February is American Heart Month
February is officially American Heart Month and the American Heart Association celebrates with an official “National Wear Red Day,” which is scheduled this year for February 3, 2012. Show your spirit and wear red on this day to raise awareness of heart disease in women. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills more women than all other diseases combined.
Here at Special Care Services, Stein Education Center’s after school program; we are very conscientious about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart. We understand that those we serve, children and young adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, lack the level of exercise that their typically developing peers may experience. Thus, our daily services encompass the need for daily exercise and the value of maintaining a healthy heart for our students.
The Special Care Services Program offers a Hip Hop class on Mondays, followed by music therapy on Tuesdays, which involves rhythm and lots of movement, and Wednesdays, it’s all about horse back riding. Group walks are assigned for everyone daily. You will see us walking on the upper field, walking track or out into our local community. Weekly cooking projects are assigned with an emphasis on “healthy cooking.”
It is never too late to work on developing good lifestyle habits. So whether it involves healthy eating or exercising, today is as good a day as any to begin. So whether we fill the role of educator, care-provider, or parent, we need to work together to get our students and young adults working towards a healthier life style. Getting them involved in extra curricular activities, taking them on walks around the neighborhood, running around at the local park, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, every little bit will help to build a healthier heart and live healthier lives. Make exercise a part of your lifestyle, it can be fun! Why not start today!
Post Holiday Blues
Okay… so for the last few months (Thanksgiving through New Years) you’ve been in holiday mode. Great expectations for fun, families, gifts, food, food, and more food have filled your dreams and your waistline. Now, as the last vestiges of the holidays are being packed up in boxes for next year and you head back to work…how are you feeling?
For a lot of us, a period of post-celebratory sadness and anxiety lingers. Getting back into the swing of things is going slower than you hoped and you’re not sure you’re all that excited about it one way or another…
Topped off with the excitement of New Year’s Eve, your adrenaline has probably been pumping a lot of the time during theHolidayand New Year’s period. Returning to the usual routine and probably quieter workplace than normal can dampen your spirits just by the absence of exciting things to do and look forward to. Expecting to feel a little low is a way of telling yourself that this is a normal feeling and that it will soon pass once the routine re-establishes itself.
Did the holidays go the way you had hoped? Usually our holidays contain a mix of met and unmet expectations. Our over-spending and over-indulgence may have left us with a bit of debt and several pounds further from your ideal weight. Shortened daylight adds to the potential of Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD). And the enthusiasm, music, and the good will of the season seems to have been swept away all too soon. Angry gift-exchanging shopping mall mobs and that huge pile of unattended emails are killing your buzz! And you are kicking yourself in the butt for the unrealistic New Years resolution that you have already broken…Yikes!!
Take heart…take a deep breath… and take a few moments to remember that you are more than a Hallmark card. You don’t really live for the commercial indulgences of the season you live for the wonderful things you value all year long, right? Well, that is the point… hope and expectations are within your control all year long!
Remember to care about and for those around you even after the holidays.
- Take some time to laugh about the worst gift you received or the most hideous holiday sweater you saw (even if you were wearing it)… laughing is great medicine.
- Go easy on the “resolutions” they are intentions or goals…not laws.
- Get active physically (even if it just means a long easy walk) as extra those pounds and the short days can gain up to challenge our esteem and happiness.
- Eat something that does have extra sugar and sparkly things on it!
- Create some plans to look forward too… be with friends (ones you actually like), simple fun activities…and … arghh … even getting ready for next year’s holidays!
- Life is a marathon… the holiday sprint may be a good reminder to be good to yourself -and those around you- all year long!!
*Of course, for a few of us these feelings can linger and even intensify. If you are really struggling (those “Blues” may be a sign of Depression…a more serious challenge) talk to someone you feel safe and comfortable with. If you need some extra help, a professional may have some helpful suggestions. Call a Vista Hill professional (858-514-5100) or contact the Access and Crisis Line at 1-800-479-3339 for resources in your area. Have a Happy 2012!!!
National Thank You Month
“Thank you”…we teach our children and sisters and brothers and cousins to say those words all the time…thank you for a present, for a ride in the car, for an ice cream cone, etc. And then…as we get older…we might be a little forgetful and take the many kindnesses of others for granted. National Thank You Month is a reminder to all of us that “thank you” is still very important.
