C hildren need five visits to their health care provider or local health department before

they turn two. They need to get the shots to protect them from serious childhood diseases. One out of every four children in this country is not fully immunized.

(3) Hep B(1) Varicella(4) Pneumococcal(2) Influenza(3) Rotavirus

(4) DTaP(4) Hib(3) Polio(1) MMR(2) Hep A

Contact your health care provider or health department to make sure your child's immunizations are up to date.

Protect the lives of thelittle ones you love.

800-432-4121www.nwhealth.org

Doesn’t every child deserve all their shots?By age two, your child should have:

A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE PETOSKEY NEWS-REVIEW

Parenting TodayM a r c h 2 0 1 1

PFor Healthy Kids

arent Actionwww.parentactionforhealthykids.org

Parenting Awareness Month (PAM) is a Michigan initiative to promote awareness, edu-

cation, and resources — through state outreach and local efforts — emphasizing the importance of effective parenting in nurturing children to become healthy, caring, and contributing citizens. Parent-ing Awareness Month is unique to Michigan and has been celebrated since 1993.

The heart of Parenting Awareness Month is local activity. Communi-

ties throughout the state celebrate Parenting Awareness Month with parent and family fairs, conferences, local contests, and a variety of other activities. They use the initiative to circulate resource lists and make parents aware of the education and support available to help with their important job of raising children.

For a list of the many local PAM activities taking place in commu-nities throughout Michigan, visit Parenting Awareness Michigan at www.preventionnetwork.org.

besity has been climbing steadily for the past 20 years.

Defined, obesity is a body mass index of 30 or more. In 2009, in a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

vention, 29.6 percent of the population of Michigan was

considered obese. For children as well, obesity has increased dra-matically, affecting nearly triple the population compared to 30 years ago.

“Concerns about childhood obe-sity are well founded as it can have both immediate and long-term health impacts. Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and are at greater risk for bone and joint prob-lems and sleep apnea. Many obese youth experience social and psycho-logical problems such as stigmati-zation and poor self-esteem,” said Health Department of Northwest Michigan medical director Dr. Josh-

ua Meyerson in an e-mail.Childhood obesity, according to

the website www.cdc.gov, is the result of an imbalance between the calories a child consumes as food and beverages and the calo-ries a child uses to support normal growth and development, metabo-lism and physical activity. Over time, obesity occurs when a child consumes more calories than are used. Many factors can influence this imbalance, such as genetic, behavioral and environmental fac-tors. It is the interactions among these factors, rather than any sin-gle factor, that is thought to cause obesity.

“They are also likely to become overweight or obese adults, which puts them at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, arthritis,” said Meyerson, a board-certified pediatrician.

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry relates obesity to poor eating habits, over-eating or binging, lack of exercise, family history of obesity, low self-esteem and depression.

“Healthy lifestyle habits, includ-ing healthy eating and physical ac-tivity, can lower the risk of becom-ing obese and developing related diseases. We encourage parents to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to their children every day and limit soft drinks and sugary treats. Par-ents should encourage children to participate in physical activities at home, at PE classes and on sports teams, and to limit ‘screen time’ spent watching TV, playing games and using the computer,” suggested Meyerson.

Some steps to help prevent obesity, offered by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, include building physical activity into regular routines, ensuring the school breakfast/lunch programs meet nutritional standards and pro-vide daily physical education for pre-K through grade 12. Individuals should include at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day into their diet and control portion sizes.

As a community, it suggests en-

Grand Prize Winner: Alyssa Koren Benton, grade 11, Holly, Mich.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.preventionnetwork.org/pam/

Kristin BatesSpecial to the News-Review

Childhood obesity: A growing concern

INSIDE:A mom’s perspective on special needs education ..............C2

Choosing quality child care ...............C3

Helping your teen deal with stress ....C4

Community activity calendar ..C5

Community scrapbook .............C6

About shaken baby syndrome ....C7

Tips on talking tothe legislature ......C8

THINKSTOCK

See OBESITY on PAGE C2

PARENTING IS FOR A LIFETIMEC2 March 2011 •

Because the early years are learning years, parents are key to helping their child get ready for school

starting at birth. What your child experiences today impacts his or her success in the future.

Great Start Network and Parent Coalition are here to help families with children birth to age 5 in the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District service area!

Help your child get a Great Start!

Bey

• age appropriate information on health, development and parenting/community resources

• connections between families and their neighborhood school

• advocacy and educational activities with parents, community members, and policy makers

• professional development training and workshops

Call us today at 231.547.6217

or TOLL FREE at 1.877.866.3714

• age appropriate information on health, development and parenting/community resources

• connections between families and their neighborhood school

• advocacy and educational activities with parents, community members, and policy makers

• professional development training and workshops

www.greatstartforkids.com

The staff of is very friendly and helpful. My hygienist, Shawn, completes my cleanings effi ciently and with no discomfort. They use state of the art equipment and their process is very thorough. My husband, myself and our children all are patients at Harbor Pointe Dental. I would highly recommend them.

Christy L., Mother of three, Petoskey

What are People Saying AboutHarbor Point Dental?

231-347-8899“Creating beautiful smiles for the entire family”

Call today for a complimentary consultation!

Dr. Ellsworth and Family

• Martial Arts Programs

• Post Game High School Parties

• 3 on 3 Basketball tournaments

• Individual and family memberships available

• Youth Sports Programs

• After-School Programming

• Summer Day Camp

Visit our website at www.ymcanm.org or

contact us at ymcanm@upnorth.net

Bright Childwith

Reading, WritingAND

Spelling Diffi culties?Low Self-Esteem?

WE CAN HELP!

Northern Michigan Center(231) 526-9282

681 E. Lake St., Harbor Springsamair@harborsprings.dyslexia.net

Find us on Facebook:Parenting Awareness Michigan

couraging the food indus-try to provide reasonable food and beverage portion sizes as well as increasing the availability of low-cal-orie, nutritious food items in local grocery stores.

Megan Rapelje, the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Ed program instructor for the Michi-gan State University Extension in Emmet and Charlevoix counties, added, “If you want your children to be active, show them how and involve them in the process. Let your child pick a physi-cal activity that you can do together on a regular basis. Whether it’s taking a walk to feed the ducks or playing tag, offer them lots of opportunities to be active. Although modeling a healthy, active lifestyle is a simple concept, it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”

Through the SNAP Ed program, Rapelje provides nutrition education, ac-cess to food resources and works to increase aware-ness of the importance of healthy lifestyles to low-income residents.

“This is a nutrition edu-cation program funded by the USDA (U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture) that focuses on offering educa-tional classes to income eligible audiences, many of which receive SNAP benefits,” said Rapelje.

A few current program examples are Team Nutri-tion and Pyramid Between the Pages for schools, and Eating Right is Basic, a series on basic nutri-tion to assist low-income individuals in stretching their food dollars, under-standing basic dietary guidelines and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

“Every time I teach a class about child nutri-tion, one thing proves itself over and over. Chil-dren are incredible un-derstudies. If Dad doesn’t like green beans and everyone knows, it’s likely that Tommy will refuse to try them. If Mom eats an apple every day, Suzy will probably ask to eat apples,

too. That being said, some picky eating is normal and part of healthy develop-ment, so don’t be discour-aged if you are modeling healthy behaviors and you feel like you’re not making progress. Be consistent. It will pay off,” encouraged Rapelje.

