Daily Archives: January 23, 2013

Jennifer Kowalski joins Cashier’s Office

Posted on by
Jennifer Kowalski

Jennifer Kowalski

GRCC welcomes Jennifer Kowalski, Cashier’s Office Educational Support Professional.

She is a GRCC alumni and has worked as a student employee in the Counseling Department when she attended GRCC. She graduated from GVSU at the end of April, where she received her BBA and majored in economics. She plans to go back for her Master’s Degree in a couple of years after she gets settled at CC and gives herself some time off after getting her Bachelors. Before starting here at GRCC, she worked part-time as an admin. asst./project coordinator at an electrical contracting firm while attending GVSU.

She and her boyfriend Brian recently bought a house in Kentwood in which they share with their 4 animals; 2 dogs and 2 cats. She enjoys spending her free time with my family, friends and animals.

She enjoyed her time here at GRCC so much when she was a student employee that she always hoped to return as a full-time employee, so she is very excited to be here!

SICE student Becky Rinehart demonstrates healthy cooking

Posted on by

Becky Rinehart, an honors student at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education,  recently joined Montcalm Community College’s Alpha Tau Alpha Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to teach families how to cook healthy and inexpensive meals.

In partnership with Michigan State University Extension, the chapter hosted the program last month at Heritage United Methodist Church in Howard City.  Becky demonstrated how to prepare two recipes using fresh ingredients. She was joined by Lynnae Selberg, chapter adviser for GRCC’s Alpha Upsilon Kappa.

Certificate in Aging course begins February 23, 2013

Posted on by

The Certificate in Aging is a noncredit continuing education program designed for health-care professionals and others working with older adults, who are interested in learning how to be more effective in working with this population.

This certificate program consists of four, eight-hour classroom-based courses held on Saturdays from February 23, 2013, through April 27. Register for the entire certificate program or for individual courses:

  • Aging 101: An Introduction to Gerontology-Issues Vital to Aging runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. February 23.
  • Caregiving 101: Caregiving for Real Life runs 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 9.
  • Healthy Aging and Chronic Disease Management runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 13.
  • Death, Dying, and Bereavement runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 27.

A total of eight contact hours will be granted for participation in each of the courses in this program. Those completing all four course offerings in this program will also receive a noncredit Certificate in Aging from Grand Rapids Community College.

To learn more, click here.

Social workers can earn continuing education hours

Posted on by

Social workers can earn continuing education hours with these new courses:

  • Rewinding Racism: Applying a Non-Judgment Code of Ethics for Healthcare Professionals — Health-care professionals face multiple cultural differences in caring transactions among patients, co-workers, and other professionals. Most are not aware of how they are socialized to an underlying value of social positioning. Racism is admittedly the most visible and significant source of unintended prejudices that destroy healthy boundaries. Participants learn the social sources of these judgments. From that understanding, they are invited to learn self-compassion and how to self-manage their judgments. They practice how to apply a nonjudgment code of ethics with options to confront and challenge societal expectations that would deny such behaviors. This course, led by Ken Taber, runs 6-9 p.m. February 13, 2013. It costs $45. To register, click here.
  • Beginning the Ending of Life — Often we begin to plan for the end of life after few choices remain or too little time remains to carry out the plan. This workshop explores the inter-relationship of the person who is dying with an attorney, family members, physician and hospice. Multi-disciplinary planning can increase the quality of the end of life. The class, led by Beth A. Swagman, costs $35. It runs 6-8 p.m. February 21. To register, click here.
  • The Process of Addiction — Addiction to any substance has long carried a stigma. After all, the person just has to “say no” or stop using. If only it were that simple. This seminar looks at the bio/social/physical aspects of the addiction process, with emphasis on the biology of the brain and addiction. The class, led by Dennis Potter, runs 6-8 p.m. February 26 and costs $35. To register, click here.
  • Creating a Holistic Environment — This seminar will raise the awareness of our relationship with all that surrounds us and the impact of our environment on pain management. It will explore the mind-body connection in the creation of our internal environment, and how physical surroundings affect our health and the natural healing mechanisms within the body. It will focus on methods for enhancing an environment for healing. The course, led by Barbara J. Meconis, costs $35. It runs 6-8 p.m. March 7. To register, click here.
  • At Peace at Home — Arranging care for elderly parents can be frustrating and time-consuming. Parents plead to remain at home. But adult children want peace of mind that often comes by placing parents in a home for the aged. Is it possible for parents to be at home and for children to have peace of mind? You are invited to learn about the MI Choice Waiver Program and Veterans Affairs Special Compensation Programs and the possibilities of being at home and at peace. Beth A. Swagman leads the course, which runs 6-8 p.m.  March 11. It costs $35. To register, click here.
  • Overcoming the Disconnect — Are you really connecting with your client or patient? Every interaction matters, and if you truly want to bridge the professional disconnect between you and your client this interactive workshop will explore techniques and concepts that will help remove walls and barriers between you and the client. The class, led by Christopher D. Sain Jr., runs 6-8 p.m. March 20 and costs $35. To register, click here.
  • Assessments of Clients with Dementia — One in eight Americans has dementia today, and that number is expected to grow as our population ages. This disease is incurable and lasts for years. The costs of care are astronomical, considering not only an estimated $200 billion in payments for care, mostly to nursing homes in 2012 alone, but also for the 15 million unpaid family caregivers who put their own physical and emotional health at serious risk. Come learn more about the current problem, the latest trends in emphasizing research and how we can all prepare for and participate in early detection efforts. Beth Swagman leads the class, which runs 6-8 p.m. April 9 and costs $35. To register, click here.
  • Engaging the Resistant Person — In our social work practice, we frequently work with people who don’t seem to actually change. In the past we have labeled these persons as “unmotivated” and “resistant” clients, but are they really? Perhaps they just have good boundaries. This seminar looks at the process of engagement and creating a therapeutic alliance with another person as the core of the change process. Dennis Potter leads the course, which runs 6-8 p.m. April 18. It costs $35. To register, click here.

Raider Salute for work on MLK event

Posted on by

A Raider Salute and congratulations go out to everyone who helped make the 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. daytime event a huge success  — even with the changes due to weather.

Thank you specifically to Richard Verburg (Trustee Chair), Chaka White (BSU President), staff from the Media Department, the Fieldhouse, Campus Police, