On January 25th, we'll hold a community meeting on the topic of Health and Mental Health. Over the decades, our community has lost access to health services and amenities that support good health, such as grocery stores with fresh food and a library that provides access to technology and educational resources. This is beginning to change, however, as we work to bring these assets back to Etna. We'll hear about the health challenges that we face as a community and from organizations that are working to provide resources in our region.
North Hills Community Outreach will be on hand to discuss how they support communities in meeting the needs of residents when it comes to issues like food access and housing. We'll also hear from Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry, who have opened a low-cost counseling center inside of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. We spoke to Anchorpoint's Executive Director, Mark Heinbockel, in our August issue. He said that
“At Anchorpoint, we believe all community members should have access to high-quality mental health care. The Etna Community Counseling Center removes common barriers to counseling by offering affordable and conveniently located services in Etna. In this time of increased needs, please know that the Etna Community Counseling Center is here to help you and your family navigate the challenges of life.”
Finally, Maggie Feinstein from the 10.27 Healing Partnership will inform us how her organization supports the mental health and wellness of those that they serve. Maggie participated in a community event that was held one year ago called "Countering Antisemitism in Etna." In this program, she shared strategies for addressing healing after trauma. At our upcoming meeting, Maggie will speak about the variety of programs that her organization offers their community utilizing a variety of methods including fitness, meditation, music, and more.
We'll also discuss how our future library and community center support better health and mental health outcomes in our community. We'll learn about the programs offered around the county at public libraries that address health disparities such as food insecurity, nutrition, smoking, and children's' health. Attendees will have an opportunity to give feedback on the types of programs and services that residents would like to see come to the Rivertown Library - Etna Branch that can help us reach our goals of a healthy community.
As always, a free dinner will be provided for attendees. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you sign up here.
Comments