Elizabeth Kix, MPH, APR’s Post

https://lnkd.in/gAVtGWp8 Here is the write up on the story done by Jennifer Winter.. Thank you Jennifer! SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Ivanhoe Newswire) – With an aging population on the rise, more seniors are experiencing social isolation than ever before. However, one organization is stepping up to help spark new connections and friendships. As we age, more and more older Americans are experiencing feelings of loneliness. On top of that, new studies reveal that social isolation can result in cognitive decline issues, such as dementia. However, making new friends is not always easy. That’s why the non-profit ‘Friend-to-Friend America’ has made it their mission to help bridge this gap and offer a lifeline to seniors. Mae Shuyetani and Irene Monsoon are two long-time friends who know each other’s every move. Shuyetani, at ninety-one, often finds herself without family around. This is where ‘Friend-to-Friend America’ stepped in, matching her with Monsoon, a volunteer, twelve years ago. Their bond has remained unbreakable since. “When I see you, it makes me smile and happy. How do you feel?” asks Shuyetani. Monsoon replies, “Good inside.” Shuyetani’s story is not unique. Recent polls indicate that one in three adults between the ages of fifty to eighty feel socially isolated. Chronic loneliness can contribute to memory loss, lack of physical exercise, and inadequate nutrition. “Covid brought attention to everyone that isolation and loneliness are huge issues,” emphasizes Lisa Slavik, the Executive Director of Friend-to-Friend America. The organization, armed with a team of a hundred trained volunteers, is actively visiting seniors in the Pacific Northwest. Slavik explains their approach, “We look at what their interests are, where they live, what they want to get out of a relationship. And then we work really hard to find a volunteer.” Each volunteer commits to meeting their friend twice a month for a year, but many of these relationships extend far beyond that initial commitment. Slavik, who has a personal connection to the cause, emphasizes, “It’s really about creating that hundred percent friendship.” Friend-to-Friend America, in its forty-five years of operation, estimates that it helps around six hundred seniors each year in the Pacific Northwest region. The ultimate goal is to expand this impactful initiative nationwide. Currently, the non-profit is operated by volunteers and relies on donations for funding. If you’re interested in learning more about Friend-to-Friend America or volunteering, visit their website at FriendToFriendAmerica.org. Sources: https://lnkd.in/d8qMyyW5 https://lnkd.in/gAJiQXF6 Contributors to this news report include: Jennifer Winter, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer and Editor. To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gKTjiDSe

Arkansas Nonprofit Initiative Poised To Become International Model for Helping Families in Crisis - Restore Hope announces the 100 Families Initiative will expand to other states, Canada What: Press conference to announce 100 Families Initiative going international Who: Leaders from Michigan and Canada bringing the initiative to their communities When: Monday, June 10 at 1 p.m. Where: Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness, 125 Wellness Way, Hot Springs, AR 71913 A model for assisting families in crisis developed by the Arkansas-based nonprofit Restore Hope is going international. Join us for a press conference where leaders from Michigan and Canada will unveil plans to integrate the 100 Families Initiative into their own communities. The officials will discuss how the initiative will positively impact their regions and the motivations behind their decision to adopt the model. The 100 Families Initiative was developed five years ago and has been implemented in sixteen Arkansas counties. As part of the initiative, communities are provided with software, called HopeHub, that connects service providers in one place to serve a family holistically. “Families in crisis have many needs, like help with food, housing, transportation, substance abuse treatment, child care, or access to mental health services. A single organization can not help a family with all of those. The software allows providers to communicate efficiently about the various needs of a family and see who all is able to assist them. This way providers are not working in silos and services are not being duplicated,” said Restore Hope Executive Director Paul Chapman. At the press conference, Restore Hope will provide a demonstration of the HopeHub software system, including its ability to track outcomes.

🗣️ A 70-year-old who finally found a solution to a lifetime of #loneliness says the #friendships he's made are worth the cost + Business Insider Ayelet Sheffey #relationshipsmatter #olderadults #goodstuff "#SeniorVillages are part of a #nationwide #network of community-based #nonprofits that connect #olderadults to others in their area through #resources and #activities. There are more than 400 senior villages in the US, and they're unique in that, in contrast to a #retirement #community, these villages allow older adults to live where they choose while still having access to #virtual and in-person resources that the village offers." "There's suddenly a lot of opportunities and activities that I can rely upon and be with people, and there are people who know me and care about me," Grossman said. "And if I were to sign up for something and didn't go, someone would call me and say, 'What happened?'" - ... #agingpopulation #agingwithdignity #agingwell #seniorliving #seniorcitizens #olderpeople #healthyliving #relationshipsmatter #friendsandfamily #friendshipmatters #humanfirst #livingwithpurpose #buildingconnections #socialcare #socialimpact #caringcommunities #eldercare

