Monday, April 23, 2018

Advance Care Planning Task Force to Host Special Events as part of National Healthcare Decisions Day


 The Mesa County Advance Care Planning Task Force will host a half day seminar focused on creating a plan for your future healthcare decisions in honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day on Thursday, April 26 from 8:00 a.m. – Noon at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Who’s Got Your Back? Learn Who Will Make Healthcare Decisions for You When You No Longer Can,” includes a panel discussion and practical advice about advance directives.
This session will include information on communicating end-of-life wishes to loved ones, an interactive presentation by Dr. Laura Campbell concerning how to speak to your doctor about medical directives, a panel discussion on Colorado burial options and information regarding advance care planning tools. Advance directives can also be completed at the seminar.
Various organizations are partnering with the Mesa County Advance Care Planning Task Force to host Before I Die walls around the Grand Valley throughout the month of April. The Before I Die wall project is a global participatory public art event that allows individuals to express their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future.
“Individuals can take simple steps to prepare for their future healthcare needs,” said Mary Watson, HopeWest Community Project Coordinator and co-chair of the Advance Care Planning Task Force. “Our seminar on April 26 will provide the public with easy tools in a fun and interactive environment,” added Watson.
Those interested in attending can learn more through Western Colorado 2-1-1 by simply dialing 211 from a landline or 970-244-8400 from a cell phone. Limited seating is available and registration is required for the seminar on April 26. There is a nominal registration fee of $5, which includes refreshments and advance directive tools.
“Preparing now, before a person becomes ill, is the best way to communicate to family and friends what your healthcare wishes are,” said Erica Eng, Community Hospital Director of Patient Experience and Advance Care Planning Task Force member.
To schedule an interview the day of the event, please contact Erica Eng at (970) 216-4913.

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April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a national grassroots initiative to encourage individuals to express their healthcare wishes through conversations and the completion of advance directives. More information can be found at www.nationalhealtharedecisionsday.org.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Unmasking Fraud and Having a Ball with Program Integrity


The Colorado Welfare Fraud Council is once again joining forces with the Social Services Technical and Business Staffs to provide a wide variety of professional development training to Investigators and Workers within Public Assistance programs from across the State of Colorado and Nationally.  The conferenced is being hosted in Grand Junction.
We are very pleased to have this National event in Grand Junction,” states Sonia Salas, CWFC President.  “Grand Junction will welcome between 250-275 people attending plus an additional 40 presenters. The conference will deliver some economic impact while providing western slope fraud investigators high caliber training closer to home,” added Salas.
The 2 ½ day conference will be held at Doubletree by Hilton in Grand Junction, April 25, through April 27, 2018. Commissioner, John Justman and District Attorney, Dan Rubinstein will be presenting the welcome speeches for the event.
Conference attendees will see presentations from State Program Areas, Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigators, and Master Trainers.  

The goal of the Unmasking Fraud conference is to provide better insights and skills for employees of Human Services who deal with eligibility of public assistance, and protecting the integrity of those program areas.

Community Collaboration Continues to be a Cornerstone in the Fight Against Child Abuse

Mesa County Department of Human Services Child Abuse Hotline and local pediatricians have developed a collaboration to benefiting local children who may have been a victim abuse or neglect.

Preventing child about and neglect in Mesa County continues to be at the forefront of Child Abuse Hotline Supervisor, Jacque Berry. Berry is extremely passionate about educating the public and community partners on how to spot child abuse and neglect. Recently Berry began a collaboration with 3 local doctors (2 pediatricians and an orthopedic doctor), and Dr. Andrew Sirotnic from the Child Protection Team at Denver Children's Hospital. This team has come up with standard protocols and processes when dealing with non-accidental trauma in Mesa County.  This type of collaboration is very unique and has not been seen in other counties in Colorado.  This group of professionals present issues related to non-accidental trauma to local hospitals, doctor's offices, and law enforcement throughout Mesa County.

According to Child Welfare Manager Joe Kellerby, “This collaborative will continue the work to ensure there is a standard approach that is uniform in Mesa County on how to handle non-accidental trauma in children. Supervisor Berry has been instrumental in the important work this collaborative is doing within the community.”


Wednesday, April 11, 2018

National Healthcare Decisions Day

Who's got your back?  

National Healthcare Decision Day (NHDD) exists to inspire, educate and empower community member and healthcare providers to learn about the importance of advance care planning. Join Americans across the country in making future healthcare decisions known to family, friends and healthcare providers because your decisions matter                                                   

Services Closed in Observance of Independence Day 2020

In observance of Independence Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. All offices wi...