Residents in Emmet and Charlevoix counties can learn more about the SNAP Ed program by call-ing the Emmet County Michigan State University Extension office at (231) 348-1770 or by e-mailing rapeljem@anr.msu.edu.

ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

“In the challenging economic climate, SNAP Ed is a free resource that strives to empower and educate families and individuals on how to prepare low cost, nutritionally sound meals. SNAP Ed classes take a hands-on, discussion-based approach to deliver research-based nutrition education, which makes it fun and accessible for all ages and backgrounds,” explained Megan Rapelje, the SNAP Ed program instructor for the Michigan State University Extension in Emmet and Charlevoix counties.

According to the Food and Nutrition Service website, www.fns.usda.gov, SNAP provides food for 31 million people each month. With electronic benefits, low-income households can use this assistance at most grocery stores. It is the cornerstone of the federal food assistance programs by offering support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work.

OBESITY FROM PAGE C1 Special children, special education, special planning:

All children are spe-cial, especially to their parents.

We all want what is best for our children, and when you realize your child has special needs, that de-sire only grows stronger.

No one gets pregnant and expects to have a child with special needs or health con-cerns, yet many of us find that we do, and our educa-tion begins immediately.

Sometimes, as in my case, you learn that your child will have a disability for their entire life. Other times, you realize slowly over time that your child is different; they learn more slowly, act out or simply act in unusual ways. For some it is an accident that sud-denly changes your child. The fact is, that no matter how or why, many of us are parenting a child with spe-cial needs.

My daughter Amanda, now 22, was born full term. We had trouble in the first trimester but no prenatal testing was ever done. She had a heart defect at birth and was flown to Children’s Hospital in Detroit. After a two-week stay, she came home and went back at 1 1/2 years for open heart surgery. We were stunned. A heart defect is one of the common physical concerns found in conjunction with Down syndrome.

Approxi-mately 10 percent of the students in any school have special needs that impact their education. These stu-dents use spe-

cial education services and support to provide them with access to the educa-tion as guaranteed by law. Special education isn’t a place; it is those services and accommodations that help students be successful in school. This might be a special desk that accom-modates a wheelchair, or a shortened list of spelling words, a quiet place to take a test or extra time on an assignment, or any other accommodation which helps a student access the curriculum and be suc-cessful in making progress toward their goals.

So how does a parent, who deals daily with the effects of their child’s dis-ability, work to make sure that they have the best edu-cation possible?

I wish I could say it was easy.

One of the difficult parts for parents is that schools are obligated to keep personal information confidential. Schools know who in the community have special needs, but are bound by that confidential-ity and cannot share the information with other parents who want and need support.

Michigan Alliance for Families, (800) 552-4821 or www.michiganalliancefor-families.org, helps connect parents with others in the

community and provide training and resources so the parents don’t feel isolated. Parenting a child with special needs is more complicated than a typi-cally developing child, and parents can feel very alone, especially if there are be-havioral or physical chal-lenges.

Educators grow up and want to educate. They go to school to learn more, they receive teaching cer-tificates proving success in their own studies, and some specialize in educat-ing children with special needs. This is a calling for many in education, but for parents of children with special needs it is a little different.

Having had two “typi-cally” developing children, I watched as they went off to kindergarten, then el-ementary school.

It seemed so easy. The kids would go off in the morning and come home in the afternoon to tell me about their day. Their edu-cation came so easily for us all.

Then came my youngest, Amanda, whose abilities were less defined, her edu-cation was not a smooth “given,” but a challenge. Where is the right place-ment if special education is not a place? How will she learn, and what are the most important lessons she’ll need when she is fin-ished with school?

In my mind, the most im-portant of these questions is what will he or she need when done with school. What skills, academics and experiences will prepare my child for his or her fu-ture?

The answer is different for each child, regardless of abilities, but this is where planning begins. It can be very scary to think we are labeling our children, but would we worry if the label were asthma or some other medical condition, if that label meant they received the treatment (read: ser-vices) they needed to be

healthy (read: successful)?No.The label is a means to

an end; in this case the end is receiving necessary supports and services for a successful school experi-ence.

It is more work for par-ents and educators when a child needs special educa-tion services. But it doesn’tneed to be overwhelmingly so.

The Individualized Edu-cation Plan (IEP) process isdesigned to help both par-ents and educators know how to best provide for a child’s education. It starts with a description of the child’s present level of aca-demic and functional per-formance based initially on data, which can include test scores, school work, documented observations, etc., and includes the stu-dent’s strengths, weakness-es and both what helps andstops the child from learn-ing. These last two pieces are especially important asyou think about how to ar-range the learning environ-ment to support a child’s access to education.

The IEP process providedthe path for Amanda to have the supports she need-ed to benefit from a public education.

The classwork was adapt-ed to a slower pace since it takes her longer to learn skills. Rather than 15 spell-ing words, Amanda might have five. She benefited most by being able to stay in class with her same-age peers.

She may not have learnedeverything they did in school, but she was exposedto it, which creates shared memories.

I’m amazed when I look at Amanda’s Facebook pageand see that she has well over 100 “friends.”

She continues to receive special education through an IEP with a focus on job training skills.

My hope is that one day she will have a job, and perhaps her supervisor willhave once been a classmate.

Lorraine ManaryFormerly of the Child Abuse Council and Michigan Alliance for Families

What it’s all about, a parent’s perspective

Special education isn’t a place; it is those services and accommodations that help students be successful in school. Manary

PARENTING IS FOR A LIFETIMEMarch 2011 • C3

Dental Clinics NorthA PARTNERSHIP OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

General dentistry for the entire family.Catering to patients with Medicaid, Delta Healthy Kids,

Northern Dental PlanLow Income/Uninsured

New patients are being accepted in:Cheboygan 825 S. Huron St. 866-878-6550

East Jordan 601 Bridge St. 866-878-6551

Petoskey/Harbor Springs 3434 M-119 866-878-6556

For appointment call 877-321-7070

“The Academic Choice”115 W. Hurlbut Street • Charlevoix, MI 49720

Phone: 231-547-9000 • Fax: 231-547-9464Email: info@nwa.edu

Julie Christiansen (Photo)

Northwest Academy

• Classes limited to 15 with strong Academic Concentration• On-Line School offers curricula for AP classes, credit recovery and students

who must learn at home.• Every student receives a personalized education plan

• Dual enrollment and college credits available for all high school students

A K-12 Tuition-Free Public School &

Children’s House Montessori & Pre-school

NEWPATIENTS

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109 W. Hurlbut, Charlevoix, MI 49720Located off of US-31 on top of the hill above Olesons.

231.547.4347 • www.charlevoixdentist.com

Dental decay is the most common preventable

childhood disease. Lakeview Dentistry

strives to improve dental education, and is com-mitted to early disease intervention. A healthy

mouth is a healthy body.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

LakeviewD E N T I S T RY O F C H A R L E V O I X

One of the hardest decisions a parent will make, after rejoin-ing the job market, is choosing who will take care of their

child during their time away at work.If they are lucky, a grandparent is will-

ing to take the responsibility. However, for most families, this isn’t the case, and a search is on for available child care.

