by Guest | Oct 11, 2022 | Archive
You may be familiar with physical wellbeing or mental wellbeing, but what about financial wellbeing? Financial wellness focuses on our relationship with money and how we feel about the control we have over our financial future. If you’ve felt stressed about money, you’re not alone! Most of us experience a range of emotions when it comes to finances, and finding a starting point can feel overwhelming.
The connection between financial stress and mental and physical health led us at Tillamook County Wellness to focus the last few months on financial wellbeing. Thanks to a donation of time, Liz Carroll, Financial Life Coach at Mindful Money Coaches LLC, has provided insight and guidance for us to share on how to develop a healthier relationship with finances.
You may have seen some of the videos that Liz has created as part of a financial wellness mini-series that we have been sharing on the Tillamook County Wellness Facebook page this past summer. Each of the 15 videos are just a couple minutes long and cover a range of topics such as how to create goals & set guidelines, use different approaches for eliminating debt, set up “budget billing” where utility companies distribute your costs evenly over the year, and shift out of a negative mindset when it comes to organizing finances. If you missed some of these videos, don’t worry – we have all of them linked on our new Financial Wellness page at https://tillamookcountywellness.org/work-well/financial-wellness/
We are also excited to announce that we will be hosting three (free!) virtual webinars in collaboration with Liz Carroll for community members who are interested in diving deeper into their financial wellness journey. These webinars will be held on Mondays from 12 pm to 1 pm during the month of October:
- October 10th – Money Mindset: How we think about money matters (recording coming soon!)
- October 17th – Building a Budget: Managing spending habits
- October 24th – Financial Planning Fundamentals: Planning for the future and staying on course
These webinars are open to all community members – join for one or join for all! You can find the registration link here or on the Tillamook County Wellness Facebook page.
If you have any questions about the upcoming webinars, please reach out to Michelle at jenckmd@ah.org. We hope to see you all there!
Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.
by Guest | Apr 6, 2022 | Archive, Being Well
When you think of the word “wellness”, what comes to mind? For some, images of green juice smoothies and marathons might flash through your mind. But the idea of wellness acknowledges that there is much more to our state of being than just our physical health. Wellness is not just the absence of disease, but something that evolves over time as we strive to live our lives fully. As pointed out by the University of Maryland, “Wellness is fueling your body, engaging your mind, and nurturing your spirit.”
So what exactly does this look like? The answer is a bit different for everyone. There is no “wrong” path to wellness – any steps towards a healthier, happier life are valuable and worthwhile, no matter how small.
The good news is that taking the first step doesn’t need to involve training for a marathon. In fact, there are plenty of options for fun and engaging activities that also benefit your health, whether that’s physically, mentally, or emotionally. For inspiration, we have created a map of local activities here in Tillamook County to help you get started and continue down your own unique journey towards a happier, healthier you. Visit the “This Way to Well-Being” page on our website to see the full map, along with details for each of the stops.
In honor of the idea that well-being is much more than just our physical health, we have collected ideas for exploring different aspects of our lives. You’ll see that our map is color-coordinated:
- The green “eat well” stops represent ideas for enjoying locally produced food, whether this is visiting Food Roots in downtown Tillamook or trying your hand at growing your own produce this spring.
- The orange “connect well” stops offer ideas around prioritizing self-care and connecting with those around us, such as volunteering in the community or calling to check-in on a loved one.
- The blue “move well” stops represent inspiration for exploring the trails, beaches, and parks that are abundant throughout Tillamook County.
- The red “work well” stops acknowledge that we spend much of our time in the workplace and therefore this space is just as important to our health as our personal lives.
- And finally, the purple stops offer a few ways to connect with Tillamook County Wellness as you continue on your path!
It’s worth noting that these activities are often intertwined and therefore the benefits can actually multiply in effect. For example, you can connect with others while also enjoying the outdoors by joining one of the TCW Walking Groups. These groups meet weekly at a range of times and locations across the county (drop-ins welcome!) Click here to find a group near you this spring.
