Southwestern Independent Living Center and Brocton Central School will partner to bring the eighth Annual Family, School, and Community Connections Symposium on Friday.

BROCTON — On Friday, Southwestern Independent Living Center and Brocton Central School will partner to bring the eighth Annual Family, School, and Community Connections Symposium and Brocton CSD Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative Event to Brocton and neighboring communities/counties. This year’s theme is “Together we can.”

The event will host well-child checks, (possible) basic immunizations, basic dental exams and cavity checks by Drs. Hutter and Chen from The Chautauqua Center, as well as retina exams by Erie Retina Research, PSA blood tests for men by WNY Urology, Veterans help through the VET CENTER Mobile Medical Unit, as well as addressing other health care related issues throughout the day. Minor children must be accompanied by a parent or authorized adult.

At this time, there are 78 Providers who will be available to assist those who attend the event, representing over 88 programs available throughout WNY and parts of Pennsylvania.

The Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative event, developed by Judy Wroda of SILC, will host Brooks-TLC Hospital, Westfield Memorial Hospital (AHN / Highmark Health), Oishei Children’s Hospital, UPMC Chautauqua, The Chautauqua Center, the University at Buffalo Primary Care Research Institute, The Resource Center, BOCES Health/Nursing Careers students, and many service providers who assist elders, youth, children and others in our communities.

Wroda states “There truly is something for everyone at this event. Oishei will be fitting children and youth with new helmets, CELJ will be visiting with elders regarding new programs they offer to assist with their finances, several Veteran’s agencies will be on hand to assist vets and their families, and many agencies will be on hand to assist schools, youth, families, and communities!”

The speakers for this year’s event are Rodney Buchanan, Westfield Memorial Hospital Administrator, Chris Ramnauth of the Veteran’s Administration, Saraden Randall of Child Advocacy Program, Mary Bether Dreyer of Upstate Poison Control, and Krist Moscato of Person Centered Services.

This event is free for everyone! BCSD provides a free breakfast to those in attendance. Food trucks will be on site for lunch and snack purchases. Doors open to the public at 7:30 a.m., with lectures starting at 8:50 a.m., and the day ending no later than 3:30 p.m. The event is held at Brocton Central School, 138 W Main St. (Rt 20).

Wroda states that she developed the Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative to bring accessible and equitable health care and other services to our more rural individuals and families. Last year’s event at Brocton assisted 301 attendees, with over 70 programs being represented!

If an agency, church, organization or medical facility would like to be a part of this free event or if your agency would like to become a supporter of this event, please contact Wroda at 716-450-3960. Wroda states you can check SILC’s website for more thorough information and updates on the event: www.silcchq.org/upcoming-events.