“Choosing a quality child care pro-gram is one of the most important deci-sions a family will make. But where do you look and what do you look for? Your first step is determining what type of child care is right for your family,” said Susan Chowen, child care specialist with Child Care Connections of Northwest Michigan.

Child Care Connections, out of Tra-verse City, is a resource for child care referrals as well as training and infor-mation on child care for 10 counties — Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford.

“When you think that 90 percent of a child’s brain growth occurs within the first five years of life, you realize how imperative those early learning experi-ences are on your child. By having qual-ity child care, this has a profound effect on your child’s overall development,” said Chowen, who has an office in Boyne City.

Chowen explained there are three options available for families. A child care center is a licensed facility that can include preschool, nursery school, Head Start programs, Great Start Readiness programs, and before-and-after-school care. Group child care homes are

licensed homes in which two or more adults provide care for up to 12 children. A family child care home is a registered home where one adult provides care for one to six children.

“Child Care Connections, which is a Great Start regional resource center, can provide child care referrals for families searching for providers in their area. Our staff can provide guidance by phone, in person or electronically if par-ents have Internet access,” Chowen said.

To help with searching for quality child care, Child Care Connections has a brochure available to help guide parents through the many steps. These steps include helpful hints to use during the initial phone call to the provider. Most importantly, stressed Chowen, is to ask questions and schedule an interview or visit. If possible, take your child to the visit.

A few suggested questions, according to Chowen, are:

— Are the children taken off the prem-ises? If so, how are they transported?

— What is the medication policy?

Kristin BatesSpecial to the News-Review

Where to start when the time comes to choose child care

— How are the children supervised? — Who are all the people who will be

around my child? Are they screened? May I meet them?

— Can you provide references of for-mer parents who have used your care?

“We are fortunate to have so many trained child care professionals in our area. They understand how children grow and learn, and they know how to provide the materials and activities that are most appropriate to the ages and interests of the children,” Chowen said.

During the scheduled visit, Chowen advised that a parent understand the written policy and contract used by the care provider. Also, she recommended a parent be aware of their guidance/discipline policy as well as all emer-gency procedures. In addition, it is important to know the experience and training background of the provider and staff.

“In the near future, we will be work-ing with the Great Start parent coali-tions and other community groups to provide parents with learning materi-als and resources,” Chowen said.

To help with making a sound deci-sion, Michigan has taken steps to implement a field test plan of a Qual-ity Rating and Improvement System, which will be in place in the fall of 2011. This rating system is currently in place in 21 states across the country, and 27 more states are in the develop-ment phase.

“Licensed and unlicensed providers volunteer to be assessed against a set of quality standards and receive an overall rating that will be made public. Quantified by five stars, these ratings enable parents to make informed choices. Also, programs can improve their ratings through participation of quality improvement activities,” Chowen explained.

For access to a comprehensive da-tabase of child care programs, visit www.greatstartconnect.org. To find out if your child care provider has any documented complaints or inves-tigations, go to www.michigan.gov/michildcare and click on “Search for Childcare Centers or Homes.” For in-formation on Child Care Connections, visit www.childcarenwmi.com. For child care referrals, visit greatstart-connect.org.

Chowen concluded, “In making your decision, consider all of your informa-tion and approach the provider with any questions or concerns you may have. It’s okay to be a choosy parent.”

Families living in Charlevoix, Em-met and Antrim counties can contact Chowen at (231) 582-8070 or e-mail sus-anc@childcarenwmi.com.

Online resources— Database of child care programs,

www.greatstartconnect.org

— Child care provider documented complaints or investigations, www.michigan.gov/michildcare and click on “Search for Childcare Centers or Homes”

— Child Care Connections, www.childcarenwmi.com

— Child care referrals, greatstartconnect.org

UPCOMING EVENTSOn Saturday, March 12, at the

Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix, there will be a Parent and Child Care Provider Conference. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Matt Jones, presenting “If I Only Had a Heart.” During the conference, participants will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions with topics such as sleeping disorders, love and logic, financial planning and cheap and healthy snacks.

“The Parent & Child Care Provider Conference is focused on educating and supporting families and providers. This free community event will present valuable information on health-related issues, offer discipline strategies, and address financial concerns,” said Susan Chowen, child care specialist with Child Care Connections of Northwest Michigan.

On Saturday, May 14, the first Child Care Provider Fair will take place in Petoskey. The site has yet to be determined.

“This event will allow all licensed child care providers to promote their programs and services, and make face-to-face contacts with parents searching for child care. Families will benefit by having a variety of providers in a single location, so they can become familiar with which child care service best meets their needs,” explained Chowen.

For more information, contact Chowen at (231) 582-8070 or e-mail susanc@childcarenwmi.com.

Chowen

COURTESY PHOTO

Jacob Morency and Abigail Sheffield play at Becky’s Daycare located in Boyne City.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Visit our web site: charlevoixchildrenshouse.orgCall 547-5599 for information or appt. to visit

8700 Mercer Blvd. • Charlevoix

Charlevoix Children’s HouseA Montessori School

Openings available for fall enrollment!Ages 2 1/2 to 6 years old • Full or half day options.

Montessori Method Preschool & KindergartenDevelopmental Kindergarten Program for early 5-year-olds.

Children’s House5 Mornings:Morning drop off 7:30 - 8:30 amPick up at 11:30amWeekly cost of $85.00Monthly cost of $340.00

Daycare5 Mornings

Weekly cost of $75.00Monthly cost $300.00

Children’s House5 School Days:Morning drop off 7:30 - 8:30 amPick up at 3:00pmWeekly cost of $132.50Monthly cost of $530.00

DaycareFull Time (40 hr week)

Weekly cost of $125.00Monthly cost of $500.00

OPEN HOUSE • April 21, 2011 • 9:00am – 7:00pmCompare Charlevoix Children’s House to Daycare

• Individualized introduction to various levels of quality educational materials.

• Nurturing environment with qualifi ed, caring instructors.

• Large outdoor play area.

• Students do not need to be potty trained.

• Please call Miss Molly & set up a tour of the school.

• Kindergarten students exempt from tuition costs.

00289207

PARENTING IS FOR A LIFETIMEC4 March 2011 •

Great Lakes Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, P.C.

3260 Woods Way, Suite 1Petoskey, MI 49770Phone: (231) 348-5590Fax: (231) 348-5676

Marit E. Vogel, M.D.Board Certifi ed in General and Child

and Adolescent Psychiatry

Become A Foster Parent

989-732-1040

650 W. Conway, Harbor Springs

MONDAY-SATURDAY 9AM-5PM

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231-237-7350

Charlevoix Public Library220 W Clinton St.

www.charlevoixlibrary.org

Random Acts of Bookmark Art

A call to your creative side.Patrons are asked to submit artfully made bookmarks to

the library. The library will randomly put them in library books throughout the sum-

mer months. Patrons who fi nd the bookmarks will be

“gifted” the bookmark or they can leave it in the book for

the next patron to fi nd.

Story TimeHear stories, dance to songs, play games, learn fi nger plays and have some all around fun

with Miss Laura!

