SJPD No Shave November to support local State Trooper
St. Johns Police recently learned of a GoFundMe fund for Trooper Van Ells and will be donating their No Shave November funds to this worthy cause.
Trooper Dane Van Ells graduated from the 135th Trooper Recruit School and is assigned to the Lakeview Post. Trooper Van Ells was recently hospitalized at U of M in Ann Arbor and has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He will need to undergo radiation and chemotherapy. He is currently waiting for a formal diagnosis from his oncologist. We certainly know that Trooper Van Ells is a fighter and will come out on top of this. Please help support him while he is away from work and undergoing treatment. All funds will go directly to Dane and his fiancé.
https://www.facebook.com/Danes-Walk-By-Faith-114137320043162/
SJHS alum instrumental in opening new autism center
Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski, executive director of statewide autism services for Hope Network, has announced the grand opening of a new facility in Grand Rapids to serve individuals with autism in northwest Grand Rapids.
The nonprofit, which provides healthcare and life services to people statewide, opened the Center for Autism after seeing a growing need at its two existing autism treatment locations in Kentwood and Holland.
Last week there was a ribbon-cutting for the new center that occupies the second floor of Hope Network’s Family Life Center, located at 1256 Walker Ave. NW. Side by Side, a senior services program, is on the first floor. The goal is for the programs to overlap and for the youth and seniors to interact and participate in activities together.
“Naturalistic environments have a benefit to providing life enrichment activities,” said Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski, executive director of statewide autism services for Hope Network.
“The activities they do with their seniors are very similar to activities we would do for kids who we are getting ready to transition back into school.”
Hope Network’s autism centers provide services for young people diagnosed on the autism spectrum from age one-and-a-half to 21.
While diagnostic services will primarily be offered at the Kentwood location, the Center for Autism will provide speech and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Depending on each individual assessment, this could be 20 to 40 hours a week, officials say.
Side by Side is a program that provides life-enrichment activities for seniors over the age of 55 with age-onset disabilities like cognitive impairments, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
The Family Life Center has an atrium, conservatory and gardens for year-round gardening activities. O’Connor-Teklinski said this, and other activities like crafts and music, are things the youth and seniors can do together.
“For many of the youth, the goal is to be able to sit in a group activity, to provide socially appropriate behavior and participate in an event, which are things you need to do when you transition to school,” O’Connor-Teklinski said. The same could be applied to social norms with eating, as the youth will also be able to eat meals alongside the seniors.
“I don’t know how many times we’ve heard seniors say, ‘Wait, did you just see a kid?’” O’Connor-Teklinski said. “Just the stimulation sitting in the atrium and watching the kids outside riding their tricycles or playing has been incredible.”
From the senior caregivers to the parents of the autistic youth, O’Connor-Teklinski said all parties are supportive of the move.
One in 59 children in the United States have autism, according to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“If there’s one in 59 children diagnosed with autism, we have a shortage of providers in the nation and in Michigan, not just West Michigan,” O’Connor-Teklinski said. “If you were to call any autism center, you would find that there’s a waiting list.”
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.
The new center is currently serving three clients. It is expected to serve up to 25 clients and employ 30 staffers.
The new site is part of Hope Network’s larger plan to have more autism centers across Michigan.
O’Connor-Teklinski said the nonprofit has a goal to have five autism centers open by early 2020, including in East Lansing and Livonia.
There is $5 million budgeted for the opening of the new centers.
O’Connor-Teklinski said the renovation cost for the new center was about $150,000.
The Holland autism center, which opened in 2017, is also in the midst of expansion. The center will soon have a fully functioning hair salon, doctor’s clinic and waiting room, and apartments.
Youth will be able to practice dealing with things that many people take for granted such as the noise of paper printing or the feeling of hair falling on their face when they’re getting a haircut. “We’re providing those environments that look, smell, feel and sound just like a real doctor’s office, dentist’s office and hair salon,” O’Connor-Teklinski said. “So as we’re practicing those skills, once they’re able to achieve those goals, then they start to generalize out in the community or out in the public.”
Hope Network provides services to more than 20,000 people in 240 communities across the state. With the opening of the Kentwood location in 2011, the nonprofit was the first to open an “all-inclusive treatment” autism center in Michigan.
Letters – Voice For Clinton County’s Children says thanks
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children wishes to express our appreciation for the continued generous support from our community.
