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Monday, February 27, 2012
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L AWRENCE J OURNAL -W ORLD
HOW TO HELP
Big Brothers seeks to shrink waiting list Staff Reports
Agency: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County Contact: 843-7359 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County is calling all sports fans, video gamers, fishing enthusiasts and anyone willing to catch bugs or ride bikes. Big Brothers Big Sisters has 68 boys waiting for a Big Brother like you; some of these boys have been waiting for more than a year. If you are interested in volunteering your time to make a difference in a child’s life, please consider becoming a mentor. There are two programs to suit your interests and schedule: The community-based program requires spending a couple hours a week with a child in the community, and the school-based program has a commitment of 30 to 45 minutes a week at school
working on homework, playing a game or reading a book. For more information, plan to attend an informational orientation session at Big Brothers Big Sisters, 536 Fireside Court, Suite B. The sessions are at 5:15 p.m. Tuesdays and noon Wednesdays, no appointment necessary. For more information, call 843-7359.
Immediate needs ! Family Promise of Lawrence is in need of volunteers to provide support for guest families staying overnight at host congregations each night. Families are transported at 5 p.m. each evening to their host congregations, where they will have dinner, spend the evening, sleep and have breakfast before being transported back to the Day Center about 6:30 a.m. the next morning. Volunteers are needed to help at the host congregations in the evenings by preparing dinner,
Capitol
an immigration case in Nebraska. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp let stand part CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A of a Fremont, Neb., ordinance that will require em!" The tiny-k Early In- increase the tax liability for ployers use the federal govtervention program is in those making $25,000 and ernment’s E-Verify program need of volunteers for its under. A House Republican to check on the immigration status of their workers. The upcoming annual Chair- leadership plan would also judge also upheld a proviity event in April. Tiny-k lead to a tax increase for sion that requires people helping with after-dinner provides early interven- low-income Kansans. who want to rent a place to “I don’t see how Repubcleanup, offering con- tion services to children live to obtain a $5 “occuversation and friendship from birth to age 3 who licans can continue to sell pancy license,” which will to the families, possibly have a disability, a de- these tax proposals when tutoring the children, su- velopmental delay or a they are asking the poorest require they show citizenpervision overnight and medical condition likely Kansans to pay for a tax cut ship status. But Camp overturned breakfast preparation in to lead to a developmen- for the wealthiest Kansans,” the morning. All volun- tal delay. The Chair-ity said House Minority Leader the part of the ordinance that prohibited landlords teers must attend training; Event is scheduled for Paul Davis, D-Lawrence. from providing housing to upcoming training dates April 21, and volunteers undocumented workers. are March 13 and April are needed to help with a Proof-of-citizenship Kobach earns $10,000 a 2. For more information variety of tasks in prepaabout becoming a Fam- ration for the fundraiser. fight moves to Senate year representing Fremont in the case, according to ily Promise volunteer and For more information The fight over the implenews reports from Nebrasto RSVP for an upcoming about the agency and the mentation date of a proofka. Kobach, a Republican training, contact Becky event, visit douglascounof-citizenship requirement who took office as secPeters at becky@law- tytinyk.org. Contact Jafor new voter registration is retary of state in January nene Snyder at 785-843rencefamilypromise.org. now in the Senate. !" Woodlawn School 3059 or tinykjanene@ 2011, says he represents The measure, pushed needs a few more volun- sunflower.com to get inFremont and other places in by Secretary of State Kris immigration lawsuits in his teers to help with its Walk- volved. Kobach and approved by spare time. A-Thon, from 9:30 a.m. to the House, would require — For more volunteer oppor11:30 a.m. Saturday. The new voter registrants to tunities, contact Shannon Reid event will take place at prove U.S. citizenship, with Group upset with at the United Way’s Roger Hill the school, 508 Elm St. in an enactment date of June Volunteer Center, at 785-865Democratic legislator North Lawrence. For more 15. Under current law, that 5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org, or details, call the school at The Kansas Equality requirement go to volunteerdouglascounty. 