Thursdays 10:30am

2nd Saturdays 10:30am

A ard Child C & AA &&

Preschool Learning Center

231-347-3939 • 414 Monroe Street Petoskey

Before & After School Preschool, ChildcareAges 30mos. -11yrs.

Monday - Friday 7am-6pm

Serving Families for 25 Years

Tuesday, March 8Zion Lutheran Church,

500 W. Mitchell Street, in Petoskey, will begin open enrollment for its

Christian Preschool for the 2011-2012 school year with

an open house from 3:30-7PM.

CLASS SCHEDULE:3 year olds - 9:00-11:30AM • Tuesday & Thursday

4 year olds - 9:00-11:30AM • Monday, Wednesday & FridayCarrie Crawford, Director/Teacher

Zion Lutheran Preschool is an outreach ministry of Zion Lutheran Church,serving Christ and the community by offering a quality Christian education. For more information or to enroll your child, call the Preschool office at 347-2757.

Zion LutheranPreschoolOpen House

northwest michigan community action agencya community action partnership

Head Start ProgramsServing children and their families prenatal to age five through:• Head Start Center

Based Programs• Early Head Start Home

Visiting Programs• Family Child Care

Partnership ProgramsCall 231-347-9070 or 1-800-443-5518

Stress is normal.At some point,

everyone feels a little extra pres-

sure during their life — even children and young adults.

But while many adults have learned how to cope with stress, many teens lack the needed skills and it’s up to parents to help them understand how to handle their feelings.

Kelly Daunter, M.A. LLP, from Family Psychologi-cal Services in Petoskey, said teens can be par-ticularly susceptible to stress because there are a lot of demands being placed on them, and they typically have to juggle many things they may not be fully equipped to deal with.

Daunter goes on to say teens are often faced with biological changes, strained family dynamics, complicated peer relation-ships, bullying, romantic relationships, academic pressures and extracur-ricular demands.

For many, the pressure to perform academically looms large; some are con-cerned with failing while others are concerned with meeting high expectations.

“The stakes are higher (for students today). The requirements to gradu-ate are a lot tougher,” explained Karrie Gaffney, guidance counselor at Charlevoix High School.

Because of the Michi-gan Merit Curriculum, a measure adopted in 2006 which requires students to complete 16 credits in order to graduate, Gaffney said, “We’re expecting a lot more academically.”

Adult worries also do not go unnoticed by teens.

“There are a lot of fami-lies in crisis, especially with the economy, and the kids feel it,” said Gaffney.

Stress can affect teens in a number of ways accord-ing to Daunter. Physically there may be changes in appetite, sleep habits, frequent head or stomach aches, body pains, heart palpitations and lowered immunity. Outwardly a teen may become more irritable or experience more mood swings, feel-ings of anxiety or depres-sion, and anger.

“Stress shows up as lethargy, lack of motiva-tion and withdrawal,” said Daunter. “Memory and concentration prob-lems are also common signs.”

According to Gaffney, some teens may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them escape from the pressures they face, while Daunter added some may try to harm themselves by cutting their bodies.

Parents are key when it comes to spotting changes in their children before things get out of control.

“One of the most sig-nificant ways to address teen stress is to talk to your teens,” said Daunt-er. “Teens typically feel like nobody understands them, so spend some time with them, learn about how they are feeling and what they feel are their primary stressors, show that you understand and that you care. Address the seriousness of the is-sue and whether you and your teen want to deal with this on your own, or if professionals need to be consulted. Develop a plan of attack together, set goals together and teach teens how to ad-dress their stressors with

effective coping strate-gies.”

Daunter also recom-mended a few coping strategies that work well for alleviating stress, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, ex-ercise and good sleep habits to help your teen relax.

“Listening to music and dancing are great stress relievers, too. Turn the stereo on and boogie down. You can’t help but feel energized and a bit more joyful,” said Daunter.

Gaffney also suggests

helping your teen learn better time management skills in an effort to re-duce stress.

Since many teens are involved with numerous extracurricular activi-ties, downtime is impor-tant and keeping expecta-tions realistic, she added.

“We can’t ask them to do things they can’t do. We can’t all dunk a bas-ketball,” she said.

If you have concerns about your teens and stress, you can find out more by contacting a family physician, school counselor or a local psy-chologist.

Melissa FrugéSpecial to the News-Review

Helping your teen deal with stress

FIVE TIPS FOR TEEN TIME MANAGEMENT:1. Help your teen prioritize (identify important tasks that

need to be done during each day).2. Make a list ranking what needs to be done first,

second, third, etc. 3. Encourage your teen to use a daily planner for

upcoming tests, homework, games, etc.4. Monitor your teen’s phone usage; limit texting,

especially at night.5. Lead by example — organize your life and the show

the value of time management.

— From Karrie Gaffney, guidance counselor at Charlevoix High School

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH TEEN STRESS: 1. Talk to someone about your feelings.2. Exercise.3. Establish good sleeping habits.4. Focus on healthy eating habits; skipping meals can

increase mood swings.5. Practice deep breathing.6. Identify key stressors and figure out ways to eliminate

or deal with them properly.7. Try meditation or visualization (imagine yourself on a

calm beach).8. Try alternative treatments such as acupuncture, animal

or art therapies.9. Laugh.10. Take time to relax or do something enjoyable.

— From Kelly Daunter, M.A. LLP, of Family Psychological Services in Petoskey

PETOSKEY348-5681

1040 Cedar Valley Roadwww.fi tnessplusco.com

Beginner to advance levels on-going classes

Call 348-5681 - Openings Available Monday-Friday 6:30am-6pm Infant - Kindergarten age

Healthy snacks & hot lunches included.

March 2011 • C5

Activities:Little Traverse Civic Theater presents “Alice in Wonderland”

March 10 – 13 at Crooked Tree Arts Center. Shows at 7pm Thursday through Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets are $10. For more information contact Little Traverse Civic Theater at 348-1850.

Parent/Provider Conference Saturday, March 12, 9am-3pm: at the Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix. Free Admission and door prizes. Have coffee and connect with our legislators then enjoy keynote speaker, Matt Jones. Lunch is provided. Informative break-out sessions offered from noon – 3pm. For more information call Sommer Poquette at 231-582-8070. This conference is a collaboration between Charlevoix/Emmet Great Start Collaborative, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, & Child Care Connections.

Raven Hill Discovery Center Second Saturday Science Series Second Saturday of each month in 2011 from noon – 4pm. Admission is free. Sponsored by Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Try a different challenge each month and explore the museum, animals and outdoor exhibits. 4737 Fuller Road, East Jordan. Call 231-536-3369 for more information. March 12: “Air pressure” April 9: “Sound of Music” May 14: “Density” June 11: “Fossils” July 9*: “Motion and Force” August 13*: “Pond Critters” September 10*: “Bernoulli’s Principle” October 8*: “Science Magic” November 12*: “Surface Tension” December 10*: “Light & Lasers” *pending funding

Family Night at Solace Spa - Relax with Your Children March 15th, 2011 and April 19th, 2011, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Boyne Mountain Resorts. Family Night at Solace Spa - ages 6 and up. This evening is a chance to share healthy lifestyle habits with your children. The exclusive spa, typically reserved for guests ages 16 and up will be opened to any guest age 6 or older (accompanied with their guardian). A Spa Pass for Family Night is $5 per person (discounted from $25). Spa Member Families are complimentary. Evening spa pass includes a 30-minute family style yoga class at 7 p.m., a locker, robe, and access to the relaxation lounges, whirlpool, steam room and cedar sauna, indoor / outdoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness facilities. (Please bring bathing suit on family night for use of wet facilities, please call in advance to reserve space in yoga class). Family Night Youth Spa and Salon Mini Treatments: 15 minutes, $10 each Massage (please wear loose fit clothing) Facial Hand Treatment Foot Treatment Hair Styling Please contact Solace Spa at 231-549-7946 to make your appointment reservations and/or to reserve your space in the Family Night Yoga class. A spa service charge of 18% will be added to all services. Event details subject to change. Please contact (800) GO-BOYNE for more information.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group March 28 & April 25: 6pm – 7:30pm: Petoskey Friendship Center, 1322 Anderson Road. Child care by appointment. Call 231-347-3211 or 888-347-0369 for more information.

