Newsroom

The Partnership for Better Health is a well-respected voice on timely health issues and actively involved in various initiatives and events throughout the community. Whether we are weighing in on a pressing policy issue, sharing recent developments in the field of health care or spreading the news about a promising public health strategy, we aim to keep the community informed and engaged.

Browse recent news items below to see what’s happening, and stay informed by signing up to receive future communications directly in your inbox.

— REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS — Men’s Recovery House in Carlisle Supporting Recovery from Addiction in South Central PA

Due: August 16, 2019   |   Up to $100,000 Grant

An estimated twelve Pennsylvanians die each day as the result of drug-related deaths. Men comprise 70 percent of these deaths in our state, with younger men between the ages of 25 and 34 experiencing the highest number of fatalities. Since our founding in 2001, the Partnership for Better Health has been committed to addressing addiction throughout our service region. Together, with many others we are developing strategies to curb the epidemic by increasing access to prevention and treatment services. We are pleased to announce a new funding opportunity of up to $100,000 to support the development of a Men’s Recovery House in Carlisle that supports individuals in their journey towards a healthy, sober life. Organizations with significant experience providing treatment and recovery services in Pennsylvania are encouraged to apply. To receive a copy of our detailed Request for Proposals, click below. Applications are due August 16, 2019.

Leadership Cumberland Scholarship Available

The Partnership for Better Health is pleased to offer a scholarship for the 2019-20 Leadership Cumberland program. The award will go to a health-related professional working at or volunteering for a nonprofit organization that serves the foundation’s region.   To apply, click here. Applications are due by June 28. To learn more, contact Gail Witwer at: 960-9009 x 8 or [email protected]

Emergency Shelter Training

The goal of the training is to orient shelter providers and critical community leaders to the role of shelter in an effective crisis response system and emphasizes quickly connecting people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and other services to enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. This training will help emergency shelters lower barriers, build capacity to be more housing-focused, and rapidly exit clients to permanent housing. The workshop covers factors for effective program design and implementation and planning for next steps.

Register Here.

Housing Systems Change Training Series

The Center for Capacity Building (the Center) will provide three trainings between September 2018 and March 2019 for the Housing Systems Change Initiative: an Emergency Shelter Training, a Rapid Re-Housing Training, and a Diversion Training. The Alliance’s training brings together research and best practices on emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and diversion with innovative and emerging strategies from successful program models around the country.

Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Training (Full Day)

Thursday, October 25, 2018. Bongiorno Conference Center

The goal of the training is to help participants understand the critical role RRH plays in ending homelessness. Participants gain an understanding of the three core components of rapid re-housing – housing identification, financial assistance, and case management and services – as well as practical strategies for implementation and practice. Facilitators help participants tackle tough questions such as recruiting landlords in a challenging housing market and identifying the “right” assistance.

Click HERE to register.

 

Emergency Shelter Training (Full Day)

Thursday, November 29, 2018. Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle

The goal of the training is to orient shelter providers and critical community leaders to the role of shelter in an effective crisis response system and emphasizes quickly connecting people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and other services to enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. This training will help emergency shelters lower barriers, build capacity to be more housing-focused, and rapidly exit clients to permanent housing. The workshop covers factors for effective program design and implementation and planning for next steps.

Registration details will be announced at a later date.

 

Diversion Training (Half Day)

Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle

The goal of the training is to help participants understand the role diversion plays in an effective crisis response system. Participants gain an understand of the critical elements of implementing effective diversion practice at the front door of the homeless system as well an understanding of key elements of diversion.

Registration details will be announced at a later date.

 

All trainings include a mix of presentation, interactive activities, and discussion.

Contact Carol Thornton for more information, 717-960-9009 x 7.

 

 

Community Training: Systems Change Summit

The Systems Change Summit 2018 was an opportunity for community leaders of collaborative initiatives to come together for a day of learning, conversation and planning to advance systems change efforts. This Summit was intentionally designed to help cross-sector partners advance their own initiatives through structured planning activities that will result in a clearer sense of the five “P’s” of systems change: Purpose, Principles, Priorities, People and Projects. Participants learned about design thinking and collective impact concepts and tools to help navigate complex challenges and accelerate meaningful and lasting systemic change.