And as an extra perk, participating in activities along the map gives you the chance to win prizes. Anyone in Tillamook County is welcome to participate and individuals will have the opportunity to win more than one prize through any of the following:
- Joining an in-person activity designated by a star shape on the map, such as walking groups, fitness classes, local workshops, or visiting Food Roots
- Posting about your wellness map on Instagram or Facebook and tagging @TillamookCountyWellness
- Sharing your feedback about your experience with activities on the map through our quick online survey found on the map webpage.
You can find the full map on our website, or at your local Tillamook County library branch or another participating location, such as the North County Recreation District (NCRD), Tillamook County Family YMCA, Kiawanda Community Center, and Food Roots. Participants will be eligible to win prizes from April through October 2022 so let us know about your experience through social media, our survey, or by joining an event! Check out our website for details about each stop on the map and reach out to us with any questions at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. We hope that this map can serve as a jumping off point in exploring the fun and engaging opportunities here in Tillamook County for leading a happier, healthier life.
Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.
by Guest | May 10, 2019 | Archive
OSU Extension in Tillamook County to hold Summer Canning Classes
Would you like to learn how to can fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, fish or game meat this summer? Are you an experienced canner who would like to update your skills and learn the most current USDA safe canning practices? Do you garden or shop at your local Farmer’s Market or produce stand for fruits and veggies? Are you a hunter or fisherman? Then the summer canning classes are for you. Each class will focus on the latest USDA canning recommendations, equipment and supplies. Sign up for one or more classes and take home a jar of home-canned goodies from each class.
Pre-registration is required since classes with low enrollment may be cancelled and supplies will be purchased prior to the class. Cost for each class is $15 if registered the Thursday prior to the class or $20 for day before class registrations. The registration fee includes publications and supplies. All classes begin at 10 am at the OSU Extension Service Meeting Room 105, 4506 Third Street, Tillamook.
Register online at: http://bit.ly/TillamookFoodPreservation.
Classes are scheduled as follows:
- Canning Fruits, Fruit Pie Fillings, Jams & Jellies, Saturday, June 29, 10 am-1 pm
- Canning Fish, Meat, Poultry & Vegetables, Saturday, July 20, 10 am-2 pm
- Canning Pickles, Tomatoes & Salsa, Saturday, August 24, 10 am-1 pm
The Extension Service loans weighted gauge pressure canners, electric water bath canners and food dehydrators to the public. The latest USDA canning recommendations are also available at the OSU Extension Service office through a series of publications free to Tillamook County residents or for purchase in a spiral bound edition in the USDA 2015 revision of the Complete Guide to Home Canning. In addition, pressure canner dial gauges are tested free of charge. The OSU Extension Service also carries some canning products such as Clear-Jel A for fruit pie fillings.
For more information, contact the OSU Extension Office in Tillamook 4506 Third Street, 503-842-3433, TillamookExtensionOffice@oregonstate.edu for information about canning classes, canning recommendations, dial gauge testing, and where to find canning supplies.
About OSU Extension: The Oregon State University Extension Service shares research-based knowledge with people and communities in Oregon’s 36 counties. OSU Extension addresses issues that matter to urban and rural Oregonians. OSU Extension’s partnerships and programs contribute to a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for Oregon.
by Michelle | Feb 8, 2019 | Archive
Many of our Tillamook County Wellness partners have made both employee and community wellness a priority. One important example of this is Tillamook School District 9 (TSD9), where internal investments in staff and student health are paying off in a big way. Thanks to a multi-year employee wellness grant from the Oregon Education Association, TSD9 is attempting to change the culture of the district by promoting mental and physical wellness.
Curt Shelley, TSD9 Assistant Superintendent, has taken on coordination of the grant. Working with committee members representing all areas of the district, Shelley describes the effort as building a “culture of wellness” in the district. According to Shelley, the goals of the program are to:
- Increase job satisfaction and level of support through Wellness Programs
- Have all staff actively participate in at least one Wellness Program activity
- Decrease the number of days of leave used by staff as a result of changes in the workplace culture to support health, well-being, employee camaraderie, and job satisfaction.
Some of the wellness activities being offered directly to employees include weekly Yoga, Qigong, and Spin Classes. In addition, employees have access to staff-led Mindfulness sessions, a walking challenge and “Wellness Wednesday” activities.