785-832-5920 and ask for Coalition has for some time would take org. Michelle Iwig-Harmon. effect Jan. 1, criticized state Rep. Jan Pauls, D-Hutchinson, for 2013. her support of measures Kobach that the KEC says increase says he discrimination against wants the requirement gays, lesbians, bisexual and Hutchinson has one transgender Kansans. The in place The zoo has a new edu- Kobach latest round is over Pauls’ cational coordinator on before this year’s primaof only four rehabilitasupport of House Bill 2260. ries and general election staff whose job will intion facilities in the Supporters say the bill will clude directing a program because he says that will state, with the others to teach residents about keep illegal voters off the protect religious freedom, at zoos in Great Bend, the rehabilitation pro- voting rolls. Democrats but critics say it will enable people to use religious say the enactment date is gram, she said. Emporia and Salina. beliefs as a defense to In June, the zoo dedi- too soon and will prevent discriminate. cated the new Cargill Wild- some eligible voters from On Saturday, at the wasting disease, which is a care Center, which includes registering because they Kansas Democratic Party’s contagious among deer and rehabilitation of wild ani- may have trouble retrievannual meeting in Topeka, elk. Raccoons and skunks mals and provides space ing proof-of-citizenship state Democratic Party have a high risk of getting for a doctor and checks of documents, such as birth Chairwoman Joan Wagnon rabies, and raccoons also the zoo’s exhibits. The zoo certificates. spoke out against HB 2260 can carry distemper and rehabilitates about 600 aniA major question in and reiterated the party’s roundworm, which can be mals a year, Durham said. this debate is whether a support of gay rights. fatal to humans. Hutchinson has one of $40 million upgrade of “It was a moving demAnd picking up young an- only four rehabilitation the state’s Division of onstration of the Demoimals is against the law, with facilities in the state, with Motor Vehicles computer cratic Party’s support for a possible fine up to $1,000, the others at zoos in Great system, which handles LGBT equality,” Thomas the wildlife department said. Bend, Emporia and Salina. driver’s licenses, will be Witt, executive director of ready by June to allow the KEC, wrote on the KEC the division to store and website. transfer to election of“Unfortunately in our ficials documents proving and out-of-control paWhat’s next tients who are coming day and age, psychiatric citizenship. ! 1:30 p.m. Wednesday into the emergency room, hospitalization is due Senate Majority Leader and Thursday — Hearing and she said a lot of it is to self harm, suicidal, Jay Scott Emler, R-Lindson House Bill 2694, estabrelated to drug and alco- homicidal or injury to borg, said the status of the lishing all faiths chapel in others, or someone has computer upgrade is what hol abuse. Capitol, Room 346-South, She said in the ER, a such an acute psychosis the Senate Ethics and ElecCapitol. person who comes in is that they can’t take care tions Committees “needs to !"8:30 a.m. Thursday — first evaluated from a of themselves. Almost ferret out” Hearing on Senate Bill 314, medical aspect even if he everyone else is seen on removing the exemption or she says “I’m suicidal” an outpatient basis,” she Kobach wins, loses of charging individuals 65 and has no wounds. She said. older for hunting and in immigration case and said vitals will be taken, fishing licenses, before — Health reporter Karrey Britt can be and any appropriate testSecretary of State Kris Senate Natural Resourcreached at 832-7190. Read her health ing will be done. She enKobach won and lost in a es Committee, Room blog at WellCommons.com, and follow courages people to seek federal court decision on 159-South, Capitol. her at Twitter.com/WellCommons. mental health help at the ER. “I don’t see mental health as being any different than appendicitis or a heart attack. So, I think when people are truly in crisis, I think that’s where they should come,” she said. There is someone available 24/7 in the ER who can do a mental health assessment. Once a patient is medically stable and it’s determined there is a mental health need, he or Lawrence’s best she is moved into an area near the ER called the Cridaily lunch specials, sis Stabilization Service via e-mail. Register online at unit. It’s a quiet area that CraveLawrence.com has three rooms designed for the safety of patients. Patients transferred to the area suffer from depression, anxiety, substance abuse or have suicidal thought or intent. In this area, further testing is done to determine whether a patient needs inpatient or outpatient treatment, and then LMH will help find those services. Seasonal Northern Italian Cuisine “We don’t have problems finding inpatient beds most of the time,” Dupigny-Leigh said. She said most of the patients go to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, but other places include Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., and Cushing Memorial Hospital in Leavenworth. She said most of the patients who are transported involuntarily go to Osawatomie State Hospital. She said a patient will be hospitalized if an assessment determines that the patient is dangerous to himself or brought to you by herself or others.
