Click the title of each group to see upcoming events when they are providing individual walk-in assistance at the library!

Community Navigator – Community Navigator volunteers through United Way of Kaw Valley will help clients to prepare paperwork, gather documentation, access community resources that might benefit and/or support their needs.

Cover KS: Heath Insurance Navigator – Get your Marketplace & KanCare health insurance questions answered at the library.

Topeka Family Legal Project – Meet with Topeka Family Legal Project staff to apply for legal assistance related to housing, educational and income-related legal issues.

TRIO Educational Opportunity Center – Discuss FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), career exploration and school selection with TRIO Educational Opportunity Center advisor Melody Lawrence.

SCORE Business Mentoring – SCORE mentors provide one-on-one advice on business best practices and resources to help your small business thrive. SCORE mentoring is free for aspiring or established owners of U.S.-based businesses.

Mental Health Screenings with Valeo Behavioral Health Care – Staff from Valeo Behavioral Health Care help community members understand their own mental health situations, the treatment options available and how to access services.

Community resources online & at other locations

Community resource & referral sources

• Apply online for LIEAP Energy Assistance Benefits through the DCF Benefits Portal The online application for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is available through Friday, March 29, 2024 at 5pm CST. “Apply for Assistance” to start an application using your existing DCF account or for new customers, create a new account.  Attend one of the upcoming LIEAP application events at the library.
• United Way 211 – Dial 211 from any phone to speak with a referral specialist 24 hours a day about community resources and any service needs you may have. Available in English and Spanish. 211
• Wellsky/Healthify – find opportunities for help in Topeka in a searchable resource
• Topeka Resource Checklist Updated April 2023
• 2021 CRC Resource Directory

Resources for food and assistance

• Food Pantries and Meal Programs updated April 2023 and Spanish language: Food Pantries and Meal Programs updated April 2023
• Need help finding food resources in Shawnee County? Here is a map of local food pantries, feeding sites and food giveaways. Enter your address to find resources nearby. Created and updated by Shawnee County K-State Research and Extension.
• Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging coordinates services for older adults.
• Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas serves seniors and home-bound in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties.
• Check your eligibility for SNAP benefits.  The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides qualifying low-income households with food benefits, access to a healthy diet and education on food preparation and nutrition. In Kansas, the program is known as the Food Assistance Program.

 COVID-19 resources

• Shawnee County Health Department Information including testing options and vaccine options
• Shawnee County Covid-19 Wastewater Treatment Plant Monitoring – Scroll down to “Filter by State to View Counties” then choose Kansas, then choose the yellow “Show all” button to see Shawnee County, Kansas data. Choose “Last 6 months” or “Last 6 weeks” for more recent trends.
• The CDC COVID Data Tracker
• CDC Respiratory Virus Updates
• How to Protect Yourself and Others from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Mental health crisis lines

• Shawnee County Mental Health Crisis Line Valeo (ages 18+) Open 24/7 1-785-234-3300
• Shawnee County Mental Health Crisis Line FSGC (17 & under) Open 24/7 1-785-232-5005

Eviction prevention

Housing and Credit Counseling Inc – 800-383-0217 and  785-234-0217

Kansas Legal Services Individuals seeking legal assistance must first apply. You can apply for legal assistance by filling out the Online Application or by phone 1-800-723-6953.

Internet Resources and WiFi Access

WiFi Access in the library’s parking lot, community centers and other locations.

Consumers can apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program at AffordableConnectivity.gov

Tax Forms and Assistance

Tax Forms and Assistance links to local resources and state/federal forms.

City of Topeka Property Tax Rebate program those 65 years of age and older.

Spanish Language Local Resources

• United Way 211 – Dial 211 from any phone to speak with a referral specialist 24 hours a day about community resources and any service needs you may have. Available in English and Spanish. 211
• Spanish version: Food Pantries and Meal Programs in Topeka/Shawnee County updated October 2022
• CRC quick reference to emergency rent/utility help, food & clothing, health & dental, etc. in both English and Spanish.
• Family Service & Guidance Center Spanish page – Mental Health Services for Shawnee County, ages 17& under
• el Seguro Social (Social Security)
• Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)(click on flags to change language)
• Kansas Department for Children and Families Self-Service Portal (click on menu in upper left to choose Language – Spanish)
• Meals on Wheels (Spanish Language Website)
• Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas – La Luz Center for Legal Assistance
• Cover Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace (Spanish Language Website)
• Community Action, Inc. (Spanish website through Google Translate)
• Shawnee County Health Department (select Language – Spanish in Google Translate at bottom of the page)
• Temas de Salud: COVID-19 Spanish Language National Institutes of Health Resources for COVID-19

The post Community Resources appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

You’ll find Navigators at the library in the Community Resource Office located in the southeast corner of the Movies and Music Lounge just outside the Learning Center.