21st Annual Children’s Health Fair Saturday, April 16th from 9am – 2pm: at the Petoskey Middle School. A fun, free event that provides an educational environment where parents can learn how to keep their children healthy and safe. Join us for children’s activities, live entertainment and lots of raffle prizes. This event is sponsored by the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital.

Parent Education & Community Playgroups Playgroups: Available to children 0 – 60 months and preschool age siblings, all playgroups are free of charge and are provided by the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. Playgroups are an opportunity to participate in fun activities, games and projects with your child; learn about age appropriate toys and activities; learn strategies to build self-

esteem; gain knowledge of child development and approaches to discipline; and network with other parents. If you have any questions, please call 231-347-0067.

Tuesdays: Boyne City - 9:30am to 11am at Christ Lutheran Church, 1250 Boyne Avenue. Group leader: Taryn Davis-Hanson

Wednesdays: East Jordan – 9:30am to 11am at Jordan Valley District Library

Community Room. Group leader: Kate Essenberg.

Alanson – 9:30am to 11am at United Methodist Church, corner of North and Chicago. Group leader: Taryn Davis-Hanson

Fridays: Petoskey – 9:30am to 11am at United Methodist Church,

1804 East Mitchell Street. Group leader: Taryn Davis-Hanson

Parent education series: Planned Parenthood and MSU Extension are partnering again for the “Let’s Talk Let’s Eat” Parent Education Series during the month of March. The classes will be every Tuesday in March (8th ,15th, 22nd and 29th) from 9:30am to 12pm at the Health Department on M-119. To register, you can call MSU Extension at 231.348.1770 or Planned Parenthood at 231.347.3710 ext. 13. The cost is $10 per person or couple.

Michigan Alliance for Families: Information, support and education is given to families of children and young adults with disabilities from birth to age 26. Parent support meetings are held on an ongoing basis at the Petoskey Library. For additional information contact Lorraine Manary at 231-582-9863 or 1-800-552-4821 or visit www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org

Great Start Parent Coalition: Starting March 21st, the Parent Coalition will meet every other month on the third Monday from 5:30 – 7pm. A light dinner, child care and gas cards will be offered at each of the meetings. Join us March 21st at the old Middle School in Boyne City, 321 South Park Street. We will be having a presentation by MSU Extension on Budgeting & Meal Planning. For more details contact Mandy Peterson, Great Start Parent Liaison at 582-8070.

Free Preschool Recruitment Dates A tuition-free Preschool Recruitment is taking place during the months of March and April for children ages 3 and 4 years old. Appointments can be made beginning March 2nd by calling 1-877-866-3714.

Preschool Recruitment will be held in the following districts:Boyne FallsEast JordanAlansonBoyne CityCharlevoixPetoskey Pellston

Health Department Programs: Your local health department provides many supportive services for you and your family. For more information about our services visit www.nwhealth.org Charlevoix County: 220 W. Garfield St., Charlevoix (800)432-4121 Emmet County: 3434 Harbor Petoskey Rd. (M-119), Suite A, Harbor Springs, (800)432-4121

Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program WIC provides free food to women who are pregnant and breastfeeding, and infants and children up to age 5.

Maternal Infant Health Program These programs assist families with pregnant women or young children by providing information on pregnancy, preparation for the baby, infant care, infant feeding, and parenting.

Newborn Home Visits - All families with a newborn may receive a home visit to weigh the baby, answer questions, and provide information on caring for a new baby, as well as connect you with community resources.

Hearing & Vision Screenings - Your child’s ability to see and hear is very important to the learning process. A vision test is required prior to school entry. FREE Vision Screening is available at your local health dept. office for all children, 3-18 years of age. FREE Hearing Screening is available for all children 6 months of age and older.

Library Activities:Charlevoix Public Library

Mondays: 11:00am – Independent Play Group Hour. Join our ongoing play group with your child and meet other moms, dads, caregivers and their children. We provide the time & space – you provide the companionship & fun.

Thursdays: 10:30am – Story Time with Ms. Laura. Ages Birth to 5 are welcome to join us for stories, songs, and crafts.

Saturdays: Every second Saturday of the month at 10:30am is Family Story Time!

Petoskey District Library

Mondays: 10:30am-11:00am - Parent/Child Lap Sit

Thursdays: 10:05am-10:35am – Parent/Child Lap Sit - A 30 minute program for parents and children under three. Join us for a mixture of songs, stories, fingerplays, poems and puppets.

Shawn-Dell Stenson takes a second to smile with her ador-able twin boys Aiden and Kaiden Stenson who look ready for some lunch during an Early Head Start Par-ent Workshop.

Hunter Sonnenber and Charlie Ranney enjoy some floor time while woking together to put a train set together during Friday Early Head Start socializations.

Petoskey kindergarten teacher Kolleen Homuth and Macey Green sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider while riding to Star Power in Lansing, Michigan with the Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition.

Kim and Weston Chrysler smile big for a

picture during an Early Head Start Parent Workshop.

Maverick Musser & Somer Messenger working hard at Petoskey Children’s Nursery.

Sara Jonker (mom) working with students Van Atchison, Clementine Hall, and Brynn Jonker at Petoskey Children’s Nursery.

Price Digiulio (dad), Ryder Digiulio (background)

& Keira Hausler (student) at Petoskey Children’s

Nursery having a snack.

Josh Hall and Clementine Hall spreading

wood chips on PCN’s playground.

C6 March 2011 •

Johnney Sonnenberg focuses on using his fine motor skills while picking up a ball in sensory table.

Rebeca Otto teaching Augustin about social responsibil-ity at the Grain Train General Membership meeting in January of 2011.

Johnney Sonnenger enjoys a fun craft with Mary Jo Waugh, Child Family Specialist for Early Head Start during a socialization.

Charlie Ranney enjoys pumpkin painting at the Great Start Parent Coalition costume exchange!

ElissaMay Shivel and mom Jennifer Hand taking time to observe and engage in cooking demonstration.

Aiden Stenson shows his cooking skills while mixing ingredients during a cook-ing and baking demonstration for an Early Head Start Par-ent Workshop.

Jennifer Hand helps daughter ElissaMay Shively work on a craft.

Johnney Sonnenberg helps his mom demonstate her baking lessons while he presents to the Early Head Start and Early On families during a Parent Workshop.

