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Spruce Run volunteers

BANGOR – Spruce Run Association is seeking volunteers to answer hotline calls and to work with children.

Spruce Run’s hotline is available 24 hours each day for anyone who wants a safe, confidential place to talk about what’s going on in a relationship or about a friend or family member who may be abused.

Hotline volunteers provide support and validation, explore options and provide information about abuse and community resources. You need no previous experience or special skills except a desire to help. Most hotline volunteers work from their homes.

Training for hotline workers will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings beginning in mid-September.

Children benefit from a place to feel safe and comfortable to play, have fun and have positive interactions with caring adults. Spruce Run strives to give those experiences to children of parents using its services. Children’s Program volunteers participate in a weekly children’s group in a fun and safe environment. Volunteer training will begin in October.

For information about volunteering at Spruce Run, call Margo Batsie, 945-5102, Ext. 14.

Spruce Run’s 24-hour hot line at 800-863-9909 is available to those affected by domestic abuse to talk about their situation and explore their options.

Book on children’s grieving

Maine authors Bruce St. Thomas and Paul Johnson have published their new book, “Empowering Children through Art and Expression: Culturally Sensitive Ways of Healing Trauma and Grief.”

St. Thomas has a degree in counseling psychology from the University of Maine. He is a practicing psychotherapist, specializing in art therapy and psychotherapy with children.

Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker and an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine.

The book is a resource for professionals working with children who have experienced loss, grief, relocation and other trauma. It focuses on the work of two programs associated with Portland’s Center for Grieving Children – America’s Camp and The Multicultural Peer Support Program. It equips the reader with knowledge of the theory behind the use of play, storytelling, drama, art and sculpture, and is grounded in the authors’ experience of practice, running peer support groups and outreach for children.

For information, call The Center for Grieving Children at 775-5216 or visit www.cgcmaine.org.

Neurofibromatosis research

BREWER – Dr. Janet Hock, director of the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, has been appointed to the national Children’s Tumor Foundation research advisory board. Hock will be a member of a panel to help create and oversee a national Neurofibromatosis Preclinical Consortium to accelerate the discovery of drugs to treat the disorder. Currently there are no effective therapies.

“Neurofibromatosis is the most common inherited neurological disorder, occurring one in 4,000 Americans. While what goes wrong with the genes is understood, how to treat it is not. I am excited by the chance to contribute to organizing a streamlined system to discover badly-needed therapies for this disorder,” said Hock.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 and neurofibromatosis type 2 are genetic disorders in which the loss of a specific gene results in tumors growing on nerves. Some with type 1 also suffer skin discoloration, bone deformities during growth and premature osteoporosis. In type 2, the tumor grows on the auditory nerve, leading to deafness, often by adolescence.

Although these disorders may be inherited, about 30 to 50 percent of new cases arise spontaneously through changes in an individual’s genes. The mutant gene is passed on to succeeding generations. Current therapies treat only some of the symptoms of the disorder.

The EMMC Genetics Program serves a large number of patients with the condition and provides clinical evaluations for children and adults suspected of having the disorder.

Dr. Stephen Amato said, “At EMMC, we have had a long-term clinical interest in neurofibromatosis. We have worked with the National NF Foundation, part of which is now Neurofibromatosis Inc., and assisted with their activities. We use the National Institutes of Health Consensus Guidelines for diagnosis and follow each patient on a regular basis. I am pleased to hear about the formation of the NF Preclinical Consortium and commend Dr. Hock’s involvement to help to find new therapies for this disorder.”

Bone health discussion

BANGOR – Lorraine Eldridge, manager of Aqua-Pura For Your Health, will be the guest speaker at the Bone Health Information and Discussion Group at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Bangor Y on Second St.

Eldridge has become certified as a practitioner in Body Talk, a new approach that combines ancient healing techniques with western methods. Proponents of the non-invasive treatment say it works with the body’s ability to heal itself and can be used for a variety of illnesses and ailments.

The talk is free, and all are welcome. For information or registration, call Robin Long at the Bangor Y, 941-2808.

The Bone Health Information and Discussion Group is sponsored by Caring Connections, a cooperative program of the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Walk for Thought

The Brain Injury Association of Maine is looking for volunteers interested in helping plan the 2008 Walk for Thought, which will be held at Bangor-Brewer, Presque Isle, Waterville-Augusta, Kennebunk-Springvale, Greater Portland and Lewiston.

More than 1,000 walkers are expected to participate statewide in the Walk for Thought on March 22, 2008.

Each year in Maine, more than 10,000 individuals experience a brain injury. With traumatic brain injury occurring every 23 seconds, the public health concern ranks as the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults. For those who survive and their families, brain injury can be life-altering with serious impairments a frequent result.

The Brain Injury Association of Maine provides resource information, education and support to those affected by brain injury. The association also offers prevention workshops for professionals and children while supplying properly fitted helmets to youth.

Volunteers are the key to the success of the Brain Injury Association’s Walk for Thought. They plan activities for the day of the event and help create a fun, festive atmosphere for walkers. Those interested in volunteering or obtaining information may call Sue at the Brain Injury Association of Maine, 861-9900, or e-mail stidd@biame.org.

Preparedness workshop

The Maine Emergency Management Agency invites the public to participate in a regional workshop, “Preparing for All Abilities,” 12:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at Jeff’s Catering, 15 Littlefield Way.

The workshop is aimed at improving the emergency preparedness of people with disabilities, the elderly and the communities where they live. There is no cost to attend.

The workshop encourages the participation of people with disabilities, the elderly, their caregivers and families, agencies that provide services, public safety and emergency management personnel, elected officials, volunteer organizations, food banks, advocates and interested citizens.

Register for the workshop at www.maine.gov/memanewsdisplay.shtml?id=40899.

Workplace honor for EMHS

BREWER – The Society for Human Resource Management’s Maine State Council has announced Eastern Maine Healthcare System as one of 25 companies named “Best Places to Work in Maine.” EMHS was the only company within Greater Bangor to receive the honor.

The Best Places to Work in Maine, a statewide program managed by the Best Companies Group, recognizes companies that have established and fostered outstanding workplace environments. An assessment administered by Best Companies Group in conjunction with ModernThink LLC, a workplace excellence consulting firm, looked at the company’s employee policies and procedures and surveyed and analyzed responses from the company’s employees.

“EMHS is very honored to be named as one of the top 25 places to work in Maine. Our employees are our most valuable resource and with their commitment and dedication we are able to provide service excellence in all that we do. We feel privileged to have such a superior group of employees working at our organization,” said Michelle Hood, president and CEO of EMHS.

“EMHS works to ensure the highest quality care is available to all who need it, especially those in rural Maine. Our 7,000 employees throughout our system consult one another, sharing ideas, experience and expertise, so they can deliver better and more efficient care. It is this combination of resources and leadership of our members that helps to sustain healthcare services in our communities,” she said.

For information on the “Best Places to Work in Maine” visit www.bestplacestoworkme.com.