At Vista Hill we have many wonderful friends who help us and our client families in a myriad of ways. They have given money, they have volunteered, and they have served on Friend of Vista Hill committees, etc. We can say, “Thank you,” in person or by phone or write a note or send an email. It’s a small enough thing to do, and our friends tell us that it means a great deal to them.
We also have dedicated Vista Hill clients who try hard every day to succeed. Their success is our success, and for that we want to thank each of them…for improving their communication, for learning a new skill, for sticking to their recovery plan, for being the best parents they can be.
And we send thanks to each of you…for greeting a child with special needs, for befriending someone who has a mental health issue, and for helping others by not shying away from folks with problems. When you do this, you are serving as a role model to others; and you are helping to remove the stigma…And we especially want to thank you for that.
Written and submitted by Ms. Ann Mound, VP Development for Friends of Vista Hill
Home for the Holidays
I’ll be home for the holidays, is a typical adage that many people say during these festive but stressful times. For many of the families at the programs of Vista Hill ParentCare, this is something never said. For many of the families we serve, “home” has never been a safe or comforting place. Many of our clients come from long line of chemically-dependent families where abuse and neglect is common place.
Years later they are placed in our programs to “get better” or “get clean.” This is easier said than done when you understand their history. This is the time when Vista Hill steps in and lends their expertise. Our dedicated staff works with these clients to “re-parent” them, help them understand their past, help build their self-esteem, and to be supportive.
During these times we work much closer with our clients. We hold them accountable for their sobriety with increased alcohol and drug testing as well as increased support. We provide opportunities for them to celebrate with their children and offer assistance with holiday toys and food. And for some we actually provide a home.
Our wonderful Vista Hill Apartments (supported by the Dr. Seuss Foundation) is a place where families can be reunited in a safe and sober living environment. Some say that their apartment is the first place of their own and the sober living community is their “family.”
From all of us at Vista Hill and its many programs, we wish you a safe, sober and happy holiday season.
For ways you can help these families at the Vista Hill ParentCare programs please contact Angela Rowe at (619) 668-4205 or email arowe@vistahill.org.
Gratitude
What’s a parent to do? One day the toddler is taking all of your time, then, the teen suddenly appears. During adolescence, many developments are occurring to the body chemistry that may be the cause of some behavioral changes.
Teenagers are looking to define their individualism. They seek novelty and take foolish risks. They’re growing past obeying you just because “I said so.” Moral, legal, ethical, compassionate behavior seemingly takes a life time to learn. Encourage your teen to figure out why you set certain rules, how they broke them and what consequences there should be for not obeying rules. This is all part of the process of growing a successful teen.
Recently I visited one of the SAFIR (Supporting Adolescents and Families in Recovery) meetings during their celebration of sobriety. This event happens each month at the various six sites throughout the county. The parent presents a token to the student and the student reveals how he or she is working the program to remain alcohol and drug free. Sobriety becomes a basis for meeting the challenges in their everyday lives.
These families learn that in life we have a spiritual existence which gives us the confidence to face anything. Involvement and effort is needed to see this as a family issue and be grateful for the opportunity to change. One by one the youth expressed their gratitude for the support they had received. They expressed feelings of joy for the moment. On that day I celebrated gratitude with them and hope for the days to follow.
The words of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy comes to mind “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” “If it works, work it.” And SAFIR works!
We invite your questions or comments.
Marie Miehls, Director, Community Service Programs
Friends Fur-Ever at Stein Education Center Adult Services
Tags: Stein Education Center Adult Services, developmental disabilities, animal interaction, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, animal therapy
Here's Harley!
On a recent fall day at Stein Education Center (SEC) Adult Services, consumers are anxiously anticipating the arrival of a special guest. It is Harley! Harley is used for animal therapy. The consumers are willing to accept small social challenges from him, and their stress levels appear to be greatly reduced when he enters the room. Harley is a French bulldog who is well trained and has his AKC Canine Good Citizenship Training certificate. Harley regularly visits Stein Adult Services as part of our animal interaction program.
Positive Interactions For the entire day Harley roams the facility and interacts with the consumers. The canine-human contact for people with developmental disabilities is well-studied and shows positive therapeutic affects, especially for those who find human-human interactions challenging. There is also marked change among consumers with severe cognitive disabilities who immediately become more focused and aware of their surroundings as they reach down to pet Harley.
