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| Pedro Ruiz of Promise Community Health Center will offer monthly community education talks about various behavioral health topics. The first session will discuss trauma at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Sioux Center Public Library. |
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER – Pedro Ruiz hopes to make the community more aware of behavioral health matters.
The care coordinator/interpreter for Promise Community Health Center plans to offer monthly “Bridging the Divide” community education talks in Sioux Center on various topics. They will be free and will be presented in both English and Spanish.
The first session, which will include a time for discussion, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Sioux Center Public Library. He will present information about trauma and the impact that adverse childhood experiences can have on people’s overall health and well-being. He noted that studies have shown that people who have been exposed to much adversity in their lives, whether neglect, abuse or divorce, are more likely to experience illness.
“The community education talk will provide an awareness,” Ruiz said. “It will bring to light what trauma really is and how it affects you throughout your whole life.”
Ruiz said the “Bridging the Divide” sessions are part of Promise’s effort to integrate behavioral health with primary health care. Future community education topics will include depression, exercise, culture competence, anxiety and substance abuse. Guest speakers from the community also will participate with some sessions.
“We hope to cultivate understanding and well-being through education and to build bridges within our community through meeting and fellowship,” he said.
For more information, contact Ruiz at 712-722-1700 or pruiz@promisechc.org.
Promise Community Health Center, headquartered in Sioux Center, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the far northwest corner of Iowa. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org.