Josie Poquette dances and looks through her pre-tend glasses at the Jim Gill concert at the Charlev-oix Library, hosted by Great Start.

Aaron Otto and son Augustin doing some creative moving to Maureen Scott of Peacemeal at the Grain Train General Membership meeting.

Bradley Flynn enjoys hammering the homemade green playdough at the Petoskey Health Fair.

Beth Watts and Charlie Ranney enjoy a snow-ball painting craft during an Early Head Start socialization.

Bryleigh Rummer, Haley Rummer and Jim Rummer ride in the Petoskey 4th of July Parade in support of Great Start and early childhood!

Meetings can

actually be fun!

Mathew and

daughter Nell

dancing at the

Grain Train General

Membership

meeting.

Brianne Murray and Bailey Matuszczak take a second to smile for a picture during an Early Head Start Parent Workshop.

Daniel (D.J.) Symons enjoys making bubble

wands with Early On and the Great Start Parent

Coalition at a legislative ice cream social in

Boyne City.

Piper Krzywosinski playing with play dough at the

Petoskey Health Fair.

Bryleigh

Rummer

attends the

Early Childhood

Investment

Corporation’s

Sand Box Party

for Great Start

in East Lansing!

Aiden and Kaiden Stenson take a time out to take a quick picture with their mom Shawn-Dell Stenson dur-ing an Early Head Start socialization in Alanson.

Jayden Losey takes some time to enjoy a story with his mom Tina Adams.

Hunter Sonnenberg puts on a

smile while working with his tool belt and tools during an Early Head Start social-ization.

ElissaMay Shively takes a time out to rest on

moms shoulder during a Parent Workshop for

Early Head Start.

Dancing with Dad! Nancy and Mathew

Hohlbein at the Grain Train General

Membership Meeting.

Josie Poquette enjoys painting at the Boyne USA Resort

Special guest, Augustin Otto, performing with Dale and Maureen Scott and Peacemeal at the Grain Train General Membership Meeting.

PARENTING IS FOR A LIFETIMEMarch 2011 • C7

Shaken baby syn-drome is the popu-lar phrase used to describe the

injuries to the brain which children and infants suf-fer when they are shaken, hit in the head, dropped or thrown.

More recently, health care providers use the term abusive head trauma (AHT) instead of shaken baby syndrome because it more accurately describes the cause and effect of this unfortunate occurrence.

Experts esti-mate that 1,200 to 1,400 cases of AHT occur in the United States each year. Under-standing and preventing AHT is para-mount, as head trauma is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. Approxi-mately one quarter of children with AHT die as a result, and the remaining three quarters are likely to require medical atten-tion and therapy for many years.

While AHT is seen in children up to 5 years old, most victims are under 1 year old, with the average age at 3 to 6 months.

Infants and very young children are at high risk for injury when shaken, dropped or thrown be-cause their under-devel-oped neck muscles permit their heads to rotate and move back and forth un-controllably.

The resulting violent motion of their brains inside their skulls causes rupture of blood vessels and bruising, tearing, bleeding and swelling of

brain tissue.This swelling inside the

fixed space of the skull results in further compres-sion of blood vessels in-side and around the brain.

Just one episode of shaking for two to three seconds can result in dam-age to the brain. The brain damage is increased when the shaking or throwing ends with impact on a firm surface, such as a crib or infant seat.

The clinical picture of brain injury which results from AHT is different than that which occurs as a re-sult of “short falls,” when a child accidently falls a short distance (less than 4 feet) off the couch or bed or out of a high chair.

Perpetrators of AHT are usually parents or caregiv-ers. It is estimated that 65 to 90 percent of perpetra-tors are male, commonly in their early 20s.

Perpetrators of AHT are generally stressed and frustrated by an infant’s crying and lose control. Unfortunately, the brain damage caused by AHT often decreases the child’s crying, suggesting to the perpetrator that shaking is an effective way to stop the child’s crying.

Children who are vic-tims of AHT may suffer permanent damage, in-cluding:— Partial or total

blindness;— Hearing loss;— Seizures;— Impaired intellect and

developmental delays;— Speech and learning

difficulties;— Memory and attention

span problems; and— Balance and

coordination problems.These problems often

require long-term medical attention and intensive physical and occupational therapy to correct.

Signs, symptoms of AHTThe signs and symptoms

of AHT vary depending upon the duration and force of the shaking, throwing or hitting, and whether impact with a firm surface was involved.

A child who is severely injured may become un-conscious. Children who suffer less severe AHT injuries may become le-thargic, rigid, irritable, vomit, have poor sucking and swallowing, difficulty breathing, have seizures or unequal pupils. Some AHT victims may be unable to lift their heads or track moving objects with their eyes.

Many children who are brought to the emergency room or a physician’s of-fice after an episode of

AHT are unfortunately not identified as AHT victims. Unless a health care pro-vider has reason to suspect abuse, the AHT victim can be easily misdiagnosed with colic or the flu. Physi-cians may use the follow-ing symptoms as evidence of AHT:— Hematoma (blood) in

the retina;— Skull fracture; — Brain swelling;— Hematomas on the

brain;— Fractures of the ribs

and long bones of the arms and legs; and

— Bruises on the head, neck and chest.

Prevention of AHTThe most important

thing to know about AHT is that it is completely

preventable through in-creased awareness, educa-tion and appropriate care-giving strategies.

Health care providers in the United States have demonstrated statistically significant decreases in AHT through a program which provides new par-ents (both mothers and fathers) with education about the dangers of shaking babies and young children, and strategies for dealing with the stress of a crying child.

The National Center for Shaken Babies has devel-oped a successful preven-tion program called “The Period of Purple Crying,” which helps caregivers understand and deal with normal crying in young children. These and other programs suggest the

following strategies for dealing with the stress of crying children:— Making sure the child’s

basic needs have been met (food, fluids, appro-priate temperature, dry diaper, etc.);

— Providing a constant or rhythmic white noise (vacuum, clothes dryer, fan, humming);

— Holding the child close to your body or swad-dling the baby;

— Rocking or walking;— Singing or talking;— Taking the child for

a ride buckled into a stroller or in a car buck-led into a car seat;

— Decreasing loud noises and lights;

— Providing with sucking opportunities (bottle or pacifier); and

— Calling another adult to take over care of the child when you become frustrated and feel you are losing control.

If crying continues de-spite these approaches, contact or take the child to a health care provider.

Remember, young chil-dren are completely un-able to protect themselves from the very real and long-lasting effects of AHT.Please do your part to pre-vent AHT in the lives of children you know.

