Community Services
Report
2001 - Spring 2002
Special Populations
Carnival of Hope
A ray of sunshine, shown through the dark clouds of sorrow on
Wednesday, September 12, 2001 when the 51st Patient Carnival was
held at
the Montana State Hospital. The patients and staff of the hospital
as well as clients and staff from Silverhouse and Gilderhouse
in Butte enjoyed the crisp fall day playing carnival games and
having treats. The Carnival provided a much-needed outlet for
the overwhelming emotions associated with the Nation’s
tragedy.
Montana State Hospital would like to thank Al Roberts and six
Job Corps members for preparing the food for the carnival. We would
also like to thank Sheila Softich, an Eli Lilly Representative
from Missoula for donating her time. Our appreciation extends to
Butte Produce; Steels Wear House; Harringtons’ Distributing;
Mile High Beverages; K-MART; Roach and Smith’s Distributing;
Customs Tees in Anaconda; Sun Rental; and Wal-Mart for providing
the food, drink and prizes. Because of their generosity, the day
was enjoyed by many.
A Home for Teens At Risk
In 2001, Deaconess Billings Clinic Foundation opened the S.T.A.R.
Youth Hostel thanks to monies raised through the 1998 DBC Classic
benefiting Teens at Risk. The main goal of the S.T.A.R. Youth
Hostel was to create a homelike setting for area teens with
mental health needs. The six bedroom remodeled home is located
directly
across from the DBC Psychiatric Center within the medical corridor
of Billings, Montana.
The program works and is ready to expand, according to Peggy
Murch, program manager of S.T.A.R. Murch is an employee of Youth
Dynamics,
Inc., which manages and provides the therapeutic services to
children ages 12-18 living in the home.
Since June of 2001, 11 teens have successfully completed the
short-term program, which averages 72 days in length. Following
this treatment,
nine of these teens have been placed either in therapeutic foster
care or independent living situations rather than needing long-term
residential care.
In addition to receiving 24-hour care, the students attend area
public schools and help with community service wherever possible.
Students also attend life skill and chemical dependency classes
when appropriate.
“
We feel we have been really successful getting these kids out of
needing long term care after attending S.T.A.R.,” said Murch.
On May 20, 2002, S.T.A.R. will expand its program to full capacity.
For more information, you can call (406) 259-2132.
Anyone wishing to donate money, time or products to the hospital
are encouraged to contact Cheryl Eamon or Connie Worl at 693-7000.
2001 Child Safety and Health Expo
With a bigger crowd than ever before, the 2001 Child Safety & Health
Expo at MetraPark, March 31, was a huge hit! The event was sponsored
by St. Vincent Heatlthcare.
- Forty Vendors entertained and educated nearly 2000 kids and
their families.
- More than 500 digital photographs and fingerprints were
taken.
- Nearly 200 DNA kits were collected.
- Hundreds of kids were fitted with bike helmets and brushed
up on the rules of the road.
- Thousands of prizes were given away, including a 12-speed
bicycle.
Teddy Bear Clinic
The Teddy Bear Clinic is a no charge fun clinic, where children
bring bears and Daniels Memorial Hospital Clinic will give
them a checkup. Also if your child needs immunizations the nurse
will
be also be available.
It is much easier for the kids and for nurses to have the teddy
bears along when getting/giving shots. The annual “Teddy
Bear Clinic” immunizations was held at Daniels Memorial Hospital
Clinic.
Coaches Clinic
On October 18th and 19th, Beartooth Hospital and Health
Center and Orthopedic Surgeons, PSC of Billings presented the third
annual Beartooth Coaches Clinic for high school and middle school
coaches. Attendees cam from Carbon, Stillwater and Big Horn Counties.
The clinic was held at the Lupine Inn and the Red Lodge Civic
Center. Presentations featured physicians James Elliott, MD from
Orthopedic Surgeons, Jeff Zavala, MD from Mountainview Medical
Center and Bill George, MD from the Red Lodge Clinic. Also, Dayle
Hayes, MS, RD from Billings, a nationally recognized speaker
on nutrition and eating disorders, was one of the presenters.
A.J. Bone, P.T., a specialist trained in strengthening and conditioning,
gave two lectures in his specialty areas. Along with these presentations,
were lectures from Beartooth Hospital and Health Center’s
sports medicine personnel Lorin Wright, PT, Mark Amendola, PT
and Adam Mattingly, MS, ATC.
The clinic got a 97% satisfaction rating from the coaches in
attendance. Many of the coaches encouraged the continued offering
of this clinic
in the future. The clinic was sponsored by Mountainview Medical
Center, Red Lodge Clinic, Red Lodge Schools and the Best Western
LuPine Inn.
Special thanks to Jeff Wilson and the staff at the Lupine Inn,
Mark Brajcich, Superintendent of the Red Lodge Schools, the Beartooth
Hospital and Health Center Dietary Department and those at the
hospitals who assisted in the organization and implementation
of this clinic. All involved can be proud of the quality program
that
was provided for the coaches.
School Nurse Program
Watching the growth of the School Nurse Program over the past
year has been wonderful. Through this program, Jody Menyhart and
Judy
Schantz have touched the lives of many of our youth. Holy
Rosary Healthcare donated items valued at $300 to this program during
its initial stages, while the office was being set up. And
through the Holy Rosary Healthcare Mission Fund, we donated $5,000
to
keep the program intact over the next year.
Donation helps Stevensville schools hire district nurse
Dr. Kirk Crews of Kootenai Family Practice recently presented
the Stevensville School Board with a check for $6,500 on behalf
of Marcus Daly Hospital. The amount helps cover the cost of hiring
a school nurse for the K-12 campus.
School nurses “are a critical component of health care,” says
Dr. Crews. “This donation really makes a statement about
the hospital’s commitment to people up and down the Bitterroot
Valley.”
“We feel very fortunate to have the superb skills of Nurse
Jan Iverson, and also the ability to continue using the many programs
she offers
our youngsters,” said Superintendent Dennis Kimzey. “Without
the help of Marcus Daly Hospital, this would not be possible.”
Share our Spirit
The Share our Spirit Campaign for 2002 was a resounding success,
with employees raising over $217,000 for targeted funds. Some
funds are very popular, and employees contribute to them year
after year. One of those is the Kids Jubilee, a fund that raises
money for under privileged children in our community. Recently
the benefits committee donated $5,000 of the Kids Jubilee fund
to the ANGEL Fund, a program that provides services to high
school children who may need shoes, books, supplies or a variety
of
other items which will help them to succeed in their learning
activities. This is one of the many ways St. Vincent
Healthcare Employees benefit the healing ministry of St. Vincent Healthcare
in our community. THANK YOU!
Baby Baskets
Birth is a miracle! In FY’01, 254 babies were born at Holy
Rosary. As a way of welcoming each new baby, the parents are given
a gift basket of items that include a bib, baby clippers, booties
and other items. Total Expense to Holy Rosary was $2,033.
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