Verdant Health is hosting a kitchen course Wednesday, Sept. 27 about on-the-go breakfast options will give attendees new inspiration to make foods that give energy, but are portable and healthy. Verdant says that with a little prep, people can make their mornings more smooth and relaxing. The Sept. 27 event with registered dietitian nutritionist Christy…
PCC culinary instructor Tiego Freitas was born in Brazil but his father comes from Braga, Portugal. He grew up speaking Brazilian Portuguese, but is starting to teach himself to speak Portuguese from his father’s homeland. He and his wife hope to move to Braga and open a small restaurant. I recently assisted Tiego with his…
The open enrollment period for people with Medicare health coverage can feel daunting, but it is also an opportunity get the plan to best meet a person’s needs. During open enrollment, recipients can make changes to their current plan. The open enrollment period lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Nearly 1.5 million Washingtonians were…
Fourteen health insurers have been approved to sell in Washington’s 2024 individual health insurance market. Insurers requested an average increase of 9.11% but 8.94% was approved. How much premium someone pays will depend on the plan they select, the number of people covered, their age, whether or not they smoke and where they live. “I’m…
Blood supplies have dropped to critically low levels, with only 50% of the donors needed in September amid high patient usage in Pacific Northwest hospitals. Type O and Platelets levels are currently hovering between critical and emergency. Blood donation habits change during the summer. A schedule busy with summer activities and vacations means unavailable donors….
Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program wants to hire 49 more employees to deal with steadily rising demand that has some people waiting over a month to receive benefits. The state Employment Security Department asked for authority to hire the workers in a 2024 supplemental budget request submitted to Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this…
You can now buy illicit fentanyl on Washington’s streets for as little as 50 cents a pill. That’s according to police and local advocates working with people who use drugs. They say fentanyl is selling for anywhere from 50 cents to $5 a pill, depending on location and dealer-user relationships. In Seattle, the price of…
Over 100 people gathered to learn and share their experiences and knowledge together at “Creating Hope & Resilience: A Community Conversation on Suicide Prevention” at the Lynnwood Event Center Saturday. Verdant Health invited over a dozen community organizations and a handful of speakers with local, national and international ties. Panelists included Edmonds School District Social…
Mental Health Matters of Washington is hosting a free online three-part youth series, “Honoring and Caring for Our Anxiety,” starting Sept. 20. The series is hosted by Rachel Colston, who is a licensed mental health therapist in Washington. She works for the Lummi nation and has expertise in helping youth and young adults who are…
While there is no sure way to prevent cancer, a Wednesday afternoon cooking class from Verdant Health will explore which foods support overall health and according to research offer cancer protective factors. The class curriculum will also touch on cancer myths around certain foods, like soy. The Sept. 13 event with registered dietitian nutritionist Christy…
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“Creating Hope & Resilience: A Community Conversation on Suicide Prevention” is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Lynnwood Event Center, sponsored by the Verdant Health Commission. The community is invited to a complimentary lunch and discussion of prevention of suicide, especially for youth, Native Americans, older adults, veterans and LGBTQ individuals. Participants will gain…
Summer and the dry season may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to let your guard down about preparing for emergencies, the Washington State Department of Health says. September is National Preparedness Month. The cooler months bring their own seasonal challenges and risks. Take stock of your emergency supplies, plans, and behaviors…
People whose food benefits were stolen through card skimming or other similar fraudulent activity can now submit a claim to the Department of Social and Health Services to have some of those benefits replaced. The U.S. Congress passed a law earlier this year that enables state agencies administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as…
Washington should make insulin more widely available at cheaper prices and offer a free 30-day supply at least once a year for people who are short on the drug and can’t afford it. That’s the message delivered to state lawmakers from a workgroup assigned to chart a course to increase insulin access and affordability. Hundreds…
The Washington State Department of Health and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are cautioning the public to avoid contact with wild birds and other wild animals, especially sick or dead wild animals or their young. An outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is impacting wild birds and several seals near Fort…
The union representing over 200 former employees of a behavioral health hospital Washington plans to buy for nearly $30 million has filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the sale until an arbitrator can determine whether the deal abides by the union’s contract. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW sued Cascade Behavioral Health on Aug. 24, alleging…
Hundreds visited Lynnwood-based Homage Senior Services Saturday to celebrate its second annual Engage Mind & Body campaign with an in-person kickoff. The event featured music from Chinese senior musicians, dance for anyone feeling up to it, activities for all ages and of course, delicious free food. Engage Mind & Body is Lynnwood-based Homage’s biggest fundraising…
The Snohomish County Health Department is urging all county residents to know and follow preventive measures for rabies after a bat in the Snohomish area tested positive Monday. Multiple domestic pets were exposed, but there are no known human exposures. The owner reported that the affected pets are vaccinated against rabies. Public health staff are…
Assaults on staff by patients surged last year at one of Washington’s state-owned psychiatric hospitals, although just two individuals were responsible for nearly 20% of the attacks, according to a new report. At Eastern State Hospital, which is located near Spokane and treats adult psychiatric patients, assaults on staff rose 63% from 2021 to 2022,…
Washington’s Department of Health said this week that the state secured only a small fraction of more than $60 million in federal funding to get lead pipes out of public water systems. The department cited a lack of interest by local water agencies as the reason so much of it was left untouched. Four future…
Homage Senior Services will be launching its Engage Mind & Body campaign with an in-person kickoff on Sept. 2 in Lynnwood. Engage Mind & Body is Lynnwood-based Homage’s biggest fundraising event of the year and they hope to raise $75,000 by Sept. 23. All the funds raised from this year’s event will benefit seniors and…
Lynnwood’s Community Life Center played to host to the Verdant Health Commission for its first annual block party Thursday. Block party organizer and Verdant Community Outreach Manager Sandra Huber said residents simply don’t have enough time to go out and explore community resources, so Verdant brought the resources to the people instead. The block party…
The Washington State Department of Health and Northwest Blood Coalition urge people to donate blood now to avoid a summer blood shortage. Bloodworks Northwest and Vitalant characterize the summer months as the “100 Deadliest Days.” Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, demand for blood remains constant, transfusion needs increase, but donations go down. Despite updated…
Nearly two dozen counties are suing the state Department of Social and Health Services, which they claim is refusing to provide essential behavioral health treatment to hundreds of patients who are considered unfit for trial. The Washington State Association of Counties, along with 22 counties, including King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane, filed the lawsuit in…
The Verdant Health Commissioners at its Aug. 23 board meeting awarded $2,992,938 in fall grants to 19 nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving community health. According to a Verdant announcement, the funds were awarded through a competitive application process. This ensures that the funds are being allocated to organizations that have the capacity to serve the…