 Slides of those presentations are available below.

Capacity for Change Slide Deck – PBH Systems Change Summit 2018

Leadership Cumberland Scholarship Available

The Partnership for Better Health is pleased to offer a scholarship for the 2018-19 Leadership Cumberland program. The award will go to a health-related professional working at or volunteering for a nonprofit organization that serves the foundation’s region.

 
To apply, click here Leadership Cumberland Scholarship App 2018-2019 with hyperlink. Applications are due by June 29. To learn more, contact Gail Witwer at: 960-9009 x 8 or [email protected]

Community Training: Responding to Trauma & Building Resiliency

The foundation hosted a community training titled Responding to Trauma & Building Resiliency on Monday April 30, and Tuesday May 1.

The training focused on The Community Resilience Model © (CRM) that was designed by Elaine Miller Karas to support the creation of trauma informed and resiliency-focused communities, by building common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system. It aims to build resilience in individuals and communities by focusing on how to build skills of well-being. Participants learned six accessible, concrete skills that can be taught to others or used by individuals.

Slides of those presentations are available below.

PBH-4-30-18Trauma Responsive Practices-CRM Slides

PBH-5-1-18 CRM Slides (1)

Here are some follow-up resources.

Websites for school trauma integration:

Helping Traumatized Children Learn from Trauma Sensitive Schools (Massachusetts Advocates for Children) 

The Heart of Teaching and Learning from Washington State 

Books:

Peter Levin’s two books: Waking the Tiger: healing Trauma and In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

Norman Dodge’s books: The Brain Changes Itself and The Brain’s Way of Healing

Rick Hanson: Hardwired for Happiness

Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

Robert Scaer: The Body Bears the Burden

ACES:

ACES Connection- an online community for those interested in learning more about ACES and what people are doing about it in their communities and professions.

Nadine Burke-Harris-TED Talk on ACES

Healing Neen -Tonier Cain’s story about overcoming ACES and finding recovery and healing

 

Foundation Offers Leadership Cumberland Scholarship

Ready to Advance Your Career?
Full Scholarship Available
The Partnership for Better Health is pleased to offer a scholarship for the 2018-19 Leadership Cumberland program. The award will go to a health care related professional working at or volunteering for a nonprofit organization that serves the foundation’s  region.
 
To apply, Leadership Cumberland Scholarship App 2018-2019. Applications are due by June 15. To learn more, contact Gail Witwer at: 960-9009 x 8 or [email protected]

Health Care Providers in South-Central Pennsylvania Are Invited to a Summit on the Health Benefits of Outdoor Recreation

Carlisle, PA – Why are doctors in Philadelphia prescribing time in parks to urban children? Why is a world-class athlete in Wyoming focused on taking those addicted to opioids outdoors? They do this because outdoor physical activity benefits physical and mental health. In fact, a recent Penn State University study found that more than 70% of Pennsylvania residents consider parks, trails, and open space to be a critical part of the health care system.

In light of that, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, with support from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and in partnership with the Department of Health, the South Mountain Partnership, and the Partnership for Better Health, is holding a “South Mountain Health Summit – The Benefits of Being Active Outdoors” on August 22 from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau office, located at 53 W. South Street #1, Carlisle, PA 17013. The event, as well as parking, is free, and coffee and light refreshments will be provided.

The event is open to doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, and other health care providers who have an interest in learning more about the connections between outdoor recreation and health and who would like to share their input on what they need in order to best provide information to their patients. Guest speakers include Dr. Chris Sciamanna from Hershey Medical Center and Dr. Andrew Mowen of Penn State University, with additional information provided by Dr. Katherine Faull of Bucknell University.

“This summit will bring together a variety of health care and outdoor recreational professionals to share their ideas and experiences to get more people outdoors living healthy lifestyles,” said Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. “We look forward to active and engaged discussion about outdoor recreation and how we can help health care providers talk to their patients about this important topic.”

To register for the summit, please email [email protected] by August 18.