What community navigators do

United Way of Kaw Valley Community Navigators can guide you through the applications for many types of community services and assistance:

• Housing issues
• Trouble paying rent
• Can’t pay electric, gas or water bills
• Can’t afford a doctor or dentist
• Food, clothing and diapers

How community navigators help

If you need extra help completing an application or gathering necessary documents, community navigators can help! Navigators will make sure clients have the documents they need for a meaningful encounter with an organization. This reduces the frustration of having to return again by explaining program requirements and helping clients complete necessary forms in advance.

Community navigators can also help you connect to other community resources inside or outside of Shawnee County. They are trained to identify additional needs and services the person may not have realized were available. Navigators can refer clients through the WellSky system or other communication methods.

Navigators also listen to, advocate for and act on behalf of the communities they support. In this way, they help social service organizations develop and improve services that better address the needs of the community.

“We want to help connect people in our community to resources that they may need – whether they need help with food and the application for that, or need help finding housing and help filling out an application or making an appointment. We can help with all of that” – Tasha, Community Navigator

Where community navigators help

Community navigators are available for walk-in assistance at several locations in the community. More locations will be added in the future. Check for updates on the times and locations of community navigator at the library on our daily events calendar.

Other ways to access resource information

United Way of Kaw Valley also provides access to resources and information through 211, available through phone and text.

Anyone can search directly for resources on Wellsky Kansas Community Network.

For questions about community navigators at the library, email Lissa at connect@tscpl.org.

The post Community navigators are ready to help appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Each Conversation Kit contains a deck of question cards or an interactive game to spark conversation with others. You can checked out kits just like other library materials. Kits cover a variety of ages and interests, from family to work.

You could take one on a family car ride, use at work for team-building or engage with groups in your community. Use one of these resources to help you ask and listen in conversations with family and friends.

Conversation techniques

Use any of the Conversation Kits to take your conversations to another level. Set the stage for success by using “Conversation Agreements” and including these techniques:

• Be curious and listen to understand.
• Show respect and suspend judgment.
• Note any common ground as well as any differences.
• Be authentic and welcome that from others.
• Be purposeful and to the point.
• Own and guide the conversation.

Library conversation events

We are hosting Family Dinner Project events on Sat, July 8 and Mon, July 10. Both events will be in the library’s Learning Center from 3-5pm. The Millennium Café chef Tricia Peterson of 2Chefs Catering will share budget friendly family cooking tips and recipes, while you enjoy samples. Mark your calendar to attend either.

You can also Practice Using Conversation Kits with others at the library Thu, July 13, noon – 1pm in Claire’s Sunroom.

More conversation resources

Living Room Conversations

This website has conversation guides for more than 100 different topics that are welcoming to people across the political and cultural spectrum. Popular guides include: Belonging, Empathy, Race and Ethnicity, Mental Health, Social Identity, Listening Courageously, Being White in the Anti-Racism Movement and The Opportunity Gap.  Host your own guided conversations proven to build understanding and transform communities.

Family Dinner Project

Most American families are starved for time to spend together. Dinner may be the only time when we can reconnect, leaving behind our individual pursuits like playing video games, emailing and doing homework. Dinner is a time to relax, recharge, laugh, tell stories and catch up on the day’s ups and downs, while developing a sense of who we are as a family.

The Family Dinner Project is a nonprofit initiative that started in 2010. The group champions family dinner as an opportunity for family members to connect with each other through food, fun and conversation about things that matter. We have two Family Dinner Project events at the library in July 2023.

255 Conversation Starters for Family Discussions

These conversation starter questions can be adapted for kids of all ages, and work well both to launch family dinner table conversations and for one-on-one time.

Ben Franklin Circles

Circles meet regularly, using Ben Franklin’s classic 13 virtues to spark discussion about members’ goals and aspirations — who they want to be, and what they want to contribute to the world. The website offers resources for starting your own circle in person or online.

Library Book Clubs

The library hosts or co-sponsors a great variety of book clubs for people of all reading interests. It’s a great way to meet friends, find fuel for your reading energies and enjoy an evening of book conversation. We have in person and virtual book clubs.

Celeste Headlee’s TED Talk “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation”

Good conversations take time and attention. Here’s how to have better ones, from a popular and experienced NPR host and interviewer.

Topeka United – Mosaic Partner Pairs

Mosaic Partner Pairs is a local initiative that builds deep and lasting individual relationships between people who may not look alike, or worship alike, or otherwise relate to family and community in the same way.

