Briefs

CASA

Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, 848 Louisiana Ave., will hold the following events:

• The CASA Association’s 18th annual Casas for CASA, a playhouse fundraiser to generate public awareness, funding and community support for CASA’s efforts on behalf of abused and neglected children, is in progress.

The playhouse, valued at $20,000, can be seen at the lower level elevator at the Mall of Louisiana. Tickets, $5 each, can be purchased through Sunday at the mall. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at CASA Kids Day.

• CASA Kids Day, a children’s safety fair, will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Mall of Louisiana.

Events will include free performances and activities for children of all ages, free services for children and safety demonstrations.

The star of Kids Day is LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, who will leave his habitat and arrive at the mall in his tiger trailer at 4 p.m. The fair will close with the playhouse raffle drawing.

• An informational session for those interested in becoming CASA advocates will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Court Appointed Special Advocates help neglected and abused children in the foster care system find a safe and permanent home.

To attend a session, call [phone].

Woman’s Hospital

Woman’s Hospital, 100 Woman’s Way (corner of Airline Highway and Pecue), will hold the following events:

• “Prenatal Yoga” will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Destination Maternity, 5921 Bluebonnet Blvd. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Great Expectations” will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at 100 Woman’s Way, the new Woman’s Hospital, Conference Room 1, first floor. Cost is $25.
• “Baby Steps,” a light exercise class for moms to do with their babies, will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Thursday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Strong Mamas,” an exercise class to prepare for pregnancy body changes, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Body Basics for Girls,” a class on what changes to expect during puberty, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at 100 Woman’s Way, Conference rooms 1-2, first floor. Cost is $15.
• “Weight Loss Surgery: What You Should Know,” a free class, will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at 100 Woman’s Way, Conference Room 4, first floor.
• “Basics of Breastfeeding and Pump Pointers” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness, 9637 Jefferson Highway. Cost is $20. The event is for women only.
• “Tyke Hyke” a class designed to help prepare a 3-year-old for the new baby and mom’s hospital stay, will be from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at 100 Woman’s Way, Conference room 1-2, first floor. Cost is $25.
• “A Baby is Coming-Sibling Preparation for Children 4-8 Years” will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at 100 Woman’s Way, Conference rooms 1-2, first floor. Cost is $25.

For more information or to register, call [phone] or visit http://www.womans.org.

Huntington’s

Huntington’s Disease Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd.

Family Service

Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will offer counseling services for children, individuals and families who need help with a wide range of emotional, behavioral and relationship problems from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. For more information, call [phone].

Lane Regional

Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary, will hold the following events this week:

• A congestive heart failure education program will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the medical center’s staff development classroom. Topic will be “Back to the Basics,” and the food focus will be “Basic Meal Planning.” Free lunch will be provided. Call [phone] to register.
• Diabetes Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the medical center. For more information, call [phone].

HIV services

The following HIV services will be offered this week:

• Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will offer free, confidential HIV testing and counseling from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the office. No needles and no blood are necessary, and results are ready in 20 minutes. For more information, call [phone] or visit http://www.fsgbr.org.
• Metro Health will offer free, confidential HIV testing from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center, 950 East Washington St. Hepatitis C and syphilis testing will be conducted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Metro Health will also offer testing from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 4000 Gus Young Ave. Other testing will be done at Earl K. Long Mid-City, North Foster at Gus Young Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Delmont Service Center, 3535 Riley St. For more information, call [phone]. Alzheimer’s Services

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, 3772 North Blvd., will hold the following events this week:

• Caregiver network groups for caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will meet from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at Iberville Parish Library, 24605 J. Gerald Berret Blvd., Plaquemine, and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Denham Springs/Walker Library, 8101 U.S. 190, Denham Springs.
• “When Mom and Dad Need You: How to Maintain Marriages While Caregiving,” a lunch-n-learn session, will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the office. The program is free, but registration is required.

For more information or to register, call [phone].

Cancer Services

Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell Ave., will hold the following free events this week:

• “YogaThrive: Yoga for Cancer Survivors” will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at The Red Shoes, 2303 Government St. Registration is required.
• Brain Cancer Support Group will meet at noon Monday at the office.
• “Fit & Fearless: Total Body Workout,” an exercise program for cancer survivors, will be at 5:15 p.m. Monday, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5:15 p.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park, 7500 Independence Blvd. Registration is required.
• After Hours Cancer Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the office.
• Breast Cancer Support Group will meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the office.
• Oral, Head & Neck Support Group will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the office.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park. Registration is required.
• Lung Cancer Support Group will be at noon Friday at the office.

