NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER RECEIVES $30,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS & SERVICES

The Northern California Chapter is excited to introduce Project Access – Mercy San Juan initiative to the Greater Sacramento community. The overarching goal for Project Access—Mercy San Juan is to improve access to MS education, management strategies, and support for individuals affected by MS. The Northern California Chapter has been partnering with Mercy’s MS Center since 2010 to deliver educational programs for the MS community. In 2010, Mercy San Juan’s MS Center became the first National MS Society-affiliated Center for Coordinated and Comprehensive Care in Northern California.

With the support of a Mercy Ministries Partnership Grant, the Northern California Chapter, in collaboration with Mercy San Juan Medical Center’s MS Center, will deliver its Project Access—Mercy San Juan initiative, facilitating access to vital education and support for individuals affected by MS. This initiative will fill gaps in care for patients of Mercy’s MS Center and members of the Greater Sacramento MS population by meeting several objectives:

• To provide timely and accurate information to help individuals and families gain a better understanding of this chronic disease, equipping them to make fully informed decisions at a critical time when many new therapies and treatments are emerging into the realm of care; activities include quarterly educational programs and one-to-one patient interventions within Mercy’s MS Center.

• To support participants with MS in coping with changes to physical and cognitive functioning through the delivery of two eight-week lifestyle program series on site at Mercy, consisting of the CogniFitness and Free from Falls programs.

• To help individuals with MS to realize peace of mind while improving coping skills and self-esteem; emotional support will be provided through MS Center patient interventions.

• To help individuals affected by MS to explore healthy living and positive lifestyle choices, improve wellness and independence, and find support to better cope with and manage this chronic disease; this initiative will educate MS Center patients on the range of available, life-enhancing programs and services provided by the Chapter.

• To assist individuals to cope with changing demands, new challenges related to their disease, and manage complex issues through the delivery of case management assistance.

While information about MS is everywhere, finding current and accurate information can be a challenge; information and opinions about MS abound, and the sheer volume of communication can be overwhelming. The Society is committed to being a central resource for people affected by MS—whether they are seeking information, local services, treatment, or connections to community resources and others living with the disease.

MS, the Memory and ConcentrationTuesday, April 17, 2012

6:30-8:00 PM Mercy San Juan Medical Offices

Lukens Auditorium6555 Coyle AveCarmichael, CA

Caron Nogen, PhD and Clinical Psychologist at Mercy will talk about how MS affects memory and the ability to concentrate. Cognition function is a significant challenge for people living with MS. This program can help you understand why MS changes your ability to process and retain information as well as how you can accommodate yourself to be more effective.

Light refreshments only (coffee and cookies). Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-344-4867. Register deadline: April 16, 2012.

Newly Diagnosed Orientation

Thursday, May 3, 20126:30-8:00 PM

Mercy San Juan Medical OfficesLukens Auditorium

6555 Coyle AveCarmichael, CA

Are you Newly Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. This informative program will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed as well as family and friends who want to learn more. Join National MS Society Sacramento area Community Development Manager, Ann Johnson and Edie Happs, RN and Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse and discover resources and get answers to some of your MS questions.

Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-344-4867.

Connecting through ClaySaturday, May 19, 2012

11:00 AM - 1:00 PMAll Fired Up Clay Studio

830 Broadway St.Chico, CA

www.allfiredupchico.org

Get to know others as you explore yourself through clay expression. No art background is necessary, just show up! Paint a plate or try hand-building a bowl for yourself or someone you appreciate. Janice Hoffman, All Fired Up! studio owner, will share how she has used art to help people transform their life perspective to bring in more enjoyment.

To register and purchase tickets, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-344-4867. Light lunch provided.

