<lst>Inova Blood Donor Services will host "Fun Day" blood drives throughout April. April 24 is "Happy Administrative Professional Day." On April 25, donors can celebrate Arbor Day with a free sapling and mixed nut treats. On April 28, donors will receive t-shirts at the 'O'-Day party. Visit Woodburn Medical Park, 3289 Woodburn Road, Suite 010, Annandale, to participate in the festivities. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parents are invited to join staff members at an Apraxia Workshop on Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, at the Quality Inn-Governor, 6650 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. The workshop is sponsored by The Bruce and Patricia Hendrix Foundation, The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America and Fairfax County Public Schools. This two-day workshop, "Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech," will focus on assessment and treatment. The speaker will be Edythe Strand, Ph.D., of the Department of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Medical School. The cost is $120 for parents. For more information or to register, parents can visit the foundation's Web site at http://workshops.apraxia-kids.org/, call The Hendrix Foundation at 760-632-5020, or e-mail Workshop@hendrixfoundation.org.
Nutrition Classes, on Thursdays, April 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, from 7-8 p.m. Come see how hypnosis can help in losing weight easily and permanently. Informative classes help those who want to lose weight without dieting or pills. $15. Register with Hypnosis - Fairfax, 4244 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. 703-352-5042 or e-mail hypnosis11@hmp.net.
Hypnosis Screening. Mondays, April 28; May 5,12,19 and Wednesdays, April 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28, from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Make a New Year's resolution to lose weight or stop smoking? Come to an hypnosis screening and find out if hypnosis can help. Hypnosis video included. Free. Register with Positive Changes, 4244 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. 703-352-5042.
Meditation. Friday, April 25, 1-2 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Room 1E. Become more aware in the present moment. Learn about and experience the benefits of various types of meditation. Dress comfortably. Registration required.
Gentle Yoga. Monday, April 28, 7:15-8:45 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Room 1E. Explore the benefits of gentle yoga movements and meditation with certified Extra Gentle Integral Yoga Instructor, Noralea Dalkin. Dress comfortably and bring a mat or blanket. Registration required.
Good Grief for Children, 5-12 years old. Mondays, through June 9, 6-7 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Through age-appropriate activities and art therapy, children can share thoughts and feelings to help with the grief process.
Good Grief for Teens, 13-18 years old. Through June 9, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Through age-appropriate activities and art therapy, teens can share thoughts and feelings to help with the grief process.
The Jewish Social Service Agency is offering social and therapy groups. For children, in small, age-appropriate groups children who have difficulty will be taught skills for various social interactions. $55/$65 per session; may be insurance reimbursable. For adults, men and women ages 21 and older gain support and develop social skills by learning practical approaches to making friends, initiating conversation, making decisions, expressing feelings, understanding non-verbal cues and managing disappointment. Tuesdays, April 22- May 27, 5:30-6:20 p.m. at 3018 Javier Road, second floor, Fairfax. To register, call 703-204-9100.
Mind-Body-Spirit Medicine: The Course. Tuesdays, through June 24, 5-7 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Room 1E. Colleen Blanchfield, M.D., directs this ten-week series featuring for learning and experiencing various modalities conducive to wellness when living with cancer. Each session features a particular modality (yoga, tai chi, humor, relaxation, journaling, nutrition, etc.) along with a discussion and an experimental component. Registration for entire series required by April 18.
Inova Blood Donor Services will host a blood drive on Thursday, April 24, 12-5 p.m., at Evolution Fitness, 216 Dominion Road, N.E., Vienna. For more information, call 703-255-9707.
An Introduction to Healing Touch will be presented to the Reston Epilepsy Group on April 24, 8:30 p.m., at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, in the cafeteria.
Seminars for Survivors: Ask a Nurse What You Always Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask. On Thursday, April 24, 6:30-9 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Room 1E, a panelist of oncology nurses from various disciplines and moderator Jean Bronson Conway, RN, will dialogue with cancer survivors about quality of life issues during cancer treatment. Registration required.
Nutrition for the Cancer Survivor (and Caregivers, too!) Thursday, April 24, 10-11:30 a.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Gloria Caceres-Roman, RD, CNSD, provides an overview of optimum nutrition for the person with cancer during and after treatment. Registration is appreciated.
Good Grief for Children, 5-12 years old. Mondays, April 24-June 12, 7:15-9 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Through age appropriate activities and art therapy, children can share thoughts and feelings to help with the grief process.
Stress Workshop. Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. Discover simple ways to reduce the negative effects of stress. Led by Dr. Sush Simms, D.C., at the Roselle Alternative Care Center, 8316 Arlington Blvd., Suite 400, Yorktown 50 Building, Fairfax. Seating is limited, so call ahead. Free.
Join Parents of Children with Epilepsy for a presentation/discussion with Dr. Sandra Cushner-Weinstein, LCSW, on Monday, April 28, 7-8 p.m., Braddock Supervisors Office, Meeting Room, 9002 Burke Lake Road. Sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation. For more Information, call 703-425-6660.
