Caring Connections

Connection: Healthy Living

A beacon of hope
Ozark Center helps autistic children gain important life skills

It is a condition without an identified cause or cure. However, for children and families grappling with the spectrum of disorders known as autism, there is increased help and hope.

Freeman Health System’s Ozark Center for Autism is one beacon of hope. Developed in cooperation with the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group, the center in Joplin is bringing world-class, evidence based treatment to autism care.

At the center, staff evaluate the child’s developmental status, strengths and needs to create an individualized care plan. Because autism manifests differently in every individual, treatment plans must be unique to meet the needs and abilities of children and their families.

Research suggests early intervention provides increased structure, direction and organization in autistic children. The Ozark Center provides intensive one-on-one therapy to its preschool-aged enrollees to provide important life skills and enhance their ability to enter mainstream society.

“The center’s goal is to maximum children’s independence and increase their ability to interact with their community,” said Jennifer Long, clinical director of the Ozark Center for Autism. “For every child at the Ozark Center for Autism, that means something different.”

Diagnosis of autism disorders has increased dramatically. A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that by age 8, 1 in 150 children would have a diagnosable autism spectrum disorder. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

The Ozark Center for Autism’s innovative approach to care opens opportunities for healthy and productive lives. Through its support of the Ozark Center, Freeman Health System has established a unique and important caring connection with their community.

Building healthy smiles
Northwest Medical Center partnership links kids, dental care

Healthy teeth and gums are the centerpiece of a knockout smile. They also are essential to maintaining good health, especially in children.

The U.S. Surgeon General reports tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting American children — five times more common than asthma. The problem is particularly acute in low-income children who experience untreated decay at twice the level of children in families with higher incomes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lack of dental care also can lead to other health concerns. Tooth decay and poor oral health can result in pain, problems maintaining proper weight and poor appearance — factors that reduce a child’s capacity to succeed educationally and socially.

Northwest Medical Center in Albany recently launched a partnership to build access to affordable dental care in their region. The Northwest Medical Center: Caring for Kids program offers free or subsidized oral health care through an agreement with a local dentist.

According to John W. Richmond, president and chief executive officer of Northwest Medical Center, the hospital’s investment in dental care is an extension of its community-focused mission.

“In working with the schools in our area, we found that many low-income children in our service area, for whatever reason, are not receiving the dental care services they really need,” Richmond said. “Northwest Medical Center is an organization that prides itself on community service, and we felt like this would be a great way to help the children in our area.”

Information about the program is being distributed through a partnership with area schools. Launched initially in the Albany area, hospital officials hope to extend the program throughout the region in the future.

Dental care is an essential component of overall wellness. By investing in dental care services for the area’s low-income children, Northwest Medical Center is promoting healthy living and reinforcing its caring connection with the community.

To learn more about the Northwest Medical Center: Caring for Kids program, contact Connie Worden at 660/726-3941.

Safety seats save lives
Safe Kids helps parents avoid simple mistakes that endanger children

As parents plan family vacations, schedule visits to pools, playgrounds or local fi shing holes, they consider child safety. According to Lezlie Dahlke, R.N., trauma outreach coordinator at University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia, kids’ safety is as much about the journey as the destination.

“Four out of five car seats are installed or used incorrectly, exposing children to preventable injury and death,” Dahlke said. “With hundreds of seats and dozens of vehicle safety belt configurations, caregivers often make simple mistakes that put kids at risk.”

As Mid-Missouri’s only Level 1 trauma center, University of Missouri Health Care is acutely aware of the tragedy of traumatic injury. The system sponsors Safe Kids Columbia to educate the community about ways to reduce traumatic injuries among children. Safe Kids provides educational events, car seat safety checks and low-cost safety equipment, including child safety seats, in Audrain, Boone, Cooper and Howard counties.

“Using safety seats and boosters saves lives, but it’s also the law,” said Dahlke, a coordinator for Columbia Safe Kids. “Children under the age of 8, less than 80 pounds or less than 4’9″ tall must ride in a booster seat in Missouri.”

Children are more than twice as likely to be killed in a vehicle-related injury than any other type of accident. Safety seat use reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent in infants and 54 percent in toddlers. Booster seat use reduces injury risk by 59 percent in older children, compared with safety belts alone.

By reaching out to prevent traumatic and preventable accidents, University of Missouri Health Care is building a Caring Connection with its community.

To learn more about Safe Kids Columbia, contact Lezlie Dahlke at 573/884-3660.