Basic Peace Officer Class (BPOC) 2005A will be graduating at UTSA on January 13, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. It is our hope that this class will continue the excellence demonstrated by 2004C by passing the TCLEOSE State Examination with a 100% first time pass rate.

Enrollment and testing is taking place for the upcoming BPOC Class 2006A. This is the first class to have to pass not only the written and physical fitness tests, but also a battery of psychological tests prior to admission. Thus far we are having a strong showing in the number and improved quality of applicants. In the last physical fitness testing we had 15 applicants and all passed including one that had returned after not passing our entrance requirements during trials in August. The increased admission, retention, and graduation standards seem to be creating the desired results: namely an improvement in the quality of our cadets and graduates that should lead to an ever-improving degree of law enforcement service within the Alamo Area.

The BPOC Classes 2005B and 2005C will be the first to undergo the "Crucible" scenario based final examination. This will entail each cadet team handling a scenario crime in which they process the crime scene, conduct interviews, prepare reports, and defend them in mock court. The culmination of this examination is a critical assessment by instructors and other cadet teams.

The AACOG Law Enforcement Distance Learning Network ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in February 2006 and we will begin distance-learning classes in Kerr County shortly thereafter.

AACOG Law Academy contact: Stephen Ramirez

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Elders Advocacy Network Workshop
enters sixth year

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As the Elders’ Advocacy Network enters its sixth year of providing planned aging advocacy educational workshops, facilitated by the AACOG / Bexar Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Program, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Education Outreach Initiative; it is important for us to underscore our primary goal--to offer scheduled monthly informative presentations, addressing the training needs of long-term care providers and community advocates.

CEU Credit Information: Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services-Education Outreach is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Approved classes meet Type I criteria for mandatory continuing education requirements toward re-licensure as established by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas. To receive appropriate continuing education credit for completing one of these courses, it is mandatory to attend the entire training.

Average course and participant CEU examples: 3.25 hours for Long Term Care Administrators, 4.2 contact hours for Nurses and 3.25 credit hours for Social Workers, 3 educational clock hours/contact hours for Registered Dietitians, Registered Dietetic Technicians and the Certifying Board for Dietary Manager's Certified Dietary Managers; CEU Credits will vary with the Course Topic and length.

Elders Advocacy Network contact: Nick Monreal

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AACOG Region TV Show

The AACOG Region TV Show will be temporarily off the air in January due to the transition of the public access channel 20 from Time Warner Cable to the City of San Antonio. For more information about this transition, contact Tiffany Pickens, AACOG Community Relations Coordinator, at (210) 362-5204.

AACOG Region Contact: Tiffany Pickens

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AACOG calls for volunteers to spread word about the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

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Do you like to be more informed and up to date on the newest information regarding the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)? Did you know that the Part D is starting on January 1, 2006? Did you know Part D is for all persons with Medicare? Did you also know that there is additional help for those who need it? Did you ever think of doing volunteer work that would help seniors?

If you know the answer to these questions or would like to learn more, then volunteer with the Area Agencies on Aging. Our volunteers give assistance and assurance while learning to answer questions for seniors during this time of confusion about the new Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. Come join our team and become one of our Information, Referral and Assistance Volunteers or Volunteer Benefits Counselors. After completing training the time commitment will be at least four hours per week. Training and volunteering can be done at a location in your area.

Contact the Aging Programs Volunteer Recruiter at (210) 362-5261 or 1-866-231-4922 for more information.

Volunteer Point of Contact: Henri Eaton

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Texas Country Cleanups Scheduled for January

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Texas Country Cleanups Point of Contact: Georgia Zannaras

Notice: AACOG Offices will be closed on January 16, 2006, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday.

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