Free Educational Health Classes:
Michigan State University Extension offers a variety of educational programs to help you, your family, your
clients and your patients live healthy lives. We invite you to go to our “Learn More/Refer To Our Programs”
web page to explore all our health-related classes. You can also use this web page to refer a friend, family
member or neighbor to classes you think would be of benefit to them.

Online Classes:

A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance, Tuesdays & Thursdays, Jan. 9, 2024 through Feb. 6, 2024, 9:30-11:30am ET

A Matter of Balance, Wednesdays, Jan. 17, 2024 through Mar. 6, 2024, 1-3pm ET

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

Chronic Pain PATH Telephone Workshop, Tuesdays, Jan. 23, 2024 through Feb. 27, 2024, 11am-12pm ET

Chronic Pain PATH, Thursdays, Jan. 25, 2024 through Feb. 29, 2024, 1:30-3:30pm ET

Chronic Disease PATH, Thursdays, Feb. 1, 2024 through Mar. 7, 2024, 10am-12pm ET

Diabetes PATH, Tuesdays, Feb. 20, 2024 through Mar. 26, 2024, 1:30-3:30pm ET

Chronic Disease PATH Telephone Toolkit, Wednesdays, Feb. 28, 2024 through April 3, 2024 1-2:00pm ET

Chronic Pain PATH, Mondays, Mar. 4, 2024, through April 15, 2024, 2-4pm ET

Diabetes PATH, Wednesdays, March 13, 2024 through April 17, 2024, 1:00-3:00pm ET

Mindfulness Classes

2024 Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Mondays & Wednesdays, Jan. 15 through March 6, 2024, 10-11:30am ET

Stress Less with Mindfulness, Tuesdays, Jan. 23, 2024, through Feb. 20, 2024, 6-7pm ET

Stress Less with Mindfulness, Tuesday & Thursdays, Jan. 23, 25, 30, Feb. 1 & 6, 2024, 1-2:00pm ET

February Self-Care Series, Thursdays, Feb. 8, 2024, through Feb. 29, 2024, 12-1pm Stress Less with Mindfulness, Daily, March 18 through March 22, 2024, 1:30-2:30pm ET

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program

Powerful Tools for Caregivers:  Tuesdays, Feb. 20, 2024 through March 26, 2024, 1:00-2:30pm ET

RELAX: Alternatives to Anger Education

RELAX Alternatives to Anger, Wednesdays, Jan. 10, through Jan. 31, 2024, 10-11:30am ET RELAX Alternatives to Anger, Thursdays, Jan. 4, through Jan. 25, 2024, 8-9:30am ET

RELAX Alternatives to Anger, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 23, 25, 30, Feb. 1, 2024, 8-9am ET RELAX Alternatives to Anger, Daily, Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, 2024, 1:30-2:30pm ET

SLEEP Education Classes

Sleep Education for Everyone, Fridays, Jan. 12, 2024, through Feb. 16, 2024, 12-12:30pm ET

Sleep Education for Everyone, Thursdays, Jan. 18, 2024, through Feb. 22, 2024, 10-10:30am ET Sleep Education for Everyone, Thursdays, Jan. 25, through Feb. 29, 2024, 9:30-10am ET

Sleep Education for Everyone, Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 2024, through Mar. 13, 2024, 7:30-8pm ET

Tai Chi Classes

Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention, Tue. & Thu., Jan. 9, 2024, through Mar. 7, 2024, 9-10am ET

Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention, Mon. & Fri., Jan. 10, 2024, through Mar. 8, 2024, 7-8am ET

Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention, Mon. & Wed., Jan. 22, 2024, through Mar. 13, 2024 9-10am ET

Walk with Ease Classes

Walk with Ease, Jan. 8, 2024, through Feb. 12, 2024, Self-Paced, Weekly communication via email

Walk with Ease, Feb. 5, 2024, through March 11, 2024, Self-Paced, Weekly communication via email

Meg Smoot, Health Department of Northwest Michigan Community Health Worker, meets with families during Venetian Festival in Charlevoix to see if they need Community Connections.

“I felt like I finally had an advocate.”

“I was able to contact her by phone, text, and e-mail.”

“She always followed up. We were talking once or twice a week.”

These comments come from area residents who have received help through the Health Department of Northwest Michigan’s (HDNW) free Community Connections program. And with inflation in the U.S. climbing at its fastest rate in 40 years—up more than 8% from 2021—there’s a growing number of people needing support.

There’s no reason to feel alone. Lean into the Northwest Michigan ‘village.’

“We’re the ones who answer the phone,” said Jen Vollmer, HDNW’s Community Connections HUB Coordinator and Licensed Professional Counselor, noting that people can call themselves, make contact through the website, or receive a referral from a friend, physician, or organization. “We aid people along their journey, whether it’s a one-time assist or a longer-term relationship.”

Community Connections provides a pathway for adults, children, and families to access resources at no cost and with no income qualifications. Through regional collaboration, the staff tracks available funding. The program provides one stop for residents to talk through their needs and access help.