Call [phone] or visit http://www.cancerservices.org.

BR General

Baton Rouge General will hold the following events this week:

• Weight Loss Surgery Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Bluebonnet location, 8585 Picardy Ave., Conference rooms 1 and 2. Call [phone] for more information.
• Healthy Steps: Lebed Exercise Program, healing through dance and movement, will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Baton Rouge General, Mid City, 3600 Florida Blvd., and at the same time Thursday at the Bluebonnet location. Call [phone] to register.
• “Baby Care Basics” will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference Room 2. Fee is $30 per couple, and refreshments are included. Register online at http://www.BRGeneral.org.
• PanCan, a support group for pancreatic cancer patients and their families, will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location, Pennington Cancer Center Conference Room. Call [phone] to RSVP.

Grief Recovery

The Grief Recovery Center, 4919 Jamestown, Suite 101, will offer the following events and opportunity this week:

• A support group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the office.
• A bereavement support group for adults will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs.
• A bereavement support group for adults will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales.

All support groups are free and confidential.

• Speakers are available on topics related to grief.

Call [phone] or visit http://www.grcbr.org.

Grief support

The Community Grief Support Group, in partnership with several other local agencies, will meet at noon Tuesday at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell Ave. The group is open to anyone coping with the loss of a loved one. Call [phone].

OLOL

Diabetes Education & Awareness Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, 5000 Hennessy Blvd., first-floor auditorium. Melanie Chandler of the OLOL Diabetes & Nutrition Center will speak on “Diabetes: Myth or Fact?” For more information, call [phone].

The Hospice of BR

The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, will offer the following events and opportunity this week:

• Free grief support group sessions will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sunrise Assisted Living, 9351 Siegen Lane, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Broadmoor Methodist Church, 10230 Mollylea Drive.
• The hospice is seeking volunteers for patient/caregiver support, health fairs and office assistance.

Call [phone].

DBSA

Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at La Madeleine Café, 7615 Jefferson Highway. The free meeting is open to those diagnosed with depression and bi-polar disorder as well as family and friends. Call [phone].

‘CancerFit’

“CancerFit,” a comprehensive wellness program from Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins designed to help cancer patients stay active and mentally fit, will hold a class, “Natural Fatigue Fighters,” from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Plaza Diagnostics Building, Suite 112, and 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Asphodel Room.

Classes are free and include an hour of yoga and guided meditation followed by a 15-minute presentation. Call [phone].

Red Cross

The Louisiana Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross, 4655 Sherwood Common Blvd., will hold the following classes:

• “CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the office. Cost is $110.
• “Adult CPR” will be from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the office. Cost is $70.
• “Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the office. Another class will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 21. Cost is $110.
• “Adult First Aid/CPR/AED” will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the office. Cost is $90.

Call [phone] or visit http://www.batonrouge.redcross.org.

NAMI

National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold the following events this week:

• Family to Family Support Group for family members/caregivers of people with a mental illness will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at University Presbyterian Church, 3240 Dalrymple Drive. For more information, call [phone].
• Connection Recovery Support Group for family members/caregivers of people with a mental illness will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at University Presbyterian Church. For more information, call [phone].

Mary Bird Perkins

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center will hold the following free events this week:

• A breast cancer screening will be from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at LSU Mid-City Clinic, 1401 North Foster Drive.
• A skin and colorectal cancer screening will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at Pennington Men’s Health Conference, 6400 Perkins Road.

For more information or to make an appointment, call [phone].

Peoples Health

Peoples Health will hold a free program on cardio line dancing at 9 a.m. Tuesday at YMCA A.C. Lewis, 350 South Foster Drive. Registration time is 9 a.m., and reservation deadline is Tuesday.

To make reservations for the event, visit http://www.myhealth.peopleshealth.com or call [phone].

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis Awareness Group of Greater Baton Rouge will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ochsner Health Center, 9001 Summa Ave., fourth-floor conference room. Topic will be the allergist perspective of sarcoidosis. To RSVP by Monday or for more information, call [phone].

ABC Adoption

ABC Adoption Search and Reunion Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3553 Morning Glory Ave. Call [phone].

Co-Dependency

Co-Dependency Anonymous will have a 12-step meeting — including step 11 — at 7 p.m. Wednesday at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Room 204 of the Trice Building. For more information, call [phone] or for literature, visit http://www.coda.org.