The program has been well received by employees and participation in district-sponsored wellness activities has been growing. Denise Harrington, a teacher at Tillamook High School and a participant in the district’s new programs, says the payoff has been immeasurable. “From Qigong on Wednesday nights to Mindfulness on Tuesday mornings, I have found the self-awareness and care these classes provide to improve my baseline as a teacher and human being.” Harrington’s personal experience prompted her to bring her Wednesday night school students to Qigong. “The kids were amazed at how the activities lowered their stress levels.”
In a recent district-wide email, Shelley encouraged employees to take time to take care of themselves mentally and physically. This represents a welcome shift from the typical work culture of busyness and multitasking as the gold standard, which often places productivity above health and well-being. It is refreshing to see employers not only give employees permission to practice self-care but actually create the conditions for that to happen.
For any business or organization, while it is important to have a healthy bottom line, it won’t do you any good if your employees become sick in the process, especially if a business is self-insured. In other words, they pay for and manage the health insurance costs of their own employees. The more money they save in healthcare costs, the more they have for wages, benefits and other investments to grow their organizations.
For this reason, Tillamook County Wellness has a “workplace wellness” committee, as there is a very clear message: The healthier employees are, the happier and more productive they will be. Healthy, happy employees are not only important for an organization’s overall health, they are important to community health as well. Of course, the same principle applies to us as individuals. The healthier we are, the less money we spend on co-pays, missed work, and other healthcare expenses, putting more money in our pockets to spend on other necessities like food and housing. Investing in employee wellness creates a win-win-win benefitting the individual, the organization and the community.
Visit tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org for information about local partners, events, classes, recipes and more! Be sure to Like and Follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook for the latest news and events.
by Michelle | Nov 15, 2018 | Archive
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) section along with the “Place Matters” Awards Committee announced their selection of Tillamook County Wellness for its 2018 Outstanding Organizational Leadership Award. The announcement was made at the annual “Place Matters” conference, held in Portland on October 30th.
According to OHA Health Systems Policy Specialist, Patricia Selinger, this award is given to an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in chronic disease prevention, early detection and self-management in the areas of leadership, building alliances, eliminating disparities and implementing creative, innovative solutions. Special recognition was given to Bill Baertlein, County Commissioner; Marlene Putman, Public Health Administrator, Michelle Jenck, Tillamook County Wellness Coordinator; and Jessica (Dusti) Linnell, Oregon State University Extension Family & Community Health.
In introducing the award, presenter Todd Beran said, “This award celebrates the committed leadership of the Tillamook County Year(s) of Wellness Team to engage the community and improve population health and community livability in Tillamook county.” He went on to state, “This initiative builds relationships among friends, family and co-workers, between organizations and with leadership at the local and state level. They are led by a 22-member task force appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, representing a broad spectrum of county leaders. This coalition focuses on addressing many health challenges in Tillamook County relating to chronic disease prevention.”
Accomplishments highlighted in the award presentation included:
- The community is engaged and kept informed through the tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org website, feature stories in the Tillamook Headlight Herald and Tillamook County Pioneer and local KTIL radio station, as well as through Facebook, featuring classes, events, shared recipes and much more.
- As testimony to its success, Tillamook County Wellness emerged as a brand. Survey results have estimated 85% of residents now recognize this community brand.
- In 2017, when the task force asked, “What could Tillamook County Wellness do to support what was already happening and even enhance it?” The decision was to focus on one community health priority: preventing type 2 diabetes.
- Significant accomplishments of this leadership team include: Addressing tobacco; housing; hiking trails; engaging/creating a coalition of many organizations; and creating a substantial movement that holds great promise for moving Tillamook County forward to become a community where healthy choices are the easy choices.
On Wednesday, November 7, 2018, the award recognition was shared with the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners. “This has been fun” said Commissioner Baertlein. “A lot of what we do in community leadership can be very difficult. While this is a lot of work, it has been very rewarding to convene partners to address these community health challenges in ways that are positive and that bring people together to generate creative solutions.”
