouTube. Kids are spending at least as much time in an online world than in the real one. Learn from a national expert about these and other social networking sites and technologies.

"Youth Work in an Online World" will be taught by Erin Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family. The highly informative and fully interactive Webinar will be held on July 22, 2009, at 10a (Indy time).

Learn practical strategies for using social networking in your youth organization, school or youth ministry and become skilled on how best to help kids minimize danger and risk online.

Registration fee: $10 (for individuals who serve Indiana youth)
$30 (for individuals who do NOT serve Indiana youth)

Register: http://www.iyi.org/webinars

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Wednesday July 22, 2009
8:30am to 4:30pm

Location:
Zionsville United Methodist Church
9644 Whitestown Rd.
Zionsville, IN 46077

Cost: $60 *

Questions:
Email asktraining@aboutspecialkids.orgOverview: This workshop, combining the Article 7 and IEP training, is all day training that offers basic information about special education laws and regulations for Indiana children ages 3-21. In addition, this training will provide information on how to prepare for a case conference and write an IEP. This training is a great opportunity for family members and professionals who advocate for children with a disability or serious chronic illness.

Registration for the training will be closed on July 20, 2009

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2009 Support Breakfast and Resources will host Meaningful Day Services

The 2009 Support Breakfast and Resources will be held at Bethany Christian Church located 1920 N. Rangeline Road, Anderson, IN 46012. The breakfasts will be offered on Saturday, June 27, July 25, and August 8. Each will be from 9:30am-11am. These breakfasts offer parents and caregivers of a child with a disability an opportunity to be connected with resources to help their child and to connect with other parents/caregivers. These breakfasts are free to parents and caregivers.

Junes Support Breakfast and Resources will host Angie Brown and Andrea DeHann from Meaningful Day Services to offer a hands-on music therapy drum circle for parents and caregivers to better understand the benefits that music therapy offers individuals with disabilities.

Angie Brown, MT-BC has worked as a music therapist with children and adults with special needs for 7 and half years. She graduated from Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology. She plans on getting her Masters in Mental Health Counseling in the near future. She chose to go into the field of music therapy to advocate for those who can not speak for themselves, driven with a passion from growing up with a sister with special needs. She currently works under the Medicaid Waiver for Meaningful Day Services and serves the counties of Madison, Marion, Henry and Hamilton.

Andrea DeHaan, MT-BC has been with Meaningful Day Services since September 2008 and serves children and adults in special needs under the Medicaid waiver in Hamilton, Henry, Madison, Marion. She graduated from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan with a Bachelor of Music with a specialty in Music Therapy. Andrea went into music therapy because she knew that she could use her talents to help those who needed it most.

For further information, please call 765-393-2366.

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“Lights, Camera, Action”

When: August 14, 2009
Time: 9:00- 4:00 EST

Where: Fort Harrison State Park
5753 Glenn Road, Indianapolis, IN 46216

Cost: Registration will be $40.00

Key Note Speaker: “Dr. Mike Thompson”

Who should attend? Families – Youth – Child Welfare - School – Juvenile Justice- Mental Health - Community Partners

CEU’s will be provided.

Scholarships available for families! Funding generously provided by:
The Governor's Council for People with Disabilities: Consumer Involvement Fund

Brought to you by:
Family Action Network of Lake County, Indiana, Inc.
7235 Calumet Avenue, Hammond, IN 46324
1-800-958-4FAN
fanlc2@sbcglobal.net

Co-sponsored by:
Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and
Circle Around Families

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, Lutheran Children's Hospital and Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana will be presenting Sibshops, workshops for siblings of children with disabilities. Sibshops will give children an opportunity to meet other siblings of children with disabilities, and learn about their own siblings' special needs.

Sibshop for ages 4 to 6
August 22
10 am to 2 pm
Lutheran Hospital
Lower level, special function rooms 1 and 2
7950 W Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Registration and a ten dollar fee are required. (Fee includes lunch.) For more information, contact Emily Enockson, certified child life specialist at Lutheran Children's Hospital. Phone: 260-435-6207. Email: eenockson@lutheran-hosp.com .

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9th Annual Autism Advocates of India "Answers for Autism" Walk
Saturday , September 19, 2009
9 a.m. to 1.p.m.

Cox Hall Gardens
2000 W. 116th St.
Carmel IN 46032

Check website for updates: www.aaiwalk.org

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Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Adam's Mark Hotel
Indianapolis, IN

The Choices Technical Assistance Center is pleased to announce the 9th Annual Indiana Systems of Care Conference. On October 1st, we will return to the Adam's Mark Hotel on Indianapolis' southwest side. Last year's conference set a new attendance record, with more than 400 attendees and unique sponsors taking part. The SOC conference is unlike any in the state and is one of the most established and successful cross-system conferences available.

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, Lutheran Children's Hospital and Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana will be presenting Sibshops, workshops for siblings of children with disabilities. Sibshops will give children an opportunity to meet other siblings of children with disabilities, and learn about their own siblings' special needs.

Sibshop for ages 7 to 11
November 21
10 am to 2 pm
Lutheran Hospital
Lower level, special function rooms 1 and 2
7950 W Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Registration and a ten dollar fee are required. (Fee includes lunch.) For more information, contact Emily Enockson, certified child life specialist at Lutheran Children's Hospital. Phone: 260-435-6207. Email: eenockson@lutheran-hosp.com .