Lakewood Sentinel 102512 by Colorado Community Media

Sentinel Lakewood

Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 89, Issue 12

PICK OF THE BUNCH

October 25, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourlakewoodnews.com

Treatment model awarded Mount Saint Vincent Home embraces new therapy method By Clarke Reader

creader@ourcoloradonews.com

Laura Lizut, left, is the last in line of bucket brigade at the Pumpkin Patch Oct. 17 at Alameda Avenue and Garrison Street in Lakewood. Tom Bronson and his wife Brenda started the Pumpkin Patch 13-years ago. The patch is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity and the Navajo Indian reservation in Farmington, N.M., where the pumpkins are grown. Photo by Andy Carpenean

Technology used to find buried shells World War II munitions remain at Green Mountain By Clarke Reader

creader@ourcoloradonews.com Keeping Green Mountain clean doesn’t just mean picking up litter and trail maintenance. It also means clearing the area of buried munitions from before World War II. To make the efforts for getting rid of any potentially dangerous items that may be underground more efficient and accurate, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Department of Defense will test out new detecting technologies at Green Mountain. “We’ve been working on this for two years now, trying to grid out the site and locate what we could,” said Marilyn Null, community involvement specialist with the CDPHE. “Across the country we have these kind of sites were we find what’s under the ground using new technology.” The munitions at Green Mountain came from the former Camp George West Artillery Range, and are sometimes found by people using the park. According to Null, with the current technology searchers are able to detect metal, but not what kind, which often results in holes dug for cans or other metal garbage, but the new technology that’s being tested gives of a sense of size and thickness, which helps determine what the item is. The testing phase is done through the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, which is the Department of Defense’s demonstration

Tom Ladd, Jon Jacobson and Nicolas Lhomme, left to right, of Sky Research demonstrate new technology used to find lead in soil at the former Camp George West Artillery Range located in an open space Tuesday, Oct. 16, on the north slopes of Green Mountain. Photo by Andy Carpenean and validation program for environmental and energy technologies. Sky Research is the company that has been working on the new detectors that are being tested at Green Mountain. According to Nicolas Lhomme, a geophysicist with Sky, the technology being used sends electromagnetic energy into the ground, but instead of just letting searchers know if there’s metal buried, the new technology can give more information about what is buried. “We want to be able to say whether it’s a mortar or a beer can,” Lhomme

‘We’ve been working on this for two years now, trying to grid out the site and locate what we could.’ Marilyn Null, community involvement specialist

said. “Bombs have a given signature, and we’re able to adjust our methods to recognize the signature of bombs. It’s almost like fingerprinting.” Basic information can be gathered and used in the field, but searchers can also use the raw data and advanced algorithms to get more specific information. Sky Research has been conducting similar tests in place like Arizona and Tennessee, and have been very successful, and are using more difficult sites, like Green Mountain, to perfect their technology. Null said this kind of technology will not only save money, since digging up munitions can cost up to $125 per hole, but it keeps the park in better condition. Since munitions can still be found at the park, Null emphasized the “three Rs” — recognize, retreat and report — as ways to keep residents safe.

The Mount Saint Vincent Home has been operating for almost 130 years, but that doesn’t mean it’s adverse to change. The home, which gives treatment and education to children who have dealt with abuse, neglect and mental health issues, has been named a Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Flagship Site by The ChildTrauma Academy of Houston, Texas. Mount Saint Vincent is the fourth facility in the world to earn the distinction. To earn the distinction, the staff was trained in ChildTrauma’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, which focuses on stimulating brain development to help children with the trauma’s they’ve experienced, according to Kirk Ward, the home’s clinical director. “We came to see that some of our treatment approaches weren’t always working well for the kids coming through our doors, so we did research to look at a different model,” he said. “The assessments we not conduct as part of this new model have lead to more nonverbal and creative arts therapies.” Sister Amy Willcott, Mount Saint Vincent’s executive director, said these new forms of therapy have been helping children engage both their minds and bodies. “These different forms, like dance, art and animal therapy, are relational and rhythmical ways for children to get past their issues,” she said. “We begin our days with movement and physical game playing before sitting down for school.” Another large facet of the new model is pattern repetitive therapies that include natural activities like rocking and soothing children and rubbing their backs, Ward said. Staff are also teaching families and caregivers about the techniques, so they can work on them with the children at home. Ward said the home is still collecting data to see exactly how the new methods are helping the children, but they have already seen some progress. “It’s more an approach than a model right now, and what’s nice about it is it’s a very non-judgemental thing to do to help improve a child’s life,” he said. “Many have a problem sitting down and just talking about what they’ve experienced.” Since Mount Saint Vincent is a flagship site now, it can conduct this new assessment on other children who may require it, not just those affiliated with the home, and it is an opportunity for further outreach. “Receiving this designation points out that this type of work does have a tangible impact on kids’ lives,” Willcott said. “The more we can use these interventions and train others in this approach, the more successful a child will be in the long term.” For more information on Mount Saint Vincent, visit www.msvhome.org. Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.