During this season of thankfulness, we are so appreciative of you. Your support allows us to provide services to Clinton County children who have experienced neglect, physician abuse, and/or sexual assault. You are making an impact supporting many journeys of healing and hope.
We wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Kelly L. Schafer, M.S., Executive Director
The Voice For Clinton County’s Children
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Are Dogs’ Mouths Cleaner Than Humans’ Mouths?
courtesy of Dr. Monica Tarantino, DVM
Is Your Dog’s Mouth Cleaner Than Yours?
The short answer is no. Dog mouths are NOT cleaner than our mouths.
In fact, studies have shown that hundreds of unique bacterial species can be identified in the saliva of dogs.
But that doesn’t mean that our mouths are clean. Similar tests in humans have found the same results—there’s bacteria everywhere.
Aside from bacteria, numerous parasites can be present in pet saliva. Both can be transmitted to humans and can cause an assortment of medical conditions.
That’s why your veterinarian may have told you not to let dogs kiss you or lick your face.
How Does a Dog’s Mouth Get Dirty?
Many different things pass through a dog’s mouth, including toys, hair, dirt, feces and food. All of this can be considered normal for a dog.
Dogs use their mouths for everything:
– Removing debris from their coat or skin
– Scratching an itch
– Licking wounds (yours or their own)
– Picking up toys
– Eating and drinking
– Expressing affection or emotion
Although licking is one major way that dogs clean themselves, wounds and surgical sites can become infected if the dog is allowed to lick them.
What Bacteria Lurks in Your Dog’s Mouth?
Every dog’s mouth has bacteria in it.
The type and amount of bacteria in a dog’s mouth is greatly impacted by the degree of dental disease a dog has. This is because a dog’s teeth can have plaque and biofilm that builds up over time.
Other factors that contribute to bacteria in a pet’s mouth include diet, hygiene, genetics and environmental exposure.
Some other types of bacteria that you might find in a dog’s mouth include:
– Pastuerella is a normal inhabitant of a dog’s mouth that can cause skin and lymph node infections and sometimes, more severe infections. People can be exposed to pastuerella if they allow dogs to lick their wounds or through a dog bite.
– Bartonella henselae is a bacterium that is transmitted to dogs from infected lice, ticks and fleas via their feces. Although it can be transmitted to people through cat scratches, it’s unknown whether dogs can transmit infection to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
– Salmonella, E. coli, Clostridia and Campylobacter are intestinal bacteria in pets that can cause severe intestinal disease in humans. Pets can be free of symptoms yet pass these bacteria in their feces. Most human infection is generally due to oral contact of hands contaminated by the pet’s feces or fecal residue. Because pets lick their anus, these bacteria can also be present in the mouth. So letting a dog kiss you is a potential route of infection from pet to human. But there is little proof that this is actually a major means of transmission.
Can You Get Parasites From Letting Your Dog Kiss You?
Dogs are hosts for many parasites, and they may have them in their intestines but show no signs of illness.
Parasite eggs passed through a dog’s feces can infect humans. So if a dog licks their anus and then a person’s face, there’s a chance the person could contract the parasite.
With most parasites, this type of infection isn’t very likely, though, because the eggs must mature first to be able to infect humans.
But two single-celled parasites, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, are immediately infective and could be transmitted to you if your dog licks your face.
How Likely Is It for Humans to Get Sick From Dog Kisses or Licking?
For most people, accepting kisses from dogs will not hurt them. However, in very rare cases, germs in pets’ mouths have caused debilitating disease in humans, and even death.
In 2019 a woman from Ohio had a rare but debilitating bacterial infection that experts suspect occurred after a family pet licked a small cut on her. The infection became so severe that doctors performed limb amputations to save her life.
However, the susceptibility of a person to the bacteria in a dog’s mouth depends on a variety of factors, including the immune status of the person and the level of exposure.
Those who are immunocompromised include people who are going through cancer treatment or are infected with immunodeficiency virus, as well as the very young or the very old.
You can avoid getting sick by following these tips:
– Wash your hands adequately after picking up after your dog.
– Take your pet for fecal examinations and administer dewormers.
– Keep your dog on flea and tick protection.
– Always have a doctor check out bites or scratches from dogs.
– Don’t let your pet lick your wounds or give you kisses.
– Routinely wash items that your pet’s mouths and bodies touch.