National Issues Forums

The “Forum” part of the National Issues Forums is the place where democracy comes alive. It’s where the practice of public deliberation is learned by doing. It’s an event inspired by the concerns and viewpoints of citizens, which are not just respected—they’re put to work.

Questions/comments? Email connect@tscpl.org

View complete list

The post Try a Conversation Kit & start talking appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

It’s not often I encounter a food I’ve never tried, but last spring at the Library’s Farmers Market (on Mondays) I met an alien vegetable – kohlrabi.

What the heck is kohlrabi?

The kind folks at the Arkenberg Farms stand always have some of my favorites – beautiful spring salad mix, French breakfast radishes, pure white globe radishes, vibrant green kale – and kohlrabi in the spring/early summer.

Kohlrabi is also known as a German turnip but it’s actually from the same species as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale or Brussels sprouts. They have more vitamin C than oranges and though they look like a root vegetable, the knobby bulb actually grows above ground.

One of the girls at the stand said kohlrabi sounds like a German hard rock band and now that picture is forever planted in my head. You should be able to find this weird veggie at the farmers market in the next few weeks since it is a cool season vegetable. Here are some ideas for using kohlrabi.

Cooking with kohlrabi

First, I tried it raw with dip. It would make a nice addition to a veggie tray – super crisp and mildly flavored. Then I chopped it up into matchstick sized pieces with apple and Napa cabbage and made a yummy slaw, just using store bought coleslaw dressing. I also added some raisins for sweetness.

My next attempt was a saute’ of kohlrabi, cannellini beans, kale and mushrooms. Here’s the recipe I used. I also tossed in some radishes and I absolutely loved this dish. It can be made vegetarian with the swap of vegetable broth for chicken broth and the beans made it hearty.

Here’s the recipe I want to try next with kohlrabi – a kohlrabi and tomato salad. I love salads and this one sounds so good.

Other suggestions for using kohlrabi

• pickle it
• bake it or fry it for chips or fries with a yogurt dipping sauce
• use it raw or blanched in salads

It’s pretty versatile for such a strange vegetable!

View complete list

The post Foodie Finds: Kohlrabi appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Creative practice, particularly hands-on projects have been known to induce a calm focused state called “flow.” In my reading I came across several scientific studies and web resources explaining how that works. When words fail you, choosing a project and creating something personal for someone can help express deep, complex feelings.

In Sutton Foster’s new book, Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life she chronicles how creative projects helped her through scary and difficult times. I listened to it on downloadable audio using the Libby app.

Her descriptions of the projects and how they related to what was going on in her life are simply stated but profound. I loved how she used crafts like cross-stitch (her mother’s craft), collage and crochet (her favorite) to gain control and produce tangible objects while building her confidence and self-worth. This book inspired this article. I recommend her book and checking out her Facebook page.

Personal stories of crafting improving mental health

I reached out to authors and co-workers for their stories of how crafting or art helped them.

Author reconnects to herself through crafting

I got a wonderful response from Kathryn Vercillo, the author of Crochet Saved My Life: The Mental and Physical Benefits of Crochet and Hook to Heal!: 100 Crochet Exercises for Health, Growth, Connection, Inspiration and Honoring Your Inner Artist.

Kathryn Vercillo Feeling “Blue”

Kathryn said she struggled with debilitating, immobilizing depression that resisted treatment. She heard doing things you enjoyed as a child might help connect her. Kathryn fondly recalled her mother teaching her to crochet a chain, so she picked up some yarn and a kid’s instruction book and set to it.

Kathryn said, “It stuck! When so many other attempts to help myself heal just didn’t. The fact that I could sit in my bed, ignore the overwhelm of the world, and barely move my body yet still make beautiful, amazing, functional, creative things with my two hands was indescribably healing. It helped me reconnect to myself, to color, to texture and ultimately to the people and the world around me.”

She reminds us she still needs all the “usual” things to continue to heal herself – medications, therapy and a support system. Kathryn’s research and opportunity to interview hundreds of crafters for her books and column for Happily Hooked magazine have informed and inspired her in new ways for crochet to heal.

Kathryn said, “What started as a very specific, individual healing – the focus that took me out of my ruminating mind, the self-esteem growth of making something I could gift or use, the serotonin boost of the repetitive motions, the grounding of touch and color over time has become the community and all of the inspiring people I’ve met who are crafting to heal, who have healed me most.”

Kathryn Vercillo with Crocheted Wall Hangings

She has made everything from crocheted dresses to wall art with yarn, a needle and just “her two hands.” Kathryn also has a web presence with several sites focusing on various aspects of crochet, mental health and mindfulness.