Expanding the Animal Interaction Program The Stein Education Center hosts other animals, such as birds, fish and even horses, through various formal and informal animal interaction programs. Love on a Leash is a non-profit organization that brings a Wheaton Terrier named Arthur monthly to the site. Arthur is specifically trained to interact with the disabled population correctly, for example, by placing paws on the knees of a person sitting in a wheelchair. Arthur is trained to respond to clients as they make the terrier perform tricks and obey commands. The staff at Stein has noted that the presence of the animals has a calming effect on clients, improves social skills and teaches positive interactions.
About Vista Hill Stein Education Center Adult Services SEC Adult Services serves individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The program provides vocational opportunities, skill development and training, and socialization skills in a meaningful and creative manner both on site and in community-integrated settings.
Every Day is “Make A Difference Day” at Vista Hill
At Vista Hill we are fortunate to have wonderful volunteers who make a difference for our client families throughout the entire year. We celebrate their important contribution on “Make A Difference Day,” but truth be told, we could celebrate their contributions every day of the year. they come faithfully to work as our front-desk receptionists doing all kinds of projects in the program office as they treat our clients and staff with kind attention and respect;
- they run the ParentCare Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard to help clients with food and emergency supplies; and they distribute gently-used clothing and household goods which have been collected by other dedicated volunteers;
- they read to our children and help them learn while serving as mentors to their moms;
- they bring new presents, help wrap them, provide refreshments, and help us make sure that every Vista Hill program has a nice holiday party; they make “goodie stockings” for our children; they take photos of our children with one of our dedicated volunteer Santas;
- they work with our skilled staff members at the SEC Adult Services Programs to help with art projects, equestrian therapy, the Tippett Picnic, and the annual Stein Education Center Walkathon for children and adults with developmental disabilities;
- they run food drives in their neighborhoods or at their businesses; they glue invitations and stuff and stamp envelopes; they edit newsletters; they purchase new bicycles for our children and put them together to be distributed throughout our many programs;
- they donate beautiful children’s books, they knit baby blankets, scarves, and afghans, and they collect hygiene articles, socks, and underwear for our client families;
- they serve on our Friends of Vista Hill boards and committees to help us raise money and raise awareness for Vista Hill; and they sell tickets, collect prizes, work on decorations, and seek underwriting year after year;
- they ask their relatives and friends to get involved with Vista Hill; they help educate and inform the community in order to remove the stigma of mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities; and they are our ambassadors in every way possible.
Bottom line? They make a huge and positive difference for the children and families of Vista Hill…and that’s a great reason to celebrate! If you want to help, click on the donate button. We’ll put your gift to very good use!
School Report Cards: 4 Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Grades
School Report Cards: Is your student making the grade?
The Vista Hill Learning Assistance Center helps kids with behavioral health issues do better in school and we help parents every day build bridges with their school.
Report card season is here and schools are sending out the first progress reports. This can be very stressful for students and parents alike. A new school year does mean a fresh start for our kids. New teachers, new subjects, new papers to sign, classroom rules, and a new opportunity to do well in school. When I look over the report card, as a parent, I am reminded that it is a fresh start for me as well. How can I help my kids be more successful in school? Hopefully without driving me crazy?
I know what you are thinking. Parents are already busy with work, meals, picking kids up, dropping them off, activities and more. We don’t have time to take on the school system as well. Here are some ideas that may help you build bridges with the school that just might help your child get better grades.
1) Meet the teacher. Stop by after school, before school, or just send an email or note. Introduce yourself; let them know that you care about your child’s success in school and that their learning is important to you. Knowing that there is a parent at home who cares about education will help the teacher be your ally. Your child’s grade will benefit from this alliance.
2) Homework. Yes this is a major trial for families. The best thing here is to set a routine. Pick a time, pick a good spot (light, quite, no distractions) and make it a habit. A good routine will shorten the time you have to do homework. Have your kids report to you when finished. If you feel homework still takes too long, talk to the teacher about this challenge.
3) Attendance. The two biggest factors of good grades are attendance and homework. Make sure your child attends school every day, on time.
4) Take Action. So what if your child brings home a bad grade? You have to take action. The school is your partner and they want your child to succeed. If things are not going well ask for a meeting with the teacher. The school has resources to help your child do better and can develop a team plan. But you, the parent, must be the driving force of that team. Call your school and pull the team together to develop the best plan for your child to succeed.
