PATIENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS

POWER OF TWO

The Power of Two program provides one-to-one short-term support to patients and their families coping with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Individuals participating in the program are matched to volunteers who have had similar challenges and experiences for phone or e-mail conversations. This program is open to adults with IBD as well as parents of children with IBD. We are working to expand this program to serve spouses of people with IBD; if your spouse is an IBD patient and you are willing to be a Power of Two volunteer, we would love to have you!  We also have a new Youth Power of Two program for youth ages 10-17. 

If you are seeking support or if you are intested in volunteering to share your experiences with others, please contact Sarah Smith-Brady at ssmith@ccfa.org.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Our support group meetings are held in a warm, welcoming, and safe atmosphere. All meetings are offered free of charge. People with IBD and their families and friends are encouraged to attend.

A list of our regularly scheduled group meetings is below. However, please note that all support group listings are subject to change. Please call the Northwest Chapter on the afternoon of the scheduled meeting to confirm the meeting date, time, and place.

If we don't have a support group in your area and you are interested in working with us to START ONE, please contact Sarah Smith-Brady at ssmith@ccfa.org to inquire about applying to become a trained support group facilitator.

ALASKA

Anchorage - NEW!
Our 1st meeting was Sept. 10, and our 2nd meeting was Nov. 10, with guest speaker Dr. Richard Farleigh.  Subsequent meetings will be on Tues., Dec. 1, Thurs., Jan. 14 & Tues., Feb. 2.
Will meet monthly on varying days of the week, 7:00pm
BP Energy Center (900 E. Benson, Anchorage, AK), in building behind the main one, room TBD (look for signs)
Questions?  Contact facilitator Mike Moeglein at moeglei@attglobal.net.

IDAHO

Boise
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each "even" month (Feb., Apr., Jun., Aug., Oct. & Dec.), 7:30pm
St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center (520 S. Eagle Road, Meridian, ID), Room 25
Questions? Contact co-facilitators Tonya Robertson (tonya_robertson@ymail.com) or Ben Butler (benbutler_@hotmail.com).

OREGON

Portland 
Meets the third Wednesday of each month, 7:00pm
OHSU's Center for Health & Healing (3rd Floor, Conference Room #5). 
Note: This is OHSU's new facility at the South Waterfront (3303 SW Bond Ave., Portland), not up on the hill.  Driving Directions / Map.  Street parking is free after 7pm, or there is a convenient parking garage available at the facility.
Questions? Contact facilitators Felicia & Steve Holgate: holgatefamily@hotmail.com or 503-296-0194

WASHINGTON

Eastside 
Meets the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
Evergreen Hospital, 12040 NE 128th Street, Room Tan 121, Kirkland
Questions? Contact facilitator Ken Persson: kpersson@aol.com
We are looking for a co-facilitator for this group, so if you are interested in co-facilitating it with Ken, please contact Sarah Smith-Brady at ssmith@ccfa.org.

Olympia - NEW!
We will not be meeting in December because our meeting location will be closed for the holidays.
Meets the last Tuesday of each month, 6:00 pm
Olympia High School Commons, 1302 North St, Olympia. (Park around back of building, off of Carlyon Ave in student lot, and enter at back of building by Carlyon Ave -- this student entrance leads directly to the commons.)
Questions?  Contact co-facilitators Susie McPike (mcpikesusie@yahoo.com) or Andrew Beattie (geminidrew@hotmail.com)

Seattle - We're back!
Our February 2010 meeting will feature guest speaker Karen Lamphere on nutrition.
Meets the third Thursday of each month, 6:15-7:45 pm
Northgate Public Library, 10548 Fifth Ave NE, Seattle* (served by King County Metro bus routes 41 & 68)
Questions? Contact co-facilitators Kyle Foreman (kyleforeman@gmail.com) or Lara Okoloko (larahellum@gmail.com).  To be added to the Seattle email contact list, please email your request to Kyle or Lara!
*This event is not sponsored by the Seattle Public Library.

Tacoma
Meets the fourth Monday of each month, 7:00-8:30 pm
St. Clair Medical Pavilion, 11311 Bridgeport, Lakewood
Questions? Contact group facilitator Rudy Horst: r.horst@comcast.net 

Lending Library
Your Resource to More Information on Living with IBD

Would you like to learn more about Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis? Are there questions that you still need answered? Visit our Online Catalog to view the books we have available for a free, 3-week loan period.

If you find something you'd like to read, contact Sarah at ssmith@ccfa.org to reserve it.

Volunteer Opportunties with the Northwest Chapter

The Northwest Chapter is currently seeking committee volunteers and event volunteers in the following areas:

• Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis
  Join one of the event's three committees - help with corporate development, team building & recruitment, or event planning. Take Steps committee opportunities are available in Seattle, Portland and Boise. To join, please contact Lacy Lawson at llawson@ccfa.org for Seattle or Boise, or Geia Angelatos at gangelatos@ccfa.org for Portland.
  
• Team Challenge for Crohn's & Colitis
  Team Challenge, a 13.1-mile walking and running training program, is currently recruiting volunteers interested in helping market and recruit participants. If you would like to help with CCFA's fastest growing event, please contact Ashley Stanfield at astanfield@ccfa.org.
  
• Camp Oasis - Summer 2010 (June 20-26)
  Camp Oasis is a summer camp for youth with IBD between the ages of 7-17.  We have moved to an exciting nearby location, YMCA Camp Colman in Longbranch, WA (south Puget Sound), and we will need volunteer medical staff (physicians, nurses and mental health professionals) and weeklong volunteer cabin counselors (18 & above - you must be a high school graduate by camp in order to be eligible).  If you are interested in volunteering for this amazing week-long experience, more information and applications will be available beginning in January 2010 at: http://www.ccfa.org/kidsteens/volunteers.  Please contact Sarah at ssmith@ccfa.org with questions.
  
• GI Office Visit Volunteers - We could really use your help getting our educational brochures and event materials out to the many gastroenterologist offices in our chapter, so if you are willing to help us in that way, please contact Sarah Smith-Brady at ssmith@ccfa.org.  If you can help with this but it is not convenient for you to stop by our office to pick up the materials, we can send them to you.
  
• Office Volunteers - please inquire at northwest@ccfa.org for information on current office volunteer opportunities.  We frequently prepare mailings and materials for both our educational and special events, and we would love your help!   
  

Northwest Chapter
9 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 203
Bellevue, WA 98005
877-703-6900 toll-free
425-451-8455
425-451-1708 FAX
northwest@ccfa.org

Linda Huse
Executive Director
lhuse@ccfa.org

Jennifer Simmons
Development Director
jsimmons@ccfa.org

Sarah Smith-Brady
Education & Support Manager
ssmith@ccfa.org

Ashley Stanfield
Endurance Manager (Team Challenge)
astanfield@ccfa.org

Lacy Lawson
Walk Manager (Seattle & Boise)
llawson@ccfa.org

Libby Collins
Administrative Assistant
ecollins@ccfa.org

Driving directions to our Bellevue office.