ACT Against Cancer Coalition:
The ACT group is in charge of many different projects, programs, and events throughout the year. This group plans events for the year, oversees the Women In Touch Endowment Fund, educational programs on cancer, educational school programs, men’s health programs, oversees the prostate cancer screening each year, road to recovery, assists with Relay for Life, Reach for Recovery, BCCCP, Look Good…Feel Better, and more!
ACT proudly produced wonderful 2008 calendar: Voices of Hope (Now on sale for $5.00 each!) . This calendar features our local friends and neighbors who are cancer survivors. All of the proceeds will go to our Women In Touch Foundation. This foundation helps Ashe county residents who are fighting the fight against cancer. For more information please call us at (336) 846-0781
Chairperson: Mary Caryl Elmore
Meetings are held quarterly: check our Health Events page for upcoming ACT meetings
ACTA:
ACTA is Community Transportation designed to meet your transportation needs. If your needs require handling personal assistive devices i.e. wheel chair, walker, etc., we have special equipped vans. Our services are offered to people of all ages and abilities. Consider ACTA when your needs call for transportation!
Call (336) 246-2000 for more information.
ASAP Task Force:
Ashe Suicide/Depression Awareness and Prevention Task Force—ASAP Task Force—formed in 1998 by the Ashe County Healthy Carolinians Task Force. ASAP has been working to reduce the incidence of suicide, provide support for survivors and remove the stigma attached to emotional illness in our county. Since the beginning, the task force has developed workshops on the different faces of depression, and the Sunshine Sunday Project was highlighted as a best practice in the NC Plan to Reduce Adolescent Suicide.
Sunshine Sunday for 2007 was held on November 11th with 11 wonderful churches participating. If you know of a church or group that would like to have a member trained to speak on this issue, or to request a speaker any time throughout the year please give us a call!
Walk Out of Darkness: September 13th, 2008
Sunshine Candlelight vigil: November 9, 2008
Chairperson: Debbie Wellborn
4:30pm every 3rd Thursday of the month
(No meeting in December)
A Safe Home for Everyone: A.S.H.E.:
ASHE is our domestic violence shelter here in Ashe County. They provide services and support for victims of family violence and sexual assault. Services include: advocacy, information and referral, support groups, and educational programs. ASHE on the web
Regional 24 hour help line 1-800-268-1488, ASHE office 982-8851, or page ASHE by calling the Sheriff’s Department: 246-1802, or in an emergency, 911
Ashe County Free Medical Clinic:
Providing free primary medical Services to the medically uninsured living or working in Ashe County, NC. ACFMC began in 2005 when a Duke Divinity School Grant was awarded to Ashe Outreach Ministries & Clifton United Methodist Church. With this grant, a faith-based, interdenominational, all volunteer community outpatient medical clinic was formed. ACFMC is incorporated as a tax-exempt 501 (c)3 charitable organization with its own Board of Directors, Executive Director, Medical Director, and clinic staff.
Located at 105 East Main Street (corner of Hwy. 88 and Old 16), Jefferson. For appointments, to volunteer, or for more information: call (366) 846-4649, or go to www.acfmc.org
ACFMC can not exist without volunteers, from clerical to custodial, from doctors to interpreters, from nurses to fund raisers. To volunteer please contact the Clinic Coordinator (336) 846-4649, www.acfmc.org
The Clinic has an urgent need for nurses! If you can work as little as 2 hours during the month, please call 336-846-4649 to volunteer!
Ashe Medication Assistance Program:
This program is designed to provide assistance to people getting their medications. When eligibility is established medications may be provided free or applicants may be charged a nominal fee. The Prescription Assistance Coordinator, a Registered Nurse, is available to take your calls, or you may apply in person. The
Medication Assistance Program is conveniently located at Ashe Family Central.
Contact Shelly Elliott, RN at (336) 982-6000
Ashe Volunteer Initiative:
The Ashe County Volunteer Initiative is an official committee of the Ashe County Board of Commissioners. The program vision is: “To Foster Community Power by Mobilizing the Strength and Resources of Neighbors and Volunteers, Resulting in a Community Empowered to Welcome Life’s Opportunities.” Visit us online, www.asheonline.com
For more information on the volunteer initiative program please call or email Dawn Goodman
(336) 246-1522, dawngoodman@asheaging.org
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BCCCP: Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program:
This wonderful program is housed at the Mountain Family Care Center, located at Ashe Memorial Hospital, and is part of the WiseWoman program. The BCCCP program provides screening for breast and cervical cancers for women that earn less than 250% of poverty level. The services also include health education and follow up care. It is very important for women to be enrolled and have the breast or cervical cancer diagnosed through the program in order for her treatment to be covered by BCCCP Medicaid.
Call for an appointment at the Mountain Family Care Center (336) 846-MFCC (6322). Services are available on Thursday evenings from 5-9pm.
Being the Boss of Your Diabetes:
This program is designed to help the diabetic patient and his/her family learn about their condition and how to control it. As part of the program, you will meet with a nurse educator and a dietitian on an individual basis, and then participate in group learning sessions. Anyone with diabetes looking for assistance in management of any aspect of diabetes and weight reduction is encouraged to participate in the program.
Classes are held on a rotating basis, Call Mountain Hearts for more information (336) 846-0744
Blood Sugar Screening:
Throughout the year Ashe County has a screening for Diabetes. Your risk for diabetes increases as you get older, gain too much weight, or if you are not active. It is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Don’t wait for the signs to be tested!