Jason, diagnosed 2002

Sacramento Self-Help Groups

BUTTE COUNTY ChicoAmy 530-863-7818 or Tracy 530-343-3623EL DORADO COUNTYPlacerville Doris 530-622-5673NEVADA COUNTYGrass Valley Phyllis 530-432-3504PLACER COUNTYAuburn Ruth 530-888-8388Roseville: Minimal Symptoms Group Peter 916-989-1364Lincoln Marilyn 916-434-6898SACRAMENTO COUNTYElk Grove Letitia 916-896-7764 or Dorothy 916-684-6849 or Willie 916-684-1677Sacramento: Moving on with MS Annette 916-715-4973 or Irene 916-536-9116 or Sylvia 916-349-1324 Sacramento: MS Sisters (men welcome too)Kim 916-821-6133 or Chelsea 916-289-6543 or Stephanie 916-215-5356SHASTA COUNTYHOPE 4 MS Beth 530-246-8404 or Patricia 530-222-7277 or Pat 530-357-3585 SOLANO COUNTYVacaville Marian 707-422-7515 or Willie 707-689-7814 SUTTER COUNTYYuba City Evon 530-701-2189TEHAMA COUNTYRed Bluff Teresa 530-529-4412 or Jodine 530-528-8767

Strike Out MS Night!Friday, April 13, 2012

7:05 PM GameRaley Field

400 Ballpark DriveWest Sacramento, CA

Join us to raise awareness about MS and rally for Walk MS Sacramento. Wear your brightest orange for a night out at the ballpark as volunteers, staff and our families living with MS get special stadium-wide recognition! Cheer on the River Cats as they take on Reno for the first home season game!

To register and for information about purchasing special discount tickets, please call 800-344-4867 or visit us online at www.nationalmssociety.org/can. Discounted tickets are available only until Friday, March 23. After that, regular price tickets can be purchased on the River Cats website, www.rivercats.com

Terry Rossman Durable Medical Equipment &

Support ClosetTerry passed away in 2007, but her dream and legacy live on to rid the world of MS and improve the quality of life for those affected by this debilitating disease. She was always willing to help someone and had a smile on her face. And she continues to do so. Terry’s Closet helps to provide assistance for the cost of durable medical equipment for people living with MS who cannot afford the insurance co-payments on prescribed equipment or do not have insurance that covers their durable medical equipment needs.

You can support Terry’s Closet by joining us at The Terry Rossman MS Golf Experience on Friday May 11, 2012. Please visit www.msgolfexperience.com for more information.

South Bay AreaFall Prevention Workshop - June 2

Newly Diagnosed Orientation - May 17Self-Advocacy Skills Training - June 30

Yoga for MS - ongoing

Greater Bay AreaNewly Diagnosed Orientation - May 2

Kayaking - June 2CogniFitness - starts June 15

Central ValleyPlay Ball! - April 14

Newly Diagnosed Orientation - May 1Insurance Appeals Workshop - May 12

Navigating Systems & Community Resources - June 14

North Bay Kayaking- June 2

Eureka Yoga Retreat - June 23

Visit nationalMSsociety.org/can to register and for full program descriptions.

What’s Happening Around the Chapter

Accessible from the Comfort of Home

New! Online Newly Diagnosed Orientation

Thursday, May 17 & Thursday, June 14th6:00 – 7:30 PM

Online and over the phone

Are you Newly Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. This web based program will be conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Crabtree, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCSF and Director of Patient Program Development at the UCSF MS Center. Dr. Crabtree will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed. This orientation provides an excellent opportunity to have any questions you may wish to ask answered and learn more about the resources available to persons with multiple sclerosis. A phone and computer with internet access will be necessary to join this program. Please call 1-800-344-4867 or visit us online at www.nationalMSsociety.org/can to register for this program.

Pain Management - New ProgramComing Soon! – Date & time TBD

Online and over the phone

Stress, pain and discomfort are very common in MS. MS creates its own emotionally taxing predicaments, not the least of which is dealing with the unpredictable course of this disease. Furthermore, some studies suggest that over 55% of people living with MS had “clinically significant pain”. Almost half (48%) were troubled by chronic pain.

This program will be facilitated by Dr. Pearl Werfel, a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include living well with MS and other chronic illness and anxiety, stress and pain mitigation.

If pain and discomfort are symptoms that you experience, we invite you to join the Northern California Chapter in a chapter-wide program starting this spring. Please call 800-344-4867 for more information.