Her comments ended with a bit of advice for those just starting to crochet. “Try it, then try it again. Be gentle with yourself. Ask what craft can do for you instead of trying to be ‘perfect’ at it. Tap into that online craft community and open yourself up to the amazing possibilities of yarn.”

Here are some great books on crafting as healing including Sutton’s and Kathryn’s works.

View complete list

Crafting to increase family connections

Repurposed projects by Karen

Karen who works in marketing for the library said she’s always been a “crafty” person. She remembers as a child salvaging a cherished but broken plate and creating a one-of-a-kind gift for her mother. Recently she has been creating “up-cycling” projects with her daughter. Karen sees her glue gun as a powerful tool for elevating her attitude and bringing a bit of joy into everyday life.

Up-cycled Wreath by Karen

Speaking of making lemonade from life’s lemons, Karen found a small bright side to the COVID-19 lock-down.  She said, “This sparked more creativity in my working from home and inspired my daughter to tap into her creativity. Our love of crafting has developed into genuine, quality mom and daughter time. We love to do thrift challenges, creating something different with a handful of common objects.” Karen said she gets a lot of inspiration from magazines like “Do It Yourself” and “HGTV” accessed on the library’s free online magazine platform Flipster.

You can find inspiring projects and instructional videos free on the library’s Creativebug Access.

Making sense of feelings through art

Contest-winning photo by Natalie

Natalie a co-worker, who was diagnosed with depression as an adult, shared that she finds drawing, painting and photography have been ways for her to make sense of her feelings and showcase her moods as art.

Natalie said, “My art helps me show my feelings, get over things and feel like I have done something with my life.”

She also knows what it’s like to have your work publicly appreciated. In 2011 her flower photo was chosen for display in the Springfield, Missouri, Skaggs Community Hospital Surgical waiting room.

Natalie said, “I was proud of this because it showed that even with my depression at the time, I had worthwhile things to contribute to society.”

Expressing feelings through art & crafts

New Black Tree by Jayme

I have also used art and crafts to help me express feelings and create something I am proud of. Creating art gives me the freedom to choose all the materials, design and colors. That combined with the sense of accomplishment of making a real, tangible thing can really help shore you up when things look bleak.

I have drawn trees and horses since I was a child. Recently, I brought out my scissors and recreated some new paper trees like those I made years ago. Creating the silhouettes of black limbs “growing” in the space between the blades and the paper was definitely a “flow” experience, almost a meditation.

Rainbow Horses by Jayme

These horses were part of a book display I made for work. I made several images in different color combinations and this rainbow one with one of each type. They expressed all the things I’ve loved about horses – freedom, beauty, joy, color and energy. When I got them out they inspired me. I’m setting up a creative space in my new apartment to get some of those things back in my life.

Check out these titles to see how others have enriched their lives. Discover ideas for using art, craft and hobbies to learn about yourself and grow one sweater, collage or picture at a time.

View complete list

The post Creative projects can help you through difficult times appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Yoga Info from the Experts

I talked with our instructors from Topeka Yoga Network Evelyn Spangler and Mary Boland. Here are my questions and their answers.

What are some of the benefits of yoga?

Doctors and scientists all agree that yoga and meditation can improve your quality of life. For children it means constructive play and expending energy. Adults and seniors who practice regularly can expect to gain physical strength and stability. Everyone can learn breathing techniques and other tools to help them deal with the stressors life brings.

In their years of practice, Spangler and Boland say they have seen multiple people with significant weight loss. In a class of students over 80 by the end of the year everyone was able to do standing yoga poses.

What does yoga class look like?

Our children’s yoga is engaging. You can’t bring a 3-year-old into a classroom and tell them to do poses. They will tire of this almost immediately. Our classes are successful because we use props, stories and even the child’s imagination to guide them through what seems like fun or playtime to them but is really a balanced children’s yoga class.

Have fun with Children’s Yoga.

In a typical basic yoga class, practitioners can expect to work through poses that strengthen targeted muscle groups. They will also move and breathe to get their heart rate up a bit. Then stretch to calm the body and the mind after practice.

Try Beginner Yoga

Our chair yoga classes are balanced and benefit everyone. We work through a warmup process that starts from the top down. Then we teach yoga poses adapted to the chair to work on strengthening targeted muscle groups. Toward the end of class we guide those who would like through some gentle standing poses while also guiding those who chose to remain seated through the same pose.

Enjoy Chair Yoga

View complete list

Find a class for you and register.

The post Increase Your Flexibility, Balance and Happiness with Free Yoga Classes appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being.