Resources:— KidsHealth, a proj-

ect of The Nemours Foundation, www.kidshealth.org/par-ent/medical/brain/shaken.html

— Epilepsy Foundation of Central Florida, www.aboutshaken-baby.com

— Maryland Departmentof Health, Family Health Administra-tion, fha.maryland.gov/ohpetup/eip_sbsfacts.cfm

Kathleen ReedCo-chair of Charlevoix-Emmet

County Child Abuse Council

Shaken baby syndrome

Reed

Educational Services/Preschool Charlevoix-Emmet ISD .........................547-9947Early On, Hearing, Speech & Developmental Screenings, Special Education, Even Start, Great Parents/Great Start, Be-Four Programs, Education for School Age Parents, Early Head Start (prenatal-3 y ears) ........................ 1-800-443-5518Head Start (NMCAA) ................ 1-800-443-5518Tuition-free preschool programs ............347-9070 or 1-800-443-5518Little Traverse Bay Bands Head Start .....539-8325Kids Club Preschool @East Jordan Elementary School ...................................................536-7564Great S tart .............................................582-8070

Maternal and Child Health ServicesHealth Department of Northwest Michigan ........ ................................................... 1-800-432-4121Immunizations, Newborn Home Visits, W.I.C., Maternal/ Infant Health Program, Family Planning, Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Dental Clinic, Children’s Special Health Care ServicesNorthern Michigan Regional Hospital ..487-4900Community HealthEducation Cent er ....................... 1-800-248-6777Childbirth Education Information ........487-4762Charlevoix Area Hospital.......................547-4024East Jordan Health Center .....................536-2206Free Clinic- NMH ................................487-3600Boyne City Free Clinic ..........................582-6828Planned Parenthood ..............................347-9692Pregnancy and Resource Center ............348-3388Community Health Center ...................348-9900

Community Services Great Start Network ................... 1-877-866-3714North Country Community Mental Health................................................... 1-800-834-3393Respite, Counseling, Family Support Subsidy Department of Human Services ............348-1600Charlevoix/Emmet Count ies ...... 1-800-580-9844Medicaid, FIP, Food Assistance Program, Child Day Care, Child ProtectionNW Michigan Community Action Agency................................................... 1-800-443-5518Food, Shelter, Heating Child Care Connections (childcare referrals)................................................... 1-800-968-4228MSU E xtension, E mmet Count y ..........348-1770 Charlevoix Count y ................................582-6232Children, Youth & Family Education, 4HWomen’s Resource Center .....................347-0067Ed Opportunity Prog., Domestic Abuse Program, Playgroups, Counseling, Children’s Learning Center, Safe HomeLittle Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians..............................................................242-1400Michigan Works! Employment Needs ...347-5150Big Brothers Big Sisters of Petoskey...................................................... 231-622-8508Northern Community Mediation ..........487-1771

Counseling/Crisis Services Child and Family Services .....................347-4463Hospice of Little Traverse Bay ...............487-4825

Lutheran Child and Family Service .......439-082124 Hour Crisis & Information Line ......347-0082Women’s Resource Center .....................347-00673rd Level Crisis Center ............... 1-800-442-7315Legal A id .................................... 1-888-645-9993Child Abuse and Neglect .......................348-1600After hour s: ...........................................347-1700North Country Community Mental Health................................................... 1-800-834-3393Harbor Hall.............. Out-patient 347-9880 1-866-850-4556

Shelter Services Boyne City Housing Commission .........582-6203Nehemiah P roject ..................................347-0363Women’s Resource Center (Safe House) 347-0082Salvation A rmy ......................................347-3531Department of Human Services ............348-1600 Charlevoix/Emmet Counties .... 1-800-580-9844

Food Assistance Manna P roject .......................................347-8852Salvation A rmy ......................................347-3531NW Michigan Community Action Agency................................................... 1-800-443-5518Health Dept. of NW Michigan (WIC)................................................... 1-800-432-4121Charlevoix Community Food Pantry .....547-9122East Jordan Family Health Center .........536-2206(Emergency food pantry)Local churches

Transportation Charlevoix County Transit ....................582-6900The Straits Regional Ride (Emmet County)................................................... 1-866-731-1204

Special Needs Children’s Special Health Care Services................................................... 1-800-359-3722Easter Seals Society of Michigan................................................... 1-800-292-2729National Organization of Rare Disorders................................................... 1-800-999-6673Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service................................................... 1-800-288-5923Family Support Network of Michigan................................................... 1-800-359-3722MI Alliance for Families ............. 1-800-552-4821March of Dimes .......................1-800-968-DIMESupplemental Security Income (SSI)................................................... 1-800-772-1213Early On Information ............. 1-800-EARLYONThe Arc Michigan ...................... 1-800-292-7851

This Early On bookmark is made available through a grant by Michigan Department of Education, Part C of IDEA, Char-Em ISD and by Early On

Northwest Coordinating Council(231) 547-9947

For local human services links: www.char-em-hscb.org

February 2011

Early On Directory of Services for Families

in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties

THINKSTOCK

Now is the time when many Baby Boomers are be-ginning to focus

on retirement and week-ends with their grandkids, not raising second families.

But according to the Friendship Centers of Em-met County there are near-ly 40 families in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Cheboygan counties — and more than 70,000 statewide — where grandparents have suddenly found them-selves in a unique position.

They have custody of their young grandchildren.

Sue Ann Bouwense is the friendship center’s Grand-parents Raising Grand-children Support Group coordinator. She said cir-cumstances surrounding the shift in custody from parent to grandparent vary, but in our area most involve substance abuse or a lack of parenting skills.

“A full guardianship is created when a third party files to become a guardian of a child. This arrange-

ment does not require the parent(s)’ permission or agreement. The court must decide that both par-ents are unwilling or un-able to care for the child,” explained Bouwense.

There are also informa-tion packets that explain the process in detail avail-able from the probate court in each county.

Bouwense described the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group as offering much needed support and advice to grandparents. Some of the issues discussed dur-ing the monthly meetings include guardianships, custody, adoption, health insurance, food assistance programs, money manage-ment, preparing to take a grandchild into your life, dealing with the parent(s)’ rights and the child’s feel-ings. The support group also allows the children a chance to interact with others in similar situa-tions and realize they are not alone.

A few pieces of advice offered by the Grand-parents Raising Grand-

children Support Group include emphasizing the importance of healthy eating and an active lifestyle, creating a safe environment, focusing on positive interaction with grandchildren — some grandparents find setting boundaries can be a chal-lenge — and above all, remembering to have fun. Taking over guardianship of a grandchild can be very stressful for everyoneinvolved and it’s impor-tant to play and laugh to help soften the burden.

For more information about the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group call (231) 347-3211.

The group meets 6-7 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month, except December, at the Petoskey Friendship Center. Child care is available.

The Michigan State University Extension in Emmet County also works with grandparents in simi-lar situations. To find out more about the available programs, call (231) 348-1770.

Melissa FrugéSpecial to the News-Review

Grandparents raising grandchildren:Resources available to ease transition

Watch Me Grow!Childcare • Preschool • Dev. Kindergarten

Summer Kids Camp • K-6 Tutoring

Experienced, Educated, Enthusiastic TeachersGreat Location in Downtown Petoskey

OPEN HOUSEMarch 8th • 6-8 pmCall now for guaranteed placement!

231-348-7650www.watchmegrowcdc.com

PARENTING IS FOR A LIFETIMEC8 March 2011 •

Discussing parent-ing issues with your legislature can be a daunt-

ing task unless you’re prepared.

There are, however, many methods to success-fully present your con-cerns and be heard.

Matt Gillard is an early childhood advocate with Education Matters, which provides consultation for childhood advocate organi-zations. He recommended first knowing the process and who is involved. You can easily find out who represents you by visiting the Michigan website at www.michigan.gov and clicking on Michigan gov-ernment.

