Bangor

Childhood mental illness

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Bangor will sponsor a free 12-week education class, “Living with Childhood Mental Illness,” for parents and guardians of children diagnosed with mental illnesses. The classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 11 through April 28, in the Penobscot Room at Acadia Hospital.

The program is structured to help caregivers understand and support their ill child or children while maintaining their own well-being. Each class will provide free handouts on the particular subject for that class. The following topics will be covered:

. Child development.

. Biology of mental illness.

. Medications and appropriate treatments.

. Behavioral techniques for managing mood disorders.

. High risk kids.

. Crisis situations.

. Family rights.

. Working with schools.

. Finances.

. Self-care and problem-solving.

A phone interview is required to register, and space is limited. Walk-ins are not permitted to enroll. To register call Sue at 945-5152.

Addition to outpatient rehabilitation team

BANGOR – Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation has announced the addition of physical therapist Meredith Allbright to its outpatient rehabilitation team.

Allbright has extensive clinical skills in physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. She has outstanding qualifications and experience in orthopedics, sports medicine, geriatrics, fibromyalgia, neurological rehab, pre- and post-natal women’s health, pain management, aquatic therapy, occupational medicine and ergonomics. She is well-known for her work injury management.

With Allbright’s more than 30 years of clinical experience, she contributes a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the rehab team.

Most recently, Allbright was a member of the Healthsouth staff, formerly Bangor Physical Therapy, where she worked for both organizations. She was the physical therapist for the Winterport Clinic and practiced at Healthsouth’s Bangor clinic.

She served for several years as co-chairwoman of the Fibromyalgia Support Group. She was director of the physical therapy department at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, and the first physical therapist for Maine Head Trauma in Bangor, now Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation.

Allbright was senior physical therapist at Eastern Maine Medical Center in acute rehabilitation and outpatient orthopedics, neurology, general medicine and geriatrics. She was a founding member of Community Hospice Program, now Hospice of Eastern Maine. She served as assistant chief of physical therapy at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, and has served as a member of Community Health and Counseling Service’s professional advisory committee since 1990.

Free screening for stroke

Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor will hold a free, public stroke screening, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in Vascular Care of Maine, directly accessible from level two of the EMMC parking garage. Screening is by appointment only. To schedule a screening, call 973-8193.

A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” is an interruption in the flow of blood to cells in the brain, causing brain cells to die.

Those at risk for suffering a stroke are people who have high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol, as well as those who smoke, abuse alcohol, or are overweight. Stroke is the third leading cause of death among Americans, and Maine has one of the highest death rates from stroke in the country.

March of Dimes meeting

March of Dimes volunteers are invited to attend the Maine State Chapter’s annual meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Keeley’s Banquet Center, 178 Warren Ave., Portland. Dinner will be held until 5:45 p.m. and is $20 per person. The basic agenda is:

. Call to order, 5 p.m., treasurer’s report for 2003 and election of Maine State Chapter officers.

. Dinner, until 5:45 p.m.

. Presentation by First Lady of Maine Karen Baldacci.

. Announcement of Healthier Babies grant award recipients for 2004.

. Recognition and awards ceremonies.

. “Smoking and Pregnancy,” presentation by Kelly Bowden and Cate Gaynor.

. WalkAmerica 2004 kickoff.

The complete agenda and registration forms for the meeting will be sent to all members of the board of directors shortly. Other volunteers may call the chapter office at (800) 668-5678 for information.

The registration forms, along with $20 for each meal, must be returned by Jan. 30 to March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 60 Gray Road, Unit 8, Falmouth, ME 04105, or fax to 878-1166. To obtain more information, call 878-1199, or e-mail Pconley@marchofdimes.com.

Golf privilege cards

The American Lung Association of Maine will recognize participating Golf Privilege Card courses and driving ranges by awarding three scholarships to Maine graduating seniors. Each scholarship will be awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, references and a completed application.

To qualify, students must have some involvement with the game of golf, either as a player or as an employee. The student also must plan to pursue further education in a medical or health-related field. The three $500 scholarships will be awarded to one student from eastern Maine, one from western Maine and one from any Maine high school.

The deadline for submission of scholarship applications if April 1. To learn more about the Golf Privilege Card or the scholarship program, call (888) 241-6566, Ext. 112, e-mail kmarkham@mainelung.org or visit www.mainelung.org.