1. May 2009 by admin.

“George told me he couldn’t do it; that he was incapable, “explains Maryanne Hale, CBR YouthConnect’s Art Program Teacher. George is a youth in the Art Program, attending that class for about three months. He was very recently given an Honorable Mention ribbon at the local art show, competing against other La Junta youth and was very proud to share his creation.

“…this is the Elder Orb Beholder from Baldur’s Gate…and this monster appears in a space underground called the…” he continues, excitedly gesturing his hands to help present the lore associated with his paper mache monster. His art piece is a brown creature, with a row of brightly-painted white teeth and multiple eyeballs.

George believes that doing the art program has helped him deescalate when he is feeling stressed, or needs a way to cope with the thoughts of the day. “I feel like I’m calmer and I’m glad to do this when I’m feeling bored,” says George, now holding his hands together in politeness. When asked how he made another one of his pieces, a brightly colored fish with detailed scales on its underbelly, George is on his feet once again and excitedly detailing the process step-by-step. “First, I crumpled up newspaper into a ball,” motioning as though he were doing the project again in air, “and then I crumpled more newspaper into a cone, then I added golf balls and put in the wire. Then I had to have the teacher help me make a hole for the mouth. Then we did the paper mache and painted it.”

“It’s important to know the process, and it is significant that so many are able to remember it all,” beams Maryanne. “Art helps a youth be successful; they see something they made or something they have done and they know that it’s theirs, and they did it. Those are things of success.”
George would like to do more sculptures of some classic movie monsters, and would also like to do a life-size, “Drow Elf” sculpture. Right now, George is near completion on a very detailed alligator head made from clay. “It’s Leatherhead from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” he points out. “I wanted to show everybody my artistic talents,” says George, still gesturing in enthusiasm, “I didn’t think I could do it at first, but I put my mind to it, and I know I can do it, and I know I can do much more.”

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1. May 2009 by admin.

La Junta, Colo. -
Otero County Health Department recently teamed up with CBR YouthConnect to provide rehabilitation clinics for children with special needs.
Kevin Harsh, director of nursing with the Otero County Health Department, said the health department provides rehab clinics for children from a nine-county area.
A team of doctors and special needs specialists are available at the clinic to visit with children and families on anything from physical therapy and medical examinations to wheelchair improvements and brace inspections.
Because of the high number of clients and cramped clinic conditions at their previous location, the department began searching for a new facility.
Martin Maser, CEO of CBR YouthConnect, offered one of the vacant buildings on the campus located north of La Junta.
“This is an interagency collaboration to improve health care access to children with special needs,” Harsh said.
Maser agreed.
“CBR YouthConnect and the Otero County Health Department are in the business of serving children,” Maser said. “This was a perfect fit. We are reaching back to the communities that have supported us. We wanted to extend our services and community resources to the Arkansas Valley and the community we serve here.”
Kirk Snyder, chief operating officer at CBR, has been the lead executive for the collaboration and spearheaded what needed to happen on the campus to help provide services to children with special needs.
Harsh said with families struggling in today’s economy, this clinic offers an affordable alternative to people in rural areas.
“The recession is particularly hard on everyone,” Harsh said. “It would cost a lot of money to visit this type of team. People would have to travel to Denver. We are very fortunate to have them here.”
Also contributing to the clinic is the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

http://www.lajuntatribunedemocrat.com/archive/x360587469/Serving-children-Local-health-officials-CBR-YouthConnect-share-resources

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