For more information about a Diabetes Program call Mountain Hearts at (336) 846-0744
Screenings are typically held on Diabetes Alert Day, which is the last Wednesday in February every year, and in November which is Diabetes Awareness Month. We also offer Screenings at different times throughout the year, watch the event calendar, or give us a call at the ACHC office!
Car Seat Checks:
As part of the Safe Kid Coalition, ACHC and other members of the coalition, helps with a free car seat inspection every third Friday of the month. Any one may participate; make sure to bring your car and your child!
We are proud to announce that have two additional Car Seat Technicians for Ashe County!
Chairperson: Safe Kids Coalition: Charles Young
Car Seat Checks at Ashe Family Central every 3rd Friday from 3pm until 4:30pm
2008 Schedule
Next Safe Kids Coalition Meeting: Check our Health Events page for upcoming meetings and Safe Kids events.
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Childbirth/Newborn Care Classes: Great Beginnings:
This is a beginner course for first time parents: Discussions include nutrition, pregnancy, labor , delivery, the postpartum period, and beginning newborn care, including infant CPR. Ashe Memorial Hospital also offers Childbirth refresher classes, Breastfeeding classes, and a Sibling class.
Contact the Ashe Memorial Hospital at (336) 846-0734
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Cholesterol Screenings:
A long standing program for Ashe County is our Cholesterol Screening held at Mountain Hearts every month. We provide a complete cholesterol screening, which is a full lipid panel and a blood sugar reading, for a cost of only $15.00.
You must preregister for a time slot—between 7:30 am until 9:00 am; call Mountain Hearts at 336-846-0744. Remember to FAST!
7:30am until 9:00am every 2nd Thursday of the month held at Mountain Hearts behind the Hospital.
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Community Health Action Teams—CHATs:
“Bridging the Gap to Better Health” CHATs empowers citizens to become responsible for their own health and wellness and assists in planning for improved community health. CHATs mission is to link people to resources that can help them…through education, support groups, and preventive health services. The CHATs group develops and maintains a network of trained volunteers who can positively affect the way community members participate in health life style behavior. Connecting Through churches is one of the best ways to connect to the community. If you would like to join our efforts in improving the quality of life for people in our county, please contact the Ashe County Healthy Carolinians office today!
Chairperson: Jim Greene
Meetings held Quarterly
CHATs Newsletter Online (takes you to our Health Events page, each month has a CHATs newsletter available)
(If you have suggestions for the newsletter or comments please contact juliana.whitaker@yahoo.com)
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Elder Abuse Prevention Team:
Ashe County Social Services evaluates 8-10 reports of elder abuse per month. It is estimated that 85% of all elder abuse cases are not reported. There are different types of elder abuse; physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, and abandonment.
If you are interested in joining this task force to prevent elder abuse contact Adult Protective Services at (336) 219-2719. If you need to report abuse please call the Sheriff’s Department at (336) 219-2603, Adult Protective Services 219-2719, or A Safe Home For Everyone 982-8851
**Save the Date for the Elder Abuse Prevention Forum: OCTOBER 13 (Monday), 2008 held at Ashe Services for Aging** If you would like more information, or to RSVP for this event please contact juliana.whitaker@yahoo.com, or call our ACHC office 336-846-0781
Elder Abuse Prevention Brochure (pdf)
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Lansing Memorial Park:
The Town of Lansing in beautiful Ashe County is in the process of adding a beautiful “pocket park” to our county. The group has all ready paved a wonderful well used walking trail along with a beautiful swing set for children to enjoy. Future plans for this lovely addition to Lansing include additional playground equipment, a shelter—hopefully a nice open gazebo type, and bathrooms.
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Mountain Hearts Center for Prevention and Wellness:
Mountain Hearts continues to be the only center in Ashe County and the High Country that provides a full line of primary and secondary prevention programs, such as Cardiac, Pulmonary, and Arthritis Rehabilitation, Diabetes and Weight Management, Great Beginnings, and personal and corporate memberships.
Check the Health Events page for upcoming events and programs at Mountain Hearts!
Mountain Hearts Center for Prevention and Wellness
Ashe Memorial Hospital
200 Hospital Avenue
Jefferson, NC 28640
(336) 846-0744
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Movers and Shakers: Parkinson Disease Support/Awareness/Education:
This group was formed to provide a group network for Parkinson Disease. The group meets quarterly. Call the ACHC office for more information (336) 846-0781
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Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Tobacco Committee:
This group meets every second Tuesday of the month. We share information with each other on the different aspects of improving the health of our county through nutrition, physical activity and reducing tobacco use. More information on this committee is coming soon.
Check our Health Events page for upcoming meeting dates, topics and events for this committee!
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Safe Sitter:
Safe Sitter® teaches adolescent babysitters how to handle crises, how to keep their charges secure, and how to nurture and guide a young child. In short, Safe Sitter® babysitters help children stay safe and sound while their parents are away. In the process, these 11-to 13-year-olds emerge as more confident, responsible and compassionate teens and adults. Their instructors thrive on making a difference in the lives of these adolescents and the children in their care. And their sponsoring Safe Sitter® site enjoys the benefits of developing a positive relationship with its community's youth and families.
Ashe Memorial Hospital has the 12.5 hour Safe Sitter classes throughout the year. The cost is $15 per child. To register you son, daughter, niece, nephew, neighbor, or your current babysitter just call the ACHC office!
Instructor: Juliana Whitaker
Safe Sitter Classes are listed on the Health Events page.
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West Jefferson Locomotion Trail:
This downtown trail is 1 mile in length and begins and ends at the Art Center off of East Main Street. This is a walking path with 1/5 mile markers made by local artists along the way in downtown West Jefferson.
*a pdf brochure coming soon!*
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