NAMI Presents: Children’s Challenging Behaviors in Faribault, Waseca, St. James, Albert Lea

Posted by Andy Alt

The following information is sourced from the SCCMHI blog:

NAMI Presents:

Children’s Challenging Behaviors

• Are you concerned about your child’s behavior?
• Are you looking for resources and information?
• Are you curious what behavior is ” typical” and what isn’t?

Let’s get together and talk about our children’s challenging behaviors, learn new parenting strategies, discuss ideas for support and self-care, and connect with other parents for encouragement and hope!

VFW Stands Up Against Military Suicides

Posted by Andy Alt on June 17, 2009

Something I recently came across on the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) web site.

(For Northfielder’s: to watch a video of the 2005 Northfield Veteran’s Memorial dedication, visit http://northfieldmn.wordpress.com/resources-s-z/veterans/)

VFW Stands Up Against Military Suicides (May 29, 2009 ?)

In an open letter, VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner is urging his 1.6 million members to help OEF/OIF veterans cope with the stresses of war.

Dear Comrades:

There is an enemy in our midst that is having a devastating effect on our servicemen and women in the field and at home. That enemy is stress.

Since 9/11, more military personnel and veterans have committed suicide than the total dead from both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, and this tragedy is occurring despite the best of intentions and programs offered by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. That is because the need has overwhelmed the capacity of government and civilian mental health centers. It’s also because some people simply refuse to admit they need help.

South Central Minnesota Mental Health Resource List

Matthieu Ricard, the happiest man alive according to an MRI scan, thanks to meditation

Posted by Andy Alt on May 13, 2009

After running MRI scans on thousands of people who use meditation to try to recalibrate their emotional states, they found that Matthieu Ricard had the most impressive emotional balance they’ve ever recorded on a brain scan.

PRI’s The World – Listen to Audio: Mr Happy – Geo Answer (2 minutes)

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Matthieu Ricard, a French molecular-biologist-turned-Buddhist monk…and possibly “the happiest man in the world.” Neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin say Mr. Ricard had the most impressive emotional balance ever recorded on a brain scan.

Eating Disorders

The following are links to local and National resources that are relevant to eating disorders. If you have any suggestions, especially ones that are specific to Northfield or Rice County, please contact me or leave a comment.

St. Olaf College Resources | Eating Disorders

Center for Human Resources
220 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057

This is a list of Current Offerings and presentations available by Dorothee Ischler.

Bullying – SF971 and HF1198

An editorial published in the Northfield News (March 25, 2009, Bullying is bad, but state needs priorities) was about legislation addressing bullying.

State Senator Kevin Dahle (D, MN District 25) responded on his web site. He didn’t specifically mention the Northfield News, but I assume the editorial he referred to in his post is the same article I linked to above. Below are two excerpts from Senator Dahle’s post.

Whose Priority?

A recent newspaper editorial criticized a legislative committee for taking up a bill which further defines bullying in the public schools. The bill (SF971) would require school boards to develop policy for training educators on dealing with bullying, reporting such instances, and for instituting disciplinary action should it happen. The final sentence of the editorial wondered why, with a multi-billion dollar deficit, we would be discussing these types of issues.
[...]

Day of Feasting and Town Hall Meeting on Heroin and Opiate Use – April 19 2009

Press Release
Day of Feasting and Town Hall Meeting
Main Street Moravian Church
Sunday, April 19 3:00 to 6:15 Dinner at 6:30

The Main Street Moravian Church will host a Day of Feasting for the Mind and Body on Sunday, April 19. The entire event is FREE. A Town Hall Meeting on the topic of legal issues associated with heroin and opiate use in Northfield will begin at 3:00. The Town Hall meeting will host a panel of seven experts and two personal stories from parents of young people who have dealt with legal matters associated with addition. The panel will include the Honorable William A. Johnson, Chief Judge, 3rd Judicial District Court; Paul Beaumaster, Rice County Attorney; Jason Mullenbach Probation Officer, Rice County; Karen Duncan, Chief Public Defender, Third District; Benjamin Bejar, Assistant Rice County Attorney; Mark Taylor, Northfield Chief of Police; and Dr. Chris Richardson, Superintendent, Northfield Public Schools.

Pat Richardson to speak at St. Peter’s Grief Support Group

These meetings are every Monday until April 27, 2009 (View Calendar)

An email I received from Barbara Knaak (with links added by me):

Hi again, Andy,

Below is a “blurb” I have put together for you to post relating to the upcoming Grief Support group:

Pat Richardson, well respected therapist and counselor in Northfield, will be speaking at the opening session of the Grief Support Group at St. Peters Lutheran Church on Monday, March 23. The church is located at 418 Sumner St., and all are welcome to attend, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The group is part of the Northfield Grief Support Coalition and will be meeting for six consecutive Monday evenings.
For additional information contact: Barbara Knaak, bknaak4@charter.net or 507-664-0444.

Thanks, Andy – if you need anything else, please let me know.