Tuesday, June 30, 2009

EastsideHelps

Eastsiders! Need help? Want to give help?

Check out the new EastsideHelps website. The Eastside Human Services Forum, of which CISC is a part, built upon an idea that started in Kirkland to put all this information into one easy to use place.

The Seattle Times calls it "a clear, simple way to find help, or to give it."

Pandemic Preparedness

This just out from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and & Policy at the University of Minnesota: Promising Practices for Pandemic Planning.

Featured is CISC and our experience with personal and community preparedness. We are happy to share our experience and learnings with other community based organizations so that we can all be ready when the next outbreak of swine flu/SARS/bird flu or whatever it may be hits.

Are you prepared? Academic types, click here. The rest of us might find this website useful.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Lion Dancing through Chinatown

Sunday, Mak Fai's Kung Fu Club performed 5 hours of lion dances at 50 businesses throughout Chinatown/ID. They helped raise over $4,000 for CISC programs.



Volunteers and staff also helped spread the word about the 2010 Census, passing out t-shirts and chopsticks and telling people about the importance of being counted.

A big thanks to all for a job well done!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Line Dancing at CISC

One of the more popular activities at the International Family Center-Seattle is the Line (not Lion) Dancing group. A fun way to get together, make new friends, and get some exercise at the same time!

For both men and women, this class has been shown to increase heart rate, decrease depression and take years off your figure!

Next session starts July 11. Only $24 for 12 weeks!

Contact Mabel Kwong at mabelk@cisc-seattle.org to register.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Seattle Public Utilities

As part of its effort to educate the community on changes to the recycling program, staff from the Seattle Public Utilities department came out to the International Family Center-Seattle to explain what can and cannot put into the recycle bin.






They've also created videos in various languages for those with web access.

Click on these links for Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Medication Safety

Last week, Annie Lam, Director of the University of Washington Pharmacy Residency Program and 6 of her residents came to the International Family Center-Seattle to do a hands on presentation on medication safety.

Clients brought their medications while residents explained their side effects, possible interactions, and other safety issues in Cantonese, Mandarin and Taiwanese.

They also helped clients set up record keeping systems to track all their medications, when they are supposed to be taken, and if they were taken or not.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Museum of Glass

Thursday, 22 members of Sunshine Garden took a field trip to Tacoma to visit the Museum of Glass.

Seniors enjoyed exhibits on Contrasts, 20th and 21st century works, Cappy Thompson's Gathering the Light, and the legendary Chihuly Bridge of Glass.



But perhaps the most exciting part of the day was taking the Sounder train and experiencing the feel of mass transportation in all its diesel glory.

Thanks to all our volunteer chaperons who made this trip possible!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Stress Reduction part 2

Last month, we talked about our Stress Reduction Workshops for family caregivers. As part of our ongoing efforts to support caregivers, we held workshops in Bellevue and Seattle on basic self-hypnosis techniques.


Dr. Yvonne Kuan presented at this highly interactive session, after which nearly all of the participants left feeling totally refreshed.

The workshop has also been stored digitally and caregivers, especially those who are homebound, can request copy and watch it at home.

Who couldn't do with a little less stress?

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Coconut Pudding

In our ongoing cooking class headed by French trained chef Christine Ho, this month our seniors learned how to make coconut pudding.

OK. So it doesn't sound so good, but it tasted wonderful and had a cake like texture. If you want the recipe, you'll just have to come to Sunshine Garden next month and ask Christine!



2nd Tuesday of the month, 1:00-2:00 pm.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Friendship Dinner Photos

At last! Photos from the 2009 Friendship Dinner & Auction. Do you see anyone you know?



CISC friends and supporters raised nearly $150,000 for programs that help immigrants and their families reach their dreams. Way to go!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

A Learning Resource

Yesterday, we welcomed two new interns from Hong Kong University's School of Social Work who will be with us over the summer getting practical experience and learning about social work in the United States, particularly in the Chinese community.

Ronald Ho and Audrey Ip will be able to see first hand how CISC works through its bilingual and bicultural social workers to help immigrants and their families integrate into their new community.

Whether its providing services to keep seniors healthy and active, helping families navigate the American educational system, or connecting Latino residents on the Eastside to basic services, these learning opportunities will surely make a long lasting and positive impact on the next generation of social service providers.