health bulletin board www.spokesman.com/livewell

Upcoming

Health Insurance Information - The Spokane County Library District will host sessions to help you learn about health insurance for individuals and small businesses. Jan. 15 and March 19 at North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road, (509) 893-8350; and Feb. 19 at the Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., (509) 893-8400. All sessions are 6-8 p.m. Visit www.scld.org or call (509) 893-8200 for more information.

Second Annual Dog People Blood Drive - The human blood donations are for the Inland Northwest Blood Center; dog blood is stored at the Pet Emergency Clinic Blood Bank. The Inland Northwest Blood Center will have their bus parked out front so that people can donate and the Pet Emergency Clinic Blood Bank will be available to do initial blood typing and temperament testing on dogs. Dogs must be heavier than 60 pounds and 1 to 6 years old. Call the clinic to sign up. Feb. 8, 1-5 p.m., Lincoln Heights Veterinary Clinic, 2829 E. 27th Ave. Free. (509) 535-3551.

Women’s Cancer Survivor Retreat - Feb. 21-23. A weekend of rest, reflection, sharing, massage, reflexology, presentations, meals and more with others who have been or are on the same journey. The Franciscan Place, 1016 N. Superior St. Call (509) 483-6495 or visit www.sjfconline.org for more information and to register. $195/$15 due at time of registration will be applied to total, fee assistance is available.

Parenting/childbirth

Free Developmental Screenings - For infants and toddlers younger than age 3 living in Spokane County. Screenings include: language, physical strength and coordination, vision, hearing, feeding and behavior. Several sites are available. To make an appointment, call the Spokane Regional Health District’s Infant Toddler Network at (509) 324-1651.

Free Health Baby Weight Checks - For new moms and babies up to 1 one year old. Offered Mondays-Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Valley Hospital and Medical Center’s Lactation Office, first floor, 12606 E. Mission Ave., Spokane Valley. Call (509) 473-5706 or email johnsond@empirehealth.org or lloyddc1@empirehealth.org for more information.

La Leche League - The breast-feeding support group meets the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Health Education Center in the Holy Family Medical Building, 235 E. Rowan Ave., call (509) 484-0340 for more information; the first Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Airway Heights Library, 321 E. Herb St., Airway Heights, call (509) 244-4191 or (509) 258-6850; and the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at New Moon Family Wellness Center, 906 S. Cowley St., call (509) 484-0340 for more information. Visit www.lllaofwa.org/la-leche-league-spokane for more information about the group.

Other programs

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors HelpLine - The SHIBA HelpLine is free, confidential and impartial counseling with trained volunteers to help callers understand their health care and health insurance rights and options. Call (509) 458-2509 at Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington or the SHIBA HelpLine at (800) 562-6900.

Striders - A community walking and exercise program promoting fitness, fun, friends and health education since 1995. Meets Mondays and Wednesdays, September through May, from 8-9 a.m. at the Spokane Valley YMCA, 2421 N. Discovery Place. Led by certified instructors, the classes emphasize strength, stretching, and balance. Miles walked individually are records and awards are presented at five awards meetings each year which feature health-related speakers. Cost is $15 per year and $2 for each exercise class attended. For more information, call Carol at (509) 926-1697 or Judy at (509) 892-1293.

Survival Fitness Boot Camp - Group fitness training for men and women. Held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Ponderosa Elementary, 3483 E. Ponderosa Blvd., Post Falls. Free two-week trials offered. Call (909) 730-2367 or email john.caylor@survivalfitnessbootcamp.com for more information.

Tai Chi Classes - . Certified instructors Bob and Cindy Petet will offer basic tai chi and qigong classes at a variety of times and locations. For more information or to register, call (509) 468-0587 or (509) 499-0683. You can also email taichihelp@salescreators.com.