The ease and variety of ways to engage—phone calls, home, or office visits—removes social barriers to health. There’s help for:

• Accessing medical, dental, or mental healthcare
• Buying food or securing a place to live
• Purchasing and preparing healthy foods
• Locating transportation
• Enrolling in health insurance
• Locating help with utility bills
• Finding educational and support programs for improving health, like quitting smoking
• Locating employment opportunities
• Talking through potential abuse or violence

“Throughout COVID-19, Community Connections became more important than ever,” Vollmer said. “We met with people who had lost well-paying jobs, worked with families who went from two incomes to one through divorce or other circumstances, and more. Now with the cost of living doubling many prices, we’re here to help, to empower people to help themselves.”

Community Connections covers the four counties of northwest Michigan, as well as 27 other counties that make up the tip of the Michigan’s mitt. In 2021 alone, the program aided 663 people in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties. Regionally, 2,678 people were helped last year.

While news reports and complaints of soaring costs are widely heard, Community Connections is taking action. To speak with staff, call 800-432-4121 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To register online, go to https://northernmichiganchir.org/community-connections/community-connections-referrals/ and fill out the questionnaire.

North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) is providing a free mental health and wellness app to everyone in the community. Called myStrength, the free app offers access to clinically proven tools to manage stress, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other common mental health conditions, along with COVID-19 resources. Users may choose to complete self-directed courses or use one-on-one coaching.

Similar to a gym for physical fitness, myStrength is described as the “health club for your mind.” The web-based app delivers a personalized home page based on the user’s motivation level each day. Users can work on eLearning, explore articles and videos, or just get inspired by the daily quotes and inspirational messages.

Sign up at norcocmh.org or download the myStrength app and use the free access code: NCCMHcomm.

Charlevoix County Transit & the COA has a Senior and Emergency Grocery Ordering/Delivery Service as part of the services offered by the County’s Transit.  While delivery of items such as food pantry boxes, prescriptions and senior meals was well received, the grocery delivery was not widely used during the early months of the pandemic.   One of the drawbacks that transit officials noticed was that for curbside pickup available for groceries an individual needed to place their order  via a smartphone or web-based application.  

During the height of the shutdown, the website and app ordering was time consuming and problematic for many and therefore transit didn’t see many requests grocery delivery.  The expansion of the Transit’s delivery program will provided assistance to those needing help with ordering their groceries.   County residents who would like to use the Grocery Ordering/Delivery Program  can call Program Coordinator at 231.497.1430 on designated shopping days to place their grocery order.  The program coordinator will then input the order with the caller, take payment information (credit/debit card) and then place the order as well as scheduling the grocery delivery in transit’s scheduling system.  This program is currently limited to in-county grocery stores utilizing the store shopping app.
Designated days/times for orders to be placed:  Monday 1:30-3:00pm; Tuesday 9:00-10:00am and 1:30-3:00pm; Wednesday 1:30-3:00pm; Thursday 9:00-10:00am and 1:30-2:30pm

While this program initially focused on helping our county’s aging population, with a surge in COVID cases and the flu season upon us, transit officials felt this was  a worthwhile community service that should be offered to anyone who is in need of help or worried about going into stores.

Charlevoix County’s Commission on Aging will assist the Charlevoix County Transit with getting information about this program out to the county’s aging population as well as continue to assist those over 60 years old with transit fares for in-county rides as well as out-of-county medical appointments.   For more information about Transit rides or the free delivery services offered, please call 231.582.6900 between 7:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Charlevoix Walking Location: Charlevoix County Building Northside, 13513 Division Street, Charlevoix, MI 49720
With the county’s purchase of the old elementary school, and the Gym being part of the Senior Center, we are excited to make it available for walking again through the Winter and Spring by reservation only. We will have 10 spots per hours available for those who are interested. You must maintain 6 foot social distancing and wear a mask for the time you are in the building. You must wear shoes & use walking assistance (canes, walkers, etc.) specific for indoor use only to protect the Gym floor.  Walking will be available on the mornings that the gym is available.  To reserve your time slot please contact Sheri at: (231) 237-0103

East Jordan Walking Location: East Jordan Senior Center, 951 Mill Street, East Jordan, MI 49727
The EJ School Gym use is being made part of the Senior Center again this year, and we are excited to make it available for walking through the Winter and Spring by reservation only. We will have 10 spots per hours available for those who are interested. You must maintain 6 foot social distancing and wear a mask for the time you are in the building. You must wear shoes & use walking assistance (canes, walkers, etc.) specific for indoor use only to protect the Gym floor. Walking will be available to Seniors from 10:30am – 11:30am only Monday through Friday.  To reserve your time slot please contact Brenda at: (231) 536-7831

These dates and times are subject to change depending upon the current Pandemic situation and/or the needs of the Community to utilize this space to fight the Pandemic.  By making a reservation you will be called if there are any changes to your dates or times.  Thank you for your patience.