The Vindicator prints area Health Notes each Tuesday. Events should be open to the public and hosted by a nonprofit organization. To submit Health Notes, email to society@tribtoday.com or mail to 240 Franklin St. SE, Warren, OH 44483.

DOWN SYNDROME BANNERS: The Down Syndrome Association of the Valley is supplying free inclusion banners to area schools or businesses. The vinyl signs allow students, faculty and staff to sign them and display their support for all people of all abilities.

The banners are timed to acknowledge World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. Email office@dsav.org to request a free banner.

OSTOMY SUPPORT: Area residents who have an ostomy, as well as those who are preparing for ostomy placement, are invited to attend a free Ostomy Support Group from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday in Salem Regional Medical Center’s private dining room, at the back of the cafeteria on the hospital’s ground floor.

SRMC’s Ostomy Support Group offers education, encouragement and emotional support for people with any type of ostomy, including those with permanent or temporary urostomies, ileostomies and colostomies. There is no cost to participate. Family members and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Pre-registration for the meetings is requested. To register for the February meeting, or for a complete list of upcoming meeting dates, call nurse Tashia Watkins at 330-332-7607.

FLU-SHOT CLINIC: The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown is offering a flu- shot clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 11 at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane. Some insurance plans may cover the flu shot. Participants should bring their insurance card. The cost without insurance is $27.

To register, contact the JCC membership office at 330-746-3250, Ext. 195.

Jewish Community Center of Youngstown offers social, cultural, educational and recreational programs in a Jewish environment. Everyone is welcome. JCC is an agency of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation. For more information, visit jccyoungstown.org

GRIEF RECOVERY GROUPS: Grief Recovery instructional support groups meet 6 p.m. today at the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral Home Care Center, next to the funeral home, 709 N. Main St., Hubbard. Groups are led by Philip Roland and are open to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

The groups will meet each Tuesday throughout the winter, and are not limited to those families served by the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral home.

For information, contact Bill or Candee at the funeral home, 330-534-1952.

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS: Mercy Health-Hospice of the Valley is seeking volunteers and will host a training course from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and again Feb. 15 at Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland.

Pre-registration, fingerprints and background checks are mandatory for those seeking this required training.

Both classes must be completed in order to become a certified volunteer. Call 330-549-5902 to reserve a spot or for more information.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE SUPPORT: Mahoning County Public Health, 50 Westchester Drive, Austintown, works to protect the public’s health and to ensure conditions in which all people can live healthy lives.

Mahoning County Public Health offers a variety of services from immunizations to environmental and community health programs. For a complete list of services, visit mahoninghealth.org.

• “Chronic Pain Self-Management,” 1 to 3 p.m. beginning Thursday through March 12 at the Davis Family YMCA, 45 McClurg Road, Boardman.

“Chronic Pain Self-Management” is an educational program designed to help individuals 60 and older with proven strategies to manage chronic pain. Classes are interactive, and mutual support and success helps build confidence in managing health and maintaining active and fulfilling lives.

To register for the free workshop or for more information, call 330-270-2855, Ext. 109.

• “Falls Prevention — A Matter of Balance” is an eight-week structured falls prevention workshop that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels.

During weekly two-hours sessions, participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance.

Times are 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. To register or more information, call 330-270-2855, Ext. 171.

SRMC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: Salem Regional Medical Center’s Cancer Support Group will meet 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in SRMC’s Oncology Conference room, inside the Cancer and Infusion Center. Community members facing the challenges of a cancer journey can gain encouragement and understanding of the disease.

Guest speaker Jessica Mertens, a clinical dietitian, will discuss “Eating Well Through Cancer.”

SRMC’s Cancer Support Group is open to anyone coping with a cancer diagnosis, whether receiving care at SRMC or another facility. Sessions are led by SRMC’s licensed oncology social worker, and offer education and emotional support for people with any type of cancer.

There is no cost to participate, but pre-registration for the meetings is requested. For questions or to RSVP, call June Semer at 330-332-7677.

DOWNS WINTER PROGRAMS: Down Syndrome Association of the Valley encourages persons with Down syndrome and their families to visit dsav.org to register for winter programming that includes yoga, tennis, swim, cooking, social therapy and toddler time. Membership to DSAV is free.