Teen Diabetes Advocate Meeting - Free program sponsored by the American Diabetes Association for teens ages 12 to 18. Meets monthly, at the ADA office, 801 W. Fifth Ave., No. 319. For information, call Ted Duncan at (509) 263-6281 or by email at tduncan@diabetes.org.

Therapeutic Recreation for Disabled Adults - Center Pointe, through United Way, provides recreational, educational and social activities for people with disabilities. Wide variety of classes offered includes: ceramics, computers, math, reading, art, wood shop and stitchery. All participants are given the opportunity to learn, achieve and grow in a barrier-free environment. Open Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Center Pointe, 1408 N. Washington St. Call (509) 325-5451 or visit www.centerpointeactivities.com for more information.

Women in Anger Classes - Course covers how to express anger constructively versus destructively, how to examine anger and its impact on one’s life, and how to deal with angry outbursts, strained relationships and personal frustration. Held Wednesdays, 4-6 p.m., at St. Joseph Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St. Cost is $100 for three-class course, scholarships available for qualified participants. Meets court requirements. Call (509) 483-6495 or visit www.sjfconline.org for more information.

Women’s Self-Defense Classes - Learn practical and applicable defense methods that you could confidently use in an emergency. Held the third Saturday of each month, 1 p.m., at 101 N. Argonne Road, Suite B, Spokane Valley. Cost is $10 per class. Call (509) 891-9821, visit www.hitpitmma.com, or email adreaphifer@gmail.com for more information.

Zumba Classes - Zumba Fitness classes for ladies held Tuesdays and Thursday, 5:45-6:45 p.m. at the Moran Prairie Grange Hall, 6106 S. Palouse Highway. Move to Latin-inspired music and discover the Zumba phenomenon. No experience needed. Cost is $8 per drop-in; discount for series. Call (509) 448-4265 for more information.

Zumba Classes - The Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center is offering Zumba classes every Monday, 6-7 p.m., at 405 William St., Post Falls. Cost is $7 per class or $28 per month. Call (208) 457-8950, email art@thejacklincenter.org, or visit www.thejacklincenter.org for more information.

Zumba Gold Class - Class is ideal for those who need modifications in regular Zumba to make it work for them. Some moves are done at half-tempo and some moves can be done in chairs. Held Mondays, 10:30-11:15 a.m., at the Good Samaritan Society Spokane Valley Community Center, 17121 E. Eighth Ave., Spokane Valley, and Thursdays, 10:15-11 a.m., at Spokane Valley Baptist Church, 1222 S. McDonald Road, Spokane Valley. Cost is $3 per class. Contact Kelli Maidhoff at (509) 434-8330 or kj6227@comcast.net or Lyra Maidhoff at (509) 981-7786 or lyram@comcast.net for more information.

Zumba with Sandy - Boomers, beginners and others can work out with special attention given to protecting backs, hips, and knees. Six week session runs . Classes Mondays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. and 5:45-6:45 p.m.; Thursdays, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Audubon Park Masonic Lodge, 2821 Northwest Blvd. Cost is $30/any six classes; $54/any 12 classes; or $7/drop-in class. To register and for information call (509) 270-0053 or email sandy@weissolutions.com.

Drug and alcohol

Al-Anon - For family and friends with the disease of Alcoholism. For 24-hour information and support, call (509) 456-2125 or (888) 425-2666 or visit www.wa-al-anon.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous - For 24-hour information and support, call (509) 624-1442. Visit www.aaspokane.org for meeting schedules and for more information.

Tobacco Cessation Classes - Community Health Education and Resources Office is offering free tobacco cessation classes throughout Spokane. Call (509) 232-8138.

Tobacco Cessation Classes - Free for Group Health members. For a list of dates and times, call (509) 459-1086 or visit www.ghc.org.

Quit and Win Tobacco Program - Free program offers classes two times a month, flexible quit dates, chances to win prizes at each class once you quit and support to help you quit and stay quit. Held at Providence Holy Family Hospital, 5633 N. Lidgerwood St. (509) 232-8138.