If you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

• Biological factors such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems

Top Three Mental Health Facts

• 18% of U.S. adults experience mental illness.
• Nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.
• 46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life and half of those people will develop conditions by age 14.

What is Mental Health Month?

Mental Health Month (May) raises awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional and mental well-being of children, families and communities. Mental Health Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives, and celebrate recovery from mental illness.

The Impact of a Global Pandemic

The past year forced many to accept tough situations they had little to no control over. If you found it impacted your mental health, you aren’t alone.

Now, more than ever, we need to combat the stigma surrounding mental health that commonly prevents individuals from seeking help. Seeking professional help when self-help efforts aren’t working is a sign of strength not weakness.

This past year presented many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never even imagined. Many of us struggled with our mental health as a result. The good news is there are tools and resources available to support individuals’ well-being.

During May, Valeo is focusing on what you can do to prioritize your mental health, build resiliency and continue to cope with the obstacles of COVID-19. This can help you process the events and your feelings of the past year, while also building skills and supports that extend far beyond COVID-19.

Getting Help

Working on your mental health and finding tools that help you thrive takes time. Recovery is a unique and personal journey that requires trial and error to determine what works best for you. Change won’t happen overnight. By focusing on small changes you can move through stressors and develop long-term strategies to support yourself on an ongoing basis.

Valeo Behavioral Health Care reminds you that mental illnesses are real and recovery is possible. Developing your skills and tools will help you find balance between life’s ups and downs. This will help you continue to cope with the challenges brought on by the pandemic and other life events. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, alcohol use or substance use disorder, we can help.

• Valeo 24-Hour Crisis Line: 785-234-3300
• Valeo Crisis Center, 400 SW Oakley Avenue
• Valeo Behavioral Health Care, 330 SW Oakley Ave, call us 785-233-1730 to make an appointment
• For more information about Valeo the services we offer, please visit our website valeotopeka.org.

Sources:

• Youth.gov
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
• MentalHealth.gov
• Mental Health America Tools 2 Thrive Kit

View complete list

Article written by Michaela Butterworth, Health Promotion Specialist, Valeo Behavioral Health Care

The post Learn About the Importance of Mental Health in Everyone’s Overall Health appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

What is Public Health?

The post Public Health Challenges appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Many more people live a reduced quality of life due to suicidal thoughts. In 2016, 9.87 million Americans had serious thoughts about suicide. Suicide effects the community as a whole and those who know a person who committed suicide. Family and friends of someone who died by suicide are more likely to commit suicide themselves.

Although these numbers are scary, there is hope. Suicide is largely preventable and treatment has been shown to be effective in helping those who experience suicidal thoughts. We, as a community, can help by learning to identify the warning signs and help people get the treatment they need.

Warning Signs

The first step in preventing suicide is learning to identify the warning signs. A person who is struggling with suicidal thoughts may talk about wanting to die or being a burden to others. They may report feeling empty, hopeless, numb, trapped or being in unbearable pain. They may act anxious or agitated, withdraw from friends and family, change their eating or sleeping habits, display extreme mood swings or take risks that could lead to death. Other signs that indicate suicidal thoughts include giving away prized possessions and saying goodbye to family and friends. Knowing these signs will make it easier to identify someone who is in crisis.

Help Them Get Treatment

If you recognize the warning signs in someone, there are several things you can do to help them get treatment. First, ask the person directly if they are thinking about suicide. It can be an uncomfortable question to ask, but it can provide important information. Studies show that asking about suicide does not increase thoughts of suicide or the likelihood that someone will commit suicide. Listen nonjudgmentally to the response. Keep the person safe by removing access to highly lethal items or places if possible. Do not leave the person alone. Help them to immediately get connected to crisis help.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the 24-hour Valeo Crisis Line at 785-234-3300 to get immediate help. You can also walk in to the Valeo Crisis Center at 400 SW Oakley. It is open 24 hours every day and no appointment is necessary.

Community Support

Although suicide is complex with many factors involved, there are things everyone can do to help decrease suicide. Recognizing the warning signs and knowing how to take action can have a profound impact on those experiencing suicidal thoughts. Talking openly about mental health and suicidal thoughts can help to remove stigma and increase education. Then individuals who need help will be more likely to get it. Once connected with the right support, there are treatments that have been shown to be effective in helping individuals with suicidal thoughts. If we work together as a community, we can save lives and create a stronger and more resilient community.

View complete list

Written by Courtney Rooks, Executive and Development Specialist, Valeo Behavioral Health Care

The post Learn About Suicide Prevention appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

The post Health Care in Shawnee County During COVID-19 appeared first on Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.