Blood Drive -- The next blood drive for the East Baltimore campus is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30 and 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Turner Concourse.

School of Nursing Open House -- Domestic violence expert Jacquelyn Campbell will be the guest speaker at the School of Nursing's open house on Tues., April 6, at 4 p.m. Her topic will be "Nursing Research and Practice Innovations Needed in the Field of Violence." The open house will also provide information on the school's graduate degree programs.

For directions and more information, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services at the School of Nursing, 410-955-7548.

Student Funding Programs -- Two programs are available through the Alumni Association. The Community Service Grant Program was established to support valuable volunteer experiences for Hopkins students and to foster positive relationships between the university and its surrounding communities. The program supports students who create their own volunteer community service projects or design their own ventures within existing volunteer organizations. Past projects have included Teach Baltimore and Hands to the Homeless.

The Student Services Funding Program promotes the student experience at Hopkins by providing funding to student groups or programs and by supporting campus events, activities and programs that benefit and involve students from all university divisions.

Both programs are open to undergraduate and graduate students from all divisions of the university. Applications are available at divisional alumni relations offices, the Homewood Office of Volunteer Services in Levering Hall or at the Steinwald Alumni House, 3211 N. Charles St.

Applications for summer and fall 1999 funding are due April 15. For more information and for applications, call Rebecca Barnes in the Office of Alumni Relations at 410-516-0363.

Community Health Initiative -- The School of Medicine, the University of Maryland and the American College of Physicians have joined together to work with the People's Community Health Center to offer free health screenings. The annual Community Care Initiative is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Greenmount Avenue and 32nd Street, in the Waverly community.

Free health screenings will be available for blood pressure, cancer, prenatal care, alcohol and substance abuse, smoking cessation, vision, diabetes, tooth care and asthma, as well as free immunizations for children. For information, call 410-576-9355.

Parents in a Pinch -- JHU employees can get assistance with care for their children and elderly parents at special subsidized rates as an employee benefit, administered by WORKlife Programs.

Both full- and part-time employees can call for help when they need to work on a Monday holiday but have no child care coverage; need to work extended hours or on a weekend; a child is too sick for day care but can play quietly at home; an elder dependent is ill or confused and the employee must work; an elder parent is released from the hospital and the employee would like to keep a watchful eye; an elder dependent's regular caregiver cannot work.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Care providers are available days, evenings, weekends and overnights. Parents in a Pinch screens applicants, checks references and criminal records and requires completion of a health and safety program. For up to 30 hours of care, JHU employees pay $8 per hour directly to the child care or elder care provider. JHU has an additional subsidy program available for employees whose net family income is less than $40,000. If an employee needs more than 30 hours of care, there will be a charge of $25 per day added to the hourly charge for this service. Most care will be arranged within four to 24 hours of the request. Giving as much notice as possible would be appreciated.

All employees who would like to use this backup care benefit must preregister with WORKlife Programs to confirm eligibility.

For more information about Parents in a Pinch, call 800-688-4697.

Dance Lessons -- Swing dance group lessons and wedding survival dance lessons will be available in a series of workshops beginning April 8 and continuing through May 13, from 7:10 to 8:30 p.m. No previous dance experience is required, and partners are necessary only for slow dancing (8:30-9:30). The lessons will take place at the Keswick Multi-Care Center, 700 W. 40th St.

Cost for the lessons is $65 per couple for one series, $100 per couple for both series and $35 per person for five weeks. The instructor is Joanne Houlahan. To register, call in advance at 410-847-9174.