DSAV is a nonprofit organization serving eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania and is an affiliate member of the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress and Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action.

The DSAV Cooks class will again be held 6 p.m. Wednesday and Feb. 19 at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield.

For more information, email office@dsav.org.

YELLOW BRICK SCHEDULE: Yellow Brick Place, 2959 Canfield Road, Suites 3 and 10, Youngstown, supports and educates cancer patients and those closest to them by providing individual and group services in the tri-county area.

For information, call YBP from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 234-228-9550.

• YBP’s Fashion Show — March 8, Waypoint 4180, Canfield.

• Chair Yoga — 11:15 a.m. Feb. 8,15,22, 29, in YBP Suite 3.

• Caregiver Support Group — 11 a.m. Feb. 11, in YBP Suite 3.

• Prostate Cancer Support Group — 6 p.m. Feb. 17, in YBP Suite 3.

• Multiple Myeloma Support Group — 6 p.m. Feb. 17, in the conference room of Denny’s Restaurant on Belmont Avenue, Liberty.

• Your Beauty Program — 1 p.m. Feb. 18, at YBP Suite 3. Attendees must call YBP to register.

EASTERSEAL MEALS: Easterseals offers home-delivered meals to homebound clients 60 and older in Mahoning and Columbiana counties. There are different meal options. A suggested donation of $2 per meal helps support the program; donations are voluntary. Call 330-884-2513.

Easterseals offers nonmedical transportation to independent seniors 60 and older in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. A suggested donation of $2.50 per trip helps support the program; donations are voluntary. Call 330-884-2511 to schedule.

EXERCISE AVAILABLE: Mercy Health’s Community Health Education offers free exercise classes at various locations in the Mahoning and Trumbull county areas six days per week.

For locations and schedule, call 330-720-3293.

OHIO LIVING SENIOR CENTER: Ohio Living, Home Health and Hospice Senior Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.

For information, call 330-744-5071 or go to ohioliving.org.

NAR-ANON PROGRAM: Nar-Anon, a 12-step program for relatives and friends who have been adversely affected by a loved one’s addiction to drugs, meets 7 p.m. Sundays at the Sahara Club (upstairs), 2345 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.

For information, call Bill at 330-856-3822.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups available free to all caregivers, family members and friends with a loved one affected by the disease or another form of dementia.

• Canfield — 1:30 p.m. fourth Thursdays of month, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St.;

• North Jackson — 2 p.m. third Mondays, Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 N. Lipkey Road.

For more information or to confirm, contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

ADDICTION SUPPORT: Never Alone Nar-Anon Group, a 12-step program for family, relatives, and friends affected by a loved one’s addiction to drugs, meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the First Presbyterian Church of Girard, 890 Churchhill Hubbard Road.

• A New Day Nar-Anon Family Group meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays at the Congregational Church, 612 West Broad St., Newton Falls. For information, call Cindy at 330-207-0845.

MVI HOSPICE CARE: Bereavement support groups are free to anyone who has lost a loved one, including a pet. Contact 330-759-9487 for information.

Sessions are 1 to 3 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month and 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Boardman Park Georgeanna Parker Administration Building, 375 Boardman Poland Road, Boardman.

LUPUS SUPPORT: Trumbull Mahoning Lupus Support Group meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Panera Bread, U.S. Route 422, Niles. Meetings are free.

For more information, call Rhonda at 330-978-3749.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS: NAMI Mahoning Valley offers support and education to those dealing with serious mental illness.

Support groups are:

• Evening Connections — 6 p.m., second and fourth Thursday each month, AltaCare Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown;

• Daytime Connections — 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.

Family support groups include:

• Daytime Family Support Group — 11 a.m., first Thursday each month, Girard Free Library, 105 Prospect St., Girard;

• Evening Family Support Group — 7 p.m., second Tuesday each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

STEPPING OUT DAILY: Stepping Out, provided through a grant from the Mercy Health Foundation, offers daily activities and programs throughout the Mahoning Valley.

For information or scheduling with the nutritional educator or personal trainer, call Doris Bullock, project coordinator at 330-720-3293 or 330-480-8659, or email her at dibullock@mercy.com.