Everyone in the leadership team acknowledged that the success of the award really belongs to the community. “The people who live here are the ones making a difference,” said Putman. “We couldn’t do this without our community partners and the support of our residents who are driving the changes that will help them live healthier lives.”
by Michelle | Aug 24, 2018 | Archive
Magic in the Air at SOS Tillamook Fair Booth – Tillamook Residents Talk about the Future
By Laura Swanson, for SOS Tillamook, Tillamook Family Counseling Center Prevention Program
There was “magic in the air” at the SOS Tillamook fair booth – with a fortune-telling flair. Tillamook County Prevention program manager, DeAnna Pearl, utilizes the SOS Tillamook fair booth to engage the community in conversations. The free fortune cookies were a big hit with messaging about problem gambling, buzzed drinking, suicide and helpline resource numbers which were put into many fair-goers pockets. “We overheard many thoughtful conversations among families,” said Pearl. Fortune Cookie comments and conversations included:
- “I see drinking in my future.” After you’re 21 right? “Maybe…. “If you don’t, I will kick your butt!”
- “Setting limits will limit losses.” Yeah grandma!!
- 11 yr boy: “Suicide? I won’t suicide!” [Adult] “Maybe save this for someone who might.” [Puts fortune in pocket]
- “They all can lead to this, [suicide] if we don’t work on all of them.”
- Do you know how to talk to a vet about suicide? Boy (7): “What is this for [holding up fortune]? Mom: “This is when somebody needs help when they are really sad.” [Walking and bending down while walking down hallway]
- “I need a fortune!” [Opens cookie] “Oh, that is cool. Good to know!”
- ”Nice booth!”
- Parents talking to their kids about the messages in the fortune cookie.
- Teens pocketing the fortune, saving on their phone
- Asked clean-up crew about fortune papers on ground/floor, reports that they haven’t seen any!
There were many requests for “fortune telling” but the table was turned, and the idea was for Tillamook County residents to tell us the fortune (or future) for the place they call home. “What would you like to see in Tillamook County’s future?” Hundreds provided their predictions of what might be in Tillamook County’s future. The suggestions included: a motocross track, a waterpark at the Y, more trails and finishing the sidewalks, as well as indoor spaces for kids, more help for kids dealing with bullies, keeping the feeling of Tillamook “Tillamook”, and conversations about housing, traffic and roads. Many thoughtful ideas were placed on the sticky wall in the SOS Tillamook booth. The ideas for the future of Tillamook County came from all ages – from 10 to 85+ … “Wow, how do I pick one? They all impact each other and can lead to….[points to Suicide].”
Then there are the stories – from the veterans, a combat medic and police officer, from those in recovery, that had experienced homelessness, the trauma of addiction, and many “thank yous” for all you do. “Holding space for the community to talk about these important topics is our mission,” said Pearl. “There is a great desire and need to talk about these subjects, and to learn about how we as a community can deal with the impacts of drugs, alcohol, mental health issues, suicide and more. No one is immune to the impacts.” The magic of prevention empowers people with knowledge and information about the negative impacts, and “Prevention” is about negating these problems (the Magic) later.
SOS Tillamook’s Community Conversations are held on the third Thursday of most months. On September 20th, during Suicide Awareness month, there will be a movie showing of “The Ripple Effect” at the Tillamook County Main Library at 5:30 pm. Sponsored by Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization. The film highlights the journey of Kevin Hines, who at age 19, attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Today Kevin is a world-renowned mental health advocate, motivational speaker and author who travels the globe spreading a message of hope, recovery and wellness. The film chronicles Kevin’s personal journey and the ripple effect it has on those who have been impacted by his suicide attempt and his life’s work since. In addition, the film highlights the stories of individuals and families who are utilizing their personal tragedy to bring hope and healing to others.
Registration for this event opens August 27th, please RSVP https://ripple-effect-tillamook.eventbrite.com. Watch for more information about more showings of “The Ripple Effect” throughout Tillamook County in the coming months, as well as a QPR Suicide Prevention training.
SOS Tillamook’s mission is to Support, Overcome, and Strengthen Tillamook County:
Support: Support Tillamook County residents in finding ways to engage the community into finding health and wellness.
Overcome: Work with partners to help address and overcome barriers in finding health and wellness.
Strengthen: Strengthen resiliency in Tillamook County residents by supporting continued living in health and wellness.
For more information, go to www.sostillamook.org, the SOS Tillamook Facebook page, or contact DeAnna Pearl at 503-842-8201.
