Pulmonary association celebrates Donate Life

Pulmonary association celebrates Donate Life

SILVER PARK, MD.

Throughout April, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association celebrates Donate Life Month and the importance of organ donation for many people living with pulmonary hypertension, also known as high blood pressure of the lungs, a debilitating disease that affects the functioning of the right heart and can lead to heart failure.

Without treatment, patients survive, on average, less than three years. PHA relies on donations to fund PH early and provide accurate diagnosis awareness and education, patient and caregiver support, specialty-care resources, and research to find ways to prevent and cure PH. To learn about pulmonary hypertension and join the fight against PH, go to www.PHAssociation.org.

Training conference

BOARDMAN

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Child Advocacy Center invites social workers, counselors, therapists, attorneys and others who work with child abuse victims to a Child Advocacy Center Training conference May 21 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center on South Avenue.

Sponsored by Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Child Advocacy Center and the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the training session features presentations related to the sexual abuse of children and stress management.

The registration deadline is May 15. The $50 conference fee includes breakfast and lunch. Counselors, nurses, attorneys and social workers may receive continuing education credits for attending the training. For information or to register, call 330-746-9166.

Featured speakers are Thomas Cottrell, vice president of counseling services at the YWCA West Central Michigan and an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University in the graduate school of social work; and Karen S. Vadino, a nationally recognized motivational speaker with more than 30 years’ experience in professional consulting and social work.

Sessions include “Sex Offenders: What We Need to Know to Help Child Victims,” and “Trauma: How Brains are Changed.”

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley maintains a Child Advocacy Center on its Beeghly campus, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 330-746-9150.

Health care enrollment

For people who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the penalty for not having health care coverage during 2014, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has established a special enrollment period for tax season that ends April 30.

If people do not get health care coverage during this period, they may have to pay a penalty of $325 per adult; $162.50 per child under age 18; or 2 percent of their household income, whichever is higher. This penalty will be charged in 2016 when they file their 2015 taxes.

Access Health Mahoning Valley is enrolling people eligible for this Special Enrollment Period by appointments only. Call 330-373-0703 for dates, places and times.

Class on label reading

YOUNGSTOWN

Learn to read and decipher food labels, and how information on labels relates to health during a “Healthy Eating for You: Label Reading” presentation at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the Youngstown Room at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, 1044 Belmont Ave.

Bridget Lackey, a registered dietitian and community educator, will lead the presentation, which is free. Reservations are appreciated. Call 330-480-3070. Free parking is available in the Park Avenue parking deck.