Your child’s success in school can mean all of the difference in their future. Make a fresh start and become your child’s partner in school success.
October is Physical Therapy Month
According to the National Physical Therapy Association, this years’ focus for National Physical Therapy Month is “sports injury prevention across the lifespan.” Physical Therapy, as with Occupational Therapy, aids in improving and enhancing an individual’s mobility, balance, and ultimately improves a person’s overall quality of life. Here at Vista Hill’s Stein Education Center, our Occupational Therapy and after school Special Care Services Programs, offer services which address individualized plans to improve the physical mobility of those we serve. Our specialized services seek to promote physically active lifestyles for our children and young adults who are diagnosed with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
There is an extensive amount of literature written on the importance of active lifestyles. Educators and therapists alike understand the importance of maintaining active lifestyles to achieve the benefits of improved muscular functioning, weight management, enhanced cardiovascular systems, and increased self-esteem. Mobility development includes working on balance, motor planning, strengthening exercises, and coordination, to name only a few.
When it comes to individuals born with developmental and intellectual disabilities, motor planning, language and balance, typically are delayed or impaired. Therefore developing treatment plans to address their personal needs is crucial to enhancing their quality of life. At the Stein Education Center we understand the importance of physical mobility, but we also know that it is not a “one size fits all approach,” therefore; we assess the individualized needs of each child or young adult that enters our program and seek to personalize everyone’s program to meet their unique needs.
As we age, we naturally slow down and this ultimately will affect our health care. Therefore, take the first step today and work on your health. Get out there and walk, run, bike, swim, or do anything that involves physical activity. Begin small (with 10 to 15 minutes a day) and work your way up. Improving your mobility will improve your daily activities, lifestyle, and help maintain a healthy heart!
RELATED RESOURCES
California Physical Therapy Association
Occupational Therapy Association of California
American Occupational Therapy Association
September is Baby Safety Month
As a trade-related effort, sponsored by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the celebration has, understandably, most often centered upon infant products which if used incorrectly (or manufactured unsafely) could lead to injury or death. Various years, since 1983, have examined practices and products related to Drowning Prevention, Car Safety, Crib Safety, and, of course Home Safety – Yikes!!
There are a number of good sites available for child safety guidelines and practices, including the JPMA, Red Cross, and Pediatric Association websites. And while it is certainly a worthy celebration to focus on Baby Safety, so is “Parent Awareness” – what about you?!
As a parent, I can vividly recall the anxiety filled moments of my daughter’s first years. There was soooo much to be worried about… How were we supposed to have any time to enjoy these wonderous times? I think it is as important for parents to find a balance that both allows for full concentration on the joys – as well as the dangers. When our lives are too stressful we cannot possibly be as focused on that sublime beauty of our growing children.
The practical safety issues are essential (don’t get me wrong) but given that we and our kids survive this period…what, then, is the nature of your relationship with your child-your partner, or your family? What gifts have you imparted to your child, in terms of early life lessons, about laughter, joy, family, and general wellness?
Make a personal commitment to being your best both for your happiness and the modeling of these values throughout your families’ lives. If parenting wasn’t enough of a challenge already, depression (post partum or recurring), anxiety, sleep, relationship problems, and psychiatric concerns can make it seem like a daily struggle for survival. Please take a little time to care for yourself. Take some needed deep breaths, seek family support and, if needed, seek professional consultation. Do it for them…Do it for yourself- Everyone benefits!
Vista Hill ParentCare’s Incredible Families Program (IFP) was designed to consolidate needed services, and improve outcomes for children and their families involved in East County Child Welfare Services (CWS). Utilizing proven methods from the evidence-based Incredible Years model, the goal of the program is safe and successful family reunification (for families of children in foster care), improved family functioning, and improved mental health functioning for referred children.
RELATED RESOURCES
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at 800-433-9016
Access and Crisis Line (San Diego) at 800-479-3339
Consumer Federation of America at 202-387-6121
Home Safety Council at 202-330-4900
International Association For Child Safety (IAFCS) at 800-598-8911
International Consumer Products Health Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
National Alliance For Mental Illness (NAMI) http://www.nami.org
National Safe Kids Campaign at 800-441-1888
National SIDS Resource Center at 703-821-8955
Rose Brooks Center at 816-523-555
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 800-638-2772
Vista Hill at www.vistahill.org