A 2023 White House Roundtable on Young Black Men’s Mental Health explored the need for attention to mental health among Black boys and men, highlighting that nearly 40 percent of Black teens say they struggle with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. According to DataHaven’s Greater Hartford Community Wellbeing Index, in 2022, Black adults were 1.6 times more likely to report feeling down or depressed as compared to white adults. At the same time, research finds that African American men with depression are significantly less likely to seek help compared with White men with depression. To advance solutions to these challenges, the Beta Iota Boule Foundation (“Boule") and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving have announced a collaboration to support the mental health of Black boys and men. This effort includes an investment of $400,000 from the Boule that will be placed with the Hartford Foundation. The Hartford Foundation will match the Boule funds with up to $600,000 in additional funding to create a $1 million impact. Two hundred thousand dollars of these funds will be made available through the Black Giving Circle at the Hartford Foundation to support grants over the next two years. In 2024, the Black Giving Circle Fund is offering a competitive grant opportunity that will award $100,000 through five $20,000 one-year grants to support nonprofit projects related to promoting and expanding access to mental health services for Black boys and men. 

For seniors and their families looking to either relocate or downsize, there are experts who can help with the difficult decisions in that process. There are realtors who specialize in the needs of seniors looking for the home where they'll age in place, and move managers whose expertise is deciding what to keep and what to discard — whether by donating, selling, handing down or simply tossing — while preserving memories and legacy. #seniorliving #caregiversupport #seniors #downsizing #downsize

https://lnkd.in/gFThnUmV SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Ivanhoe Newswire) – With an aging population on the rise, more seniors are experiencing social isolation than ever before. However, one organization is stepping up to help spark new connections and friendships. As we age, more and more older Americans are experiencing feelings of loneliness. On top of that, new studies reveal that social isolation can result in cognitive decline issues, such as dementia. However, making new friends is not always easy. That’s why the non-profit ‘Friend-to-Friend America’ has made it their mission to help bridge this gap and offer a lifeline to seniors. Mae Shuyetani and Irene Monsoon are two long-time friends who know each other’s every move. Shuyetani, at ninety-one, often finds herself without family around. This is where ‘Friend-to-Friend America’ stepped in, matching her with Monsoon, a volunteer, twelve years ago. Their bond has remained unbreakable since. “When I see you, it makes me smile and happy. How do you feel?” asks Shuyetani. Monsoon replies, “Good inside.” Shuyetani’s story is not unique. Recent polls indicate that one in three adults between the ages of fifty to eighty feel socially isolated. Chronic loneliness can contribute to memory loss, lack of physical exercise, and inadequate nutrition. “Covid brought attention to everyone that isolation and loneliness are huge issues,” emphasizes Lisa Slavik, the Executive Director of Friend-to-Friend America. The organization, armed with a team of a hundred trained volunteers, is actively visiting seniors in the Pacific Northwest. Slavik explains their approach, “We look at what their interests are, where they live, what they want to get out of a relationship. And then we work really hard to find a volunteer.” Each volunteer commits to meeting their friend twice a month for a year, but many of these relationships extend far beyond that initial commitment. Slavik, who has a personal connection to the cause, emphasizes, “It’s really about creating that hundred percent friendship.” Friend-to-Friend America, in its forty-five years of operation, estimates that it helps around six hundred seniors each year in the Pacific Northwest region. The ultimate goal is to expand this impactful initiative nationwide. Currently, the non-profit is operated by volunteers and relies on donations for funding. If you’re interested in learning more about Friend-to-Friend America or volunteering, visit their website at FriendToFriendAmerica.org. Sources: https://lnkd.in/gtThZ3x2 https://lnkd.in/gfpWaynC Contributors to this news report include: Jennifer Winter, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer and Editor. To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gDbVPHaB

"Did you really buy this for me? No one buys me what I ask for, ever." This is what 14-year-old Jacob told his advocate when she delivered his wish. He couldn't believe that the drawing tablet that he had wanted for years was finally in his hands. She told us that he hugged it tightly and kept repeating "thank you" as he walked into the house. Jacob has been in foster care for years. This is the reason One Simple Wish exists. Recently, a donor sent a very long list of questions to One Simple Wish about our work, my age, my background, our organizational structure, and finally, how we measure impact. And while I felt the age question was also a bit unusual, it's this question about impact that continues to perplex me. Because how do you measure joy? When I had the idea to launch One Simple Wish 15 years ago, it was clear that not everyone around me believed in the vision I had for a place where kids and young adults didn't have to justify their need or desire for joy. It was also clear that joy didn't seem to "move the needle" enough for foundations to support us and certainly not for the child welfare community to embrace us. (Our organization is still largely ignored in this space, and while that used to really hurt me, I no longer see it as a negative.) We are here for the kids and young adults who are far too often told that their needs and wants come only after boxes are checked and processes are followed - humans who are shuffled around in a system that is not designed to address individuality in any way. I am glad that we continue to imagine a world in which joy is just as much a need as food, clothing, and shelter - because it is. And every time we receive a note like this one - when we see a child finally feel like someone heard them and someone felt like what they wanted mattered, it is all the proof of impact that we will ever need. PS: There are currently over 1800 wishes waiting to be granted at onesimplewish.org, with thousands more coming in through the holiday season. Please consider granting a wish or making a donation today.