Home Instead

Home Instead Senior Care, 11764 Haymarket Ave., will hold a free Alzheimer’s CARE Training class from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the office. Call [phone].

Ochsner

Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive, will hold the following events this week:

• Senior Health Day, a Golden Opportunity Program for adults 50 and older, will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Spectrum Fitness, 145 Aspen Square in Denham Springs.

The event is free and will include health screenings, including total cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure screenings, nurse consultation and flu shots provided by Walgreens (bring insurance card). Refreshments will be provided, and area vendors will be on hand. For more information, call [phone].

• A childbirth class series will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the medical center, first-floor classrooms. The class will include pregnancy topics, pain theories, pre-labor signs, labor signs, comfort measures, labor positions, interventions, pain medications, postpartum and newborn procedures and breastfeeding. Cost is $25 for mom and a partner and includes registration, materials and refreshments. For more information or to register, [phone].

Life Fitness

Life Fitness Therapy, 5438 O’Donovan Drive, will hold a free class on food label reading at noon Wednesday at the office. For more information or to reserve a spot, call [phone].

Parkinson’s

Baton Rouge Area Parkinson’s Disease Support will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. Neurologist Georgia Lea, a Parkinson’s and movement disorders specialist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, will speak. For more information, call Sharilyn at [phone] or Sally at [phone].

Life Source Services

Life Source Services Hospice, 3049 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., will offer the following events and opportunity this week:

• A grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office.
• A new grief support group will meet from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at La Plantation Retirement Community, 26635 La. 16 (Pete’s Highway) in Denham Springs.
• LSS is seeking volunteers for many of its projects. Call [phone].

Cardinal Hospice

• A free grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office.
• Volunteers are needed to assist patients and their families and work in the office.

For more information, call [phone].

Foot Institute

The Diabetic Foot Institute, 5428 O’Donovan Drive, Suite D, will offer complimentary diabetic foot screenings on Friday. Screening will include thermal imaging, blood flow study, gait analysis and neuropathy screening. Call [phone] to schedule.

Men’s Health

The 2012 Men’s Health Conference, organized by the Louisiana Men’s Health Organization, will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Keynote speaker at 8:30 a.m. will be Dave K. Sanderson, survivor of the “Miracle on the Hudson.” The event, open to men ages 18 and older, will also include exhibits and health screenings, speakers and sessions on such topics as joint pain, types of fat, pros and cons of PSA testing and more. Register at http://www.lamenshealth.org.

Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers to drive patients to cancer treatments through its Road to Recovery program and to staff its Cancer Resource Center. Training for the Road to Recovery program will be from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 21 at 10528 Kentshire Court.

For more information, call [phone].

STAR

The Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center is seeking volunteers to staff the 24-hour crisis hotline and assist survivors at the hospital. The center will conduct volunteer training classes beginning Sept. 4. Those interested in assisting survivors of sexual assault should call [phone] between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays for more information.

Hospice Associates

Hospice Associates, 8119 Picardy Ave., is seeking direct-care volunteers for patient/caregiver support and companionship. Veteran volunteers are also needed for the We Honor Veterans Program to share their life journey with veteran patients and their families. For details, call [phone].

SouthernCare

SouthernCare Inc., 17316 Airline Highway, Suite P, Prairieville, is seeking administrative help in the office and direct patient care to help with hospice patients. For more information, call [phone].

Clarity Hospice

Clarity Hospice has positions available for volunteers to donate their time, effort and talents. Email an inquiry to [e-mail].

Alcoholics help

Alcoholics Anonymous, a fellowship of men and women who help each other recover from alcoholism, meets daily. Call [phone] or visit http://www.aa-batonrouge.org.

Al-Anon/Alateen

Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step program to help those affected by someone’s problem drinking, holds meetings daily in the Baton Rouge area. There are no fees. Meetings are confidential. Call [phone] or go to http://www.batonrougealanon.org.

Overeating help

Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program without dues, fees or diets, holds meetings seven days a week in the greater Baton Rouge area. For details, call [phone] or visit http://www.oabatonrouge.org.

Gambling help

Gamblers Anonymous, a support group for people with gambling problems, holds multiple meetings every week in Baton Rouge, Baker, St. Francisville, Gonzales and Hammond. For dates, times and locations, call (877) 770-STOP or [phone].

Narcotics Anon.

Need help with a drug problem? Narcotics Anonymous holds daily meetings. Call the helpline at [phone].