“We should all know who represents us and be ac-tive in reminding them of what matters to us,” Gil-lard said.

The Michigan Legis-lature is made up of two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are currently 110 Michigan representatives and 38 senators, all of whom are elected officials. Senators serve four-year terms running concurrent with the governor’s, while representatives serve two-year terms.

The state legislature en-acts the laws of Michigan; levies taxes and appropri-ates funds from money collected for the support of public institutions and the administration of the af-fairs of state government; proposes amendments to the state constitution, which must be approved by a majority vote of the electors; and considers leg-islation proposed by initia-tory petitions.

The legislature also provides oversight of the executive branch of gov-ernment. The majority of the legislature’s work, however, entails lawmak-ing. Through a process defined by the state consti-tution, statute and legisla-

tive rules, the legislature considers thousands of bills (proposed laws) dur-ing each two-year session.

“There are many bills before the Michigan Leg-islature each session. Children and family issues are always a large part of them,” Gillard noted. “You may find that your con-cerns are already before the Congress in one form or another, so doing some research is a great idea to begin with.”

Once you’ve decided that you would like to address your concerns directly to your elected representa-tive, there are many effec-tive ways to go about it.

A well-written letter or e-mail is an extremely effective method of com-munication and will reach the representative’s office if you aren’t able to in person.

Phone calls directed to the representative regard-ing a specific issue that is currently before them can be even more effective.

“A state representative that receives three or four calls on an issue they’re voting on will consider that an overwhelming re-sponse,” Gillard noted. “It really doesn’t take thou-sands of people to make a difference, and they want to know what their con-stituents think.”

You may also choose to visit your representa-tives at their regional of-fices or even at the state capital in person. Gillard recommended making an appointment to visit during the fall or early winter months before the legislature convenes in January. Few local legisla-tors will refuse to make time for a group of their

constituents who would like sit down and discuss the issues.

“The earlier you sched-ule your meeting the better — all of your local boards, councils, public interest groups and other legislators will also be scheduling meetings at the same time,” he noted.

Once you’ve secured the meeting, organize what you want to say.

You should follow some basic principles when dealing with your legis-lator: be polite, be orga-nized, be brief and target your message.

When meeting with your legislator, being ar-gumentative will be coun-terproductive. State your case. They may disagree, but by voicing your con-cerns you have hope that they’ll change their mind.

During your meeting with your legislator know what issues you want to address and stick to them. Have a designated spokes-person who carries the discussion who can state your position as succinct-ly and simply as possible. If the legislator has ques-tions, you can expand on your remarks. Your legis-lators will have a least a passing familiarity with the issues likely to come before the general assem-bly. Your goal is to make your legislator see how supporting your position serves his or her interests and philosophy.

Once your legislators are off to the Capitol, that doesn’t mean they are off the hook. You can both keep in touch and make sure they doing their best to represent you by fol-lowing the progress of the legislative session and making your voice heard. Most state general assem-bly websites have features that allow you to track the progress of bills, includ-ing finding out how your legislator voted, both in committee and on the floor.

One of the best ways to get your opinion across

at the general assembly is to go there yourself; virtually every meeting of the general assembly is open to the public. You may also schedule a meet-ing in person with your legislator at their offices. When meeting with a leg-islator in his or her office during session, the basic principles noted above for out of session meetings — be polite, be organized, be brief and target your message — are even more important. Your meet-ing is likely to be short, sandwiched between com-mittee and subcommittee meetings, floor sessions and meetings with other constituents, so make the most of it.

Although public hear-ings are on only a few issues each year, there is time for the public to speak in favor or in oppo-sition to most bills. Before calling for a vote, most committee chairs ask if

there is any member of the public who wishes to speak in favor or in op-position. Use that oppor-tunity.

“We have a yearly event (called Star Power) where we take 4,000 to 5,000 par-ents to the capital for a day,” Gillard said. “The biggest thing we can rec-ommend to people is to not be intimidated by the idea of speaking to a leg-islator.”

For more information orto sign up for Star Power, visit www.greatstart-forkids.org.

For more information and tips on how to effec-tively be heard by your legislature there are many resources on the Internet. The state website has sev-eral good links and you may contact them directly for information as well.

For more information onMatt Gillard and his work you may contact him at mgillard@ecic4kids.org.

Mark LindsaySpecial to the News-Review

Be heardTips on discussing parenting issues with the legislature

COURTESY PHOTO

Matt Gillard gives a lift to his son, Joel, then 3 1/2 years old, during the 2009 Star Power advocacy day at the Capitol in Lansing.

Thursday, April 14 from 6-7pmBring your child, his/her birth certifi cate and immunization record.

Watch your child grow and develop in a Christ-centered, academically rich and nurturing environment

Introducing an infant care program - Fall 2011!Emmet County's only Catholic School • 414 Michigan St. • Downtown Petoskey

For more information or to schedule a tour please call (K-8) 347-3651 or (Pre-K) 347-3860

Kindergarten & Pre-K2011 Enrollment OPEN HOUSE

• Full-day Kindergarten• Two & Three day Preschool• Before & after school programs• Small class sizes

• High academic standards• Christian values• Dedicated faculty• Limited space available!

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North Country Community Mental Health provides comprehensive services for individuals and their

families experiencing serious mental illness, emotional problems or developmental disabilities.

To access services, call:Access Center: 1-800-834-3393 TTY: 711After Hours Crisis Line: 1-800-442-7315

OFFICE LOCATIONS:Bellaire - 203 E. Cayuga StreetCharlevoix - 6250 M-66 North

Cheboygan - 825 S. Huron, Suite 4Gaylord - 800 Livingston Blvd.

Kalkaska - 625 Courthouse DrivePetoskey - One MacDonald Drive

COMMUNITYMENTAL HEALTH

NORTH COUNTRY

0028

7414

Friday thru SundayMarch 11-13, 2011

Father, Stepfathers, Grandfathers, or “Big Brothers” and Sons age 7-14 spend some quality time together!

Cost is $150 per father/son team. $50 for each additional individual. Cost includes lodging, great

wild game meals and activities. Contact Ed Leverenz at 231-347-9742 to make your reservation.

4737 Fuller Rd., East Jordan(231) 536-3369

ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org

Hands-on Science

History & Art

RAVEN HILLDISCOVERY CENTER

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

FAMILYFOSTERCAREThe Charlevoix-EmmetDepartment of Human

Services is seeking families and individuals to provide foster care for local children ages 0-17.

Licensing is required. Training is provided.

Call (231) 348-1614

For more information.

PCNPetoskey’s

onlyCooperativePreschool

Making preschool education a family experience since 1963

(231) 347-6581

Infant Community/Nido 2 months to three years.

Primary 3-6 years.Elementary 6-12 years,

Part of the Public Schools of Petoskey.

Exploration, Discovery, Self-Motivated Learning,

Encouragement, Since 1973

PETOSKEY MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1560 E. Mitchell St. Petoskey

231-347-5331info@petoskeymontessori.org

OPEN HOUSEMarch 3rd • 6pm

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Offering classes and individual instruction in music, dance,

and art for all ages and levels.8610 Commerce Court

Harbor Springs

231-439-0886www.vivaceschool.org

VIVACE SCHOOLof Music & Arts, Inc.