Advanced Relaxation and Imagery Techniques. Monday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Room 1E. A refresher course for those who have learned these skills and wish to stay in practice.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group will meet Wednesday, April 30, 7-8 p.m., at Falls Church High School, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church. Sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation. For more Information, call 703-425-6660.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia will offer a program for adults grieving the death of a parent, April 30, 7:30-9 p.m., at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. Free. For more information and reservations, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
Special Seminars for Caregivers. April 30, May 14, May 28 and June 11, 7-8:30 p.m. at Inova Fairfax Women's Center, Radiation Oncology Conference Room, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. A four-session program for caregivers to address emotional and illness-related issues and to help the caregiver care for him/herself as well as the patient. Come to any or all sessions. Use the "blue" parking garage.
Children's Educational Support Program. Wednesdays, April 30- June 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Discussion and activities for children, 5-12 years old. Participants find ways to manage the emotions and changes that come when someone in the family has cancer.
Teen's Educational Support Program. Wednesdays, April 30- June 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, Suite 203, Room B. Discussion and activities for teens, 13-18 years old. Participants find ways to manage the emotions and changes that come when someone in the family has cancer.
"What Your Mother Never Told You About Surviving Perimenopause, Menopause and Beyond," Sunday, May 4, 1-4 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Clinical social worker Patricia H. Gibberman, LCSW, BCD; Carol G. Epner, RN, MS; and certified personal trainer Pat Foreman, ACE will address the physical, cognitive and psychological changes associated with menopause. Registration is open to all. The workshop costs $10 for JCCNV members at $12 for non-members. For more information or to register, call 703-323-0880.
Conquer Asthma and Allergies Naturally. On May 7, at 7 p.m., learn techniques to reduce or eliminate the need for inhalers and medications at a free workshop. Twinbrooke Chiropractic Family Health Center, 9567 Braddock Road, Fairfax. Call 703-425-0048 to reserve a space.
La Leche League of Fairfax City will host its next meeting on May 14, at 10 a.m. The topic is "The Advantages of Breastfeeding to Mother and Baby." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is Fairfax Christian Church, 10185 Main St. Free. For more information or questions, call a La Leche League leader at 703-471-7762 or 703-385-0527.
Balance Women's Hormones Naturally. Participate in an interactive free workshop on May 14, 7 p.m., at Twinbrooke Chiropractic Family Health Center, 9567 Braddock Road, Fairfax. Call 703-425-0048 to reserve a space.
A Grandparents Bereavement Support Group for anyone grieving the loss of a grandchild meets the third Thursday of each month. The next meeting is May 15, from 7:30-9 p.m., at Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
A General Bereavement Support Group for anyone grieving the death of a loved one meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is on May 21, from 7:30- 9 p.m., at Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Group for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. One support group meets the first and third Thursday of each month. The other support group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting of the Thursday support group is May 15, from 2-3:30 p.m. The next meeting of the Tuesday group is May 27, from 7:30-9 p.m. Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
Operation Stroke, an initiative of the American Stroke Association, in partnership with Inova Health System, celebrates May 17, Stroke Awareness Day. The Wakefield/Audrey Moore Recreation Center will provide free cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, risk assessment, an "ask the expert session," raffle prizes and educational information between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, call 703-914-3700.
Optimum Nutrition for the Whole Family. Learn nutrition information and hear tips to boost nutrition and overall health at a free workshop, May 21, 7 p.m., at Twinbrooke Chiropractic Family Health Center, 9567 Braddock Road, Fairfax. Call 703-425-0048 to reserve a space.
ICAN of Northern Virginia (International Cesarean Awareness Network) will meet on the following dates at 7 p.m., at Inova HealthSource, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax: May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17. For more information, visit www.icanofnova.org/ or call 703-237-6136.
A Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide meets the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is June 3, from 7:30-9 p.m., at Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation has awarded Inova Health System a $5 million challenge grant to develop the Claude Moore Health Education Center on the campus of Inova Fairfax Hospital/Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. This is the largest grant ever awarded to Inova Health System. The grant will fund an educational facility to train physicians, nurses and allied health professionals and expand the medical knowledge of health care professionals throughout Virginia.
Parent-to-Parent, a support group for parents of young children with special needs, co-sponsored by Jewish Social Service Agency and the Board of Jewish Education, Northern Virginia. Fourth Friday of every month at a location to be announced. $65/individual, $90/couple for entire series, $10/session for drop-ins. 301-255-1944.
The American Lung Association of Virginia’s youth tobacco prevention program, “Smoke Free — That’s Me!” will give students in Fairfax County the opportunity to participate in the program when it comes to selected schools in the 2002-03 school year. It is a one-hour, interactive program taught by certified American Lung Association facilitators and geared toward children 9 to 11. The program is designed to prevent young people from starting to use tobacco by educating them using a non-threatening approach. For more information, visit www.lungusa.org/virginia.