"I am trying to help myself but I can't even eat.'' This is a screenshot of a conversation between myself and one of our young Radicals, Ebz. His mother has serious physical and mental health issues, and from what I can gather, she always has. Due to serious neglect and abuse, our young Radical was taken into the care of the state when he was very young. He's been bounced around from failed foster placement to failed foster placement more times than I can count on my hands. At the time this conversation took place, Ebz was homeless and staying on his ex-partner's sofa. Rather coincidentally, her sofa was always available to him when his benefits were due to be paid. When the money ran out, so too would his welcome. Go figure. We live in a world that perpetuates the myth that everyone is born equal, with equal access to resources and opportunities that guarantee equal chances of success. But the reality is in stark contrast to this all too popular and rather convenient belief that privileged folks like to pedal. Ebz was born into unimaginably difficult circumstances. His mum was too unwell to love and care for him in the way that all children need. He was placed into a broken and neglectful system. As soon as he was old enough, that same system spat him out, onto the streets. No friends. No family. No education. No work experience. The same privileged folk regurgitating the same old advice - 'if you try, you will succeed.' But how does a 20-something-year-old succeed at anything if their immediate need is to find food so they don't starve? Radical Recruit finds people jobs that offer the dignity of meaningful work in exchange for fair pay so they can fend for themselves. But before we can do this work with our Radicals, we very often must address other needs, like providing their next meal or finding them shelter. All of this costs money that we simply don't have at the moment. I know this story will touch people, and so it should. No kid or young person should face the prospect of not knowing where their next meal will come from. Want to help us solve this problem? Please consider gifting your friends, family, and colleagues a Radical Gift Certificate this Christmas. This is one of the rewards on offer for our Christmas crowdfunder. We have lots of options, starting from £10. How it works is simple. You select a gift certificate option and pay the money. You send the certificate as a Radical alternative to your bog-standard bottle of wine or chocolates as a Christmas gift. A young person, like our Ebz gets a much-needed bit of respite from a painful existence that most of us couldn't fathom. Link here: https://lnkd.in/eTDjvCyJ NB. Name changed to protect identity. Ebz moved to wales around 18 months ago with our help and is doing well at the moment with a home and a job

In 2018, Debra Blake, Gloria Johnson and John Logan, homeless individuals camping in a small Oregon town, Grants Pass, sued the city over policies they felt punished, not their actions but, their state of being, involuntarily homeless. With no emergency shelter vacancies and a lack of affordable housing, their case begs the question: Where do you go when there is nowhere left to go? Currently, this case is being deliberated by the supreme court, having the potential to majorly impact the future of homeless populations across the U.S. (Read more about this case via LINK IN COMMENTS) Nonprofit organizations like Project HOPE, One Family, Inc., Brookview House, Inc. and On The Rise support low-income and homeless families and individuals that, like Blake, Johnson and Logan, are faced with little to no sustainable options for achieving stability. 🌅On The Rise- Provides a safe space equipped with daily essentials for homeless and formerly-homeless women as well as transgender/nonbinary individuals led by a team of licensed social workers, Community Advocates, dedicated to helping them access the programs that best meet their needs. 👩👩👧👧One Family- Offers 3 direct service programs- One Family Scholars, Credential 2 Career Coaching and Family Self-Sufficiency- that help parents with low incomes access education and career opportunities, increase their incomes, and achieve lasting economic and housing stability. 📖Project Hope- Provides low-income women with children access to education, jobs, housing, and emergency services. 🏠Brookview House- Supports the transition of mothers and children into safe environments through a combination of safe housing, case management, classroom-style training, job readiness and life skills workshops, specialized youth programs, housing search assistance, counseling and other support services. Interested in the organizations highlighted above? Check out the LINK IN COMMENTS to learn more about how you can advance their work. Want to be part of a community making Boston a healthier place for all? Apply to our Health Equity or Housing Justice Fellowship via LINK IN COMMENTS #affordablehousing #supremecourt #nonprofit