Welcome!

Welcome to the Seven Valleys Health Coalition website! The SVHC is a coalition of providers, agencies and interested individuals working to promote effective, efficient and accessible health and human services through coordinated services, sharing resources, and fostering an integrated system of health care. This web site and the programs of the SVHC are designed to improve the health and well being of Cortland County residents.

 

What's New!

August 8, Back to School Time for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Families
sponsored by The Cortland LGBT Resource Center and The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project

4-6 pm, Cortland City Youth Bureau, 35 Port Watson St., Cortland. 4-5:30 pm, Presentation and Discussion with other LGBT parents as they talk about the unique needs of their families, their experiences with schools, and their suggestions for how to make schools more inclusive of LGBT families. Supervised activities will be provided for kids. 5:30 pm, Pizza Dinner for all. Please RSVP for childcare by Friday, August 6.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Tibbles (Cortland LGBT Resource Center) at thecenter@7vcasa.org or (607) 756-8970, OR Karen Armstrong (Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project) at Karjarmstrong@aol.com or (607) 724-4308. Download poster.

Cortland Regional Medical Center's Three-Year Community Service Plan

Cortland Regional Medical Center's Community Service Plan for 2009–2011 is now posted on the CRMC web site.

All New York State hospitals are required to produce a Comprehensive Community Service Plan every three years. "In April, 2008, New York State Commissioner of Health, Richard Daines, MD, launched the 'Prevention Agenda for the Healthiest State,' establishing priorities to improve the health of all New Yorkers. Commissioner Daines has enlisted hospitals and local health departments to engage in collaborative efforts to address these priorities. Cortland Regional Medical Center's Community Service Plan describes the Medical Center's participation with community partners to assess community needs and sets forth Prevention Agenda Public Health Priorities for the local community, which have been established in response to a community needs assessment and in consultation with the Cortland County Health Department. The information contained in this report is intended to inform the community about the process undertaken to identify and prioritize the community's healthcare needs and the plans Cortland Regional Medical Center has developed to address the most urgent needs."

Copies of the plan are also available at local public libraries and in CRMC's in-house library. Summaries will be available through Seven Valleys Health Coalition and at locations within the Medical Center. CRMC invites public comment on this report, as well as on the organization, its services, and community involvement. Comments and inquiries can be submitted to:

Thomas Quinn, Director of Marketing, 134 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY 13045

 

Survivors of Suicide Support Group

A new suicide survivors support group has just started for folks in the Cortland area. Come join us in a safe, comfortable environment to talk about your lost loved one(s). Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm at SUNY Cortland’s Beard Building, 9 Main Street in Cortland. If you have any questions please call Cecile at (607) 753-3021 ex 26 or email her at SOLOSCortland@gmail.com.

 

CAPCO – WIC Programs

New WIC guidelines and food package choices: If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have infants and children up to 5 years old, and if you meet income guidelines, you may be eligible for services from the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). New food package choices are in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Healthy People 2010 Goals. Please call 753-6781 for more information.

 

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors

CAPCO and the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) are now offering Breastfeeding Peer Counseling sessions at CAPCO, 32 North Main Street in Cortland and at the McGraw Family Resource Center. Peer Counselors are moms like you who can provide information, offer support, and help parents with any concerns. Infant feeding classes, back-to-work classes, and an on-going “Gold Club” are offered. All classes are free of charge, but class size may be limited. See Breastfeeding Support Group for times and locations. For additional information, please contact WIC at 753-6781 or janicev@capco.org.

 

“Be Active Your Way” Exercise Directory

A free recreational directory of Cortland County activities is now available. The directory includes information about aerobics, water exercises, low intensity exercises, walking sites/groups, commercial exercise facilities, flexibility and strength training, and other recreational opportunities. This tool will benefit and guide older Americans who want to learn more about where to be physically active and remain healthy in their own way.

Copies are available at the Cortland County Aging Office (basement level, Room 6) and Nutrition Program Office (basement level, Room 10) at the Cortland County Office Building at 60 Central Avenue, Cortland. It is also available at each of the eight senior centers in Cortland, Homer, Truxton, Scott, Harford, Marathon, Willet, and McGraw.

 

NYS Department of Health, Regional Asthma Coalitions, Best Practices Webinar Series

These webinars are intended to share some of the outcomes of the activities of the NYS Department of Health Regional Asthma Coalitions. It is anticipated that by highlighting these projects we can expand the learning community and spread lessons learned so successful projects may be replicated by others. The webinars are meant for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, educators, administrators, community and environmental advocates, students, and anyone interested in improving the lives of children and families with asthma. Download brochure for dates, topics, and registration information.

 

Asthma Action Plans:

A written customized plan can help you and your family manage your asthma and prevent it from getting worse. Treatment plans help you know what medication(s) to take and how to adjust your medication when your asthma gets worse.

If you take medication for asthma – you should have an action plan. School aged children should share the asthma action plan with the school nurse. Download an Asthma Action Plan Form from the Asthma Coaltion of the Southern Tier.

 

Central New York Diabetes Prevention Partnership

Seven Valleys Health Coalition is home to the Central New York Diabetes Prevention Partnership, CNY-DPP. Grant funding from the New York State Department of Health for diabetes prevention and management is used to present workshops for diabetics, sponsor support groups, and diabetes education programs. Funding also covered a diabetes update for medical providers, which was held this past spring.

Anyone interested in adding their name to the mailing list to receive the annual diabetes newsletter or workshop flyers should call Seven Valleys Health Coalition at (607) 756-4198.