Betty was honored for her work at the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in Hobbs, New Mexico where she assists in individual and group counseling sessions. During group meetings Betty checks on each person often staying with the one who has the most anxiety. During play time with children, her sense of knowing keeps her by the side of a child that falls or the one that stands away from the others. In the playroom where play and art therapy techniques are used in counseling children, Betty allows children to dress her up, Betty role plays with the children. One child dressed her up with a scarf on, said she was her grandmother and pretended to take her to the doctor. Betty patiently let the little girl check her pulse and look in her ears. We teach the children Bettys service dog commands and the children re-enforce those commands as modeled by the Assistance Dogs of the West education programs. This is a huge self-esteem booster for them to help with training, according to Sara Sroufe.

Betty helps people share their emotions. As one woman was crying and petting Betty she said, I have never been this open in my life.

Betty goes to the schools weekly with her handler, Sara Sroufe to counsel or mentor students. There she makes each child feel special by “singing” to them. The prevention puppet show taken into the schools this year was modeled after Betty, “Be Too Doggone Smart to Do Drugs!

Handler and counselor, Sara Sroufe proclaims, After being a counselor for thirty years I had no idea the difference having a dog in my practice would make, wish I would have done this a long time ago!

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Vancouver artist Sandra Yuen MacKay has an abnormality of the brain – a disease called schizophrenia. As she says, “my life is schizophrenic because I have schizophrenia. It will always be there”. Much of her life has been a struggle to cope with the symptoms of her disease and the side effects of the medications required to keep those symptoms in check. Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the typical symptoms of this disease which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book

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At the request of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) has submitted its first annual review of performance measures being considered this year for use in federal rulemaking.

The measures evaluated by MAP will be used in public reporting and performance-based payment programs that help drive system-wide quality improvement and accountability. The measures apply to nearly 20 different federal healthcare programs. These include the existing Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System, Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting, and Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs (Meaningful Use for clinicians and hospitals), as well as the new Hospital Value-Based Purchasing and Medicare Shared Savings Program (Accountable Care Organizations).

MAP is a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based group of 60 organizations representing the full range of private- and public-sector healthcare stakeholders. These include employers, consumers, labor, clinicians, health plans, hospitals and other health care facilities. MAP also includes 40 subject matter experts and representatives from nine federal agencies. The group was convened by the National Quality Forum (NQF) (http://www.qualityforum.org) and began its deliberations in spring 2011.

MAP represents the first time the federal government has looked to a public-private collaboration in advance of healthcare rulemaking, to advise on which quality measures should be used in federal healthcare programs. Congress recognized that achieving quality and performance measurement that is aligned across federal, state, and private-sector programs would require a public-private partnership.

HHS sought broad input on a list of more than 350 measures and potential measures (a measure idea not yet fully specified or tested) the department put forth in December 2011. In past years HHS has issued rules on performance measurement one healthcare program or initiative at a time. As a result, measures in different programs vary widely. HHS recognized that providers and the public would benefit from a process that deliberately encourages a cross-program and coordinated look at the measures it selects for use in public programs.

We need to make this complex effort work better so patients benefit the most, said George Isham, MD, MS, co-chair of the MAP Coordinating Committee. The unique public-private nature of MAP ensures that HHS is informed upstream by diverse and thoughtful healthcare leaders who are invested in the outcomes of measurement.

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Sunset Bay Academy reports that high school students are taking on teen depression in an innovative way. Theyre not asking people to come forth and share stories. Theyre not holding seminars. Theyre making a movie.

According to the Bangor Daily News, high school students from Hermon, Main are currently developing a short film written and directed by one of their own, Faith Bishop. The film is part of Project Aware, which seeks to empower teens to talk about and tackle teen-related issues such as substance abuse, bullying, sexual orientation, difficult home environments and more. The story deals with one student who writes an anonymous blog about her depression, but is then exposed and must deal with the social stigma. Another student must contend with his older sister being deployed overseas. The film is being created almost exclusively by high school students, who are also filming in their own campus.

While this approach to discussions on teen depression may seem like an overtly complicated way to getting a film into the hands of educators, its actually a highly effective method. Students are not just being handed a film to watch. Its a film made and written by other teens. For the teens with depression, though, the experience will be therapeutic.

An old joke says public speaking is one of the most common fears in the United States. The second most common fear is death, and so the joke says that most people would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy. Although dark, the joke does reflect an ugly truth about depression.

According to the Teen Depression website, less than 30 percent of teens with depression seek help, and adolescents are especially unlikely to seek it. Roughly 1 in 5 teens will suffer depression before adulthood, and 8.3% of teens are currently suffering depression compared to 5.3% of the general population. Put this together with a teens unbalanced hormones and the pressures of school, home life, and possibly employment, and we have a recipe for disaster.

However, the students across the nation are using a very effective method of coping with tragedy and depression. They are addressing it, but in a roundabout way. They are portraying fictional characters. Sometimes, talking or expressing through a surrogate is the best thing to do. One can be self-conscious or fear embarrassment at exposing ones own perceived weakness. Teens in a social structure where cliques and popularity can make or break reputations can benefit greatly from such a system of self-expression.

Taking art classes as a method against depression, theater, or any hobby where teens dont feel like they are exposing themselves is a great way to get them to feel productive and get their ideas out in a coherent, thought-out manner. Of course, this then means that teens have to be comfortable enough perform in front of a crowd or receive critiques for their work. This is, however, much easier than trying to convince a teen to talk about his or her depression.

One of the hardest things for a teen is to talk about feelings. Art, the very act of creation, however, lets them say something without feeling like they are exposing themselves. Its still difficult, but its much easier than talking. Whether they realize it or not, the high school art students like Faith Bishop are setting an example by creating their short film.

There are many things parents can do to help teens, but a professional screening and therapy can also be the best solution. Sunset Bay Academy can help by providing the necessary tools and guidance to both parents and teens to work with depression. The Academy has highly-qualified professionals who can work with teens and guide parents to making the right choices.

About Sunset Bay Academy

A Full Service Co-ed Therapeutic Boarding School, helping troubled teens ages 12-17 appreciate their second chance at a new life with strong family values in a structured and supportive environment.

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Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder is a first of its kind book—written specifically for the partner of a person with bipolar disorder. If you have a loved one with bipolar, you know how disruptive and straining this disorder can be to your relationship. You may experience feelings of fear, loss, and anxiety as well as a constant uncertainly about your loved one’s ever-changing moods.This book is designed to help you overcome the unique challenges of loving someone with bipolar disorder. Wi

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Dog anxiety is a surprisingly common problem and includes issues like fear of thunder, fireworks, separation, travel, crating, problem barking and much more. Millions of dogs in the United States suffer from anxiety severe enough that their owners are seeking help. Thundershirt Company has now helped many thousands of dogs around the world. And Thundershirts are being rapidly embraced by professionals; thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers are now recommending Thundershirts for their anxie

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The UKs leading provider of online qualifications in Art & Design, the Interactive Design Institute, is launching an innovative, online photography course for students who may be considering undertaking a degree in photography but who want to master their digital camera first.

The mystique that surrounds the digital SLR camera can be daunting says Michael Stewart, director at the Interactive Design Institute. At IDI we realise that many people are attracted to the idea of gaining a qualification in digital photography but are reluctant to commit to a full degree course without mastering the basics of their digital camera first.

Consequently, IDIs new digital photography module – http://www.idesigni.co.uk/courses/new-courses/digital-photography has been specifically developed by the Institute for those who wish to gain knowledge of the subject without embarrassment; unfamiliar technical terms and what seem to be complex processes put off many potential photographers even before they pick up a camera.

Understanding the equipment and having the knowledge and skills to maximise the use of a digital SLR are crucial skills but they need not be difficult to master. Photography can be fun and fulfilling and this course is the starting point for an enjoyable and rewarding experience continues Stewart.

The course begins by covering the functions, settings and applications the student will be using before developing their skills through practical, step by step projects and activities.

The Interactive Design Institute course provides their students with the knowledge to understand and use: