Literacy program

Literacy program

HOWLAND

Akron Children’s Hospital is offering the Reach Out and Read early literacy program at its Howland site, Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics (ACHP), 8720 East Market St.

Reach Out and Read is a national program dedicated to fostering the development of early literacy skills among children as a standard part of pediatric primary cares in which children 6 months to 5 years receive age-appropriate books at each well visit. Also, parents are offered suggestions on how to help their children develop a love of books and reading.

On Friday from noon to 1 p.m., special guests will read to about a dozen pediatric patients. In addition, members of the hospital’s Doggie Brigade, Helen Spencer and Lisa Connell, will join the celebration with their dogs Lucy and Jack.

Mental-health help

YOUNGSTOWN

Help Hotline Crisis Center is offering BRIDGES, a 10-week mental-health educational course, starting July 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays. The course, for anyone suffering with depression or other mental health issue, will be at the Help Hotline Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown. Call 330-747-5111 to register for the classes.

Safe-driving class

HOWLAND/POLAND

Shepherd of the Valley is inviting drivers age 60 or above to sign-up for the AAA Safe Driving for Mature Operators Course. The state-certified course, which can qualify attendees for auto insurance discounts, is offered at two locations in July: July 17 and 19 at Shepherd of the Valley-Howland, 4100 North River Road, Howland; and July 24 and 26 at Shepherd of the Valley-Poland, 301 W. Western Reserve Road, Poland.

A state-certified AAA instructor will share, through interactive classroom-based instruction, up-to-date information on mature driver’s education. Focus areas include vision, adjusting speed, road rage, drowsy driving, prescription medications, and driving emergencies.

The course runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day with an hour for lunch, which is available at each location for a cost of $5, or participants may take advantage of the numerous dining locations nearby. On-site lunch reservations must be made when signing up for the class.

The cost is $10 for AAA members and $15 for non-members. Registration is required. Call Lynn Miller at 330-530-4038 ext. 2057.

PFK to expand

AKRON

Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital were awarded a $13.1 million Health Care Innovation Grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand their Partners for Kids (PFK) model by 200,000 patients to cover 517,000 Medicaid-enrolled children in 46 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The program covers the urban northeast area to the southern tip of the state, including rural central and southeastern Appalachian counties. Specifically, the expanded PFK model will cover 517,000 children, including more than 200,000 Medicaid-enrolled children in the Akron and northeastern areas of Ohio; cover 25,000 previously excluded disabled children who constitute a large portion of pediatric medical costs., and add a shared savings component that benefits patients, provider organizations, the state of Ohio and federal Medicaid programs.

“We are proud to be a partner health care system for this model of child health delivery,” said William Considine, president and chief executive officer of Akron Children’s.