Hutchinson Zoo limits wild animals it will help HUTCHINSON (AP) — Animal lovers who bring wild animals to the rehabilitation center at the Hutchinson Zoo might be turned away because of new state guidelines about caring for wildlife, zoo officials said. The zoo will no longer take deer, pigeons, starlings, raccoons or skunks at its rehabilitation center because of the guidelines from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said zoo director Jana Durham. The zoo is asking residents to call before bringing sick, injured or abandoned animals to the rehabilitation center.
“We’re not going to accept all animals like we once did,” Durham said. “Most animals have a better chance in the wild despite our best efforts.” For example, 90 percent of the deer it sees are brought by people who spot a fawn in a field and think it’s been abandoned, when usually the mother is probably nearby and waiting for the person to leave, zoo curator Kiley Buggeln told The Hutchinson News. The state guidelines also are based on safety concerns, she said. Several deer in northwest Kansas have tested positive for chronic
Nurse
hand. There does seem to be a lot of depression in people who are rehabilitating from heart conditions,” she said.
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LMH kept Dupigny-Leigh Challenges in care Dupigny-Leigh said she onboard, and she became the clinical coordinator of meets with patients once or twice, but if they need mental health. Dupigny-Leigh said she ongoing therapy or medihasn’t come across a job cation management, she like hers in the hospital provides them with referindustry. She coordinates rals. But this can be chalmental health care for in- lenging for a variety of patients and outpatients, reasons, among them lack teaches classes on suicide of services, waiting lists precaution and behavior and affordability. She said there is a shortmanagement, and proage of psychiatrists in vides guidance to staff. She also screens hos- Lawrence. She said most pitalized patients to de- of them — three — are termine whether they at Bert Nash Community may need mental health Mental Health Center, services. For example, which is across the street sometimes dementia can from the hospital, but be mistaken as a mental there are a few who have health disorprivate practices. der among the I don’t see mental elderly. “To try to find D u p i g n y - health as being any Leigh said different than appen- a d e q u a t e mental health dicitis or a heart at- medication follow-up issues are common. She tack. So, I think when for psychiatric parecently of- people are truly in fered a report crisis, I think that’s tients can on the mental (the ER) where they be a real challenge. health services provided in should come.” More of the primary 2011 at LMH. Among the — Paula Dupigny-Leigh, clinical care physiare statistics: coordinator of mental health at cians !" 1,182 — Lawrence Memorial Hospital taking on patients who that role,” came to the she said. emergency department She said they will medirequiring a psychiatric as- cally detox people at LMH sessment. for drugs and alcohol and !" 659 — number of then will help them find those patients who were an inpatient or outpatient moved to the Crisis Sta- program, but often there’s bilization Service area a wait, and that’s not good where patients are treated because the chances of for mental health. relapse are huge. She said !" 641 — patients who it’s tough to find an inwere transported to a patient substance abuse mental health facility. treatment program for !" 103 — psychiatric men. consults that were pro“Also, in my personal vided to hospitalized pa- experience, you have to tients. have a pretty good rela!" 702 — nurse consults tionship with your therathat were provided by pist, and not everybody Dupigny-Leigh to patients matches the first time,” who were hospitalized or she said. “So, you might using outpatient services have to try two or three such as oncology and car- people to find the person diology. that works for you. That She said depression and can be really challenging.” anxiety are the most common mental health issues Treatment process Dupigny-Leigh said seen in patients. “Heart disease and de- there has been an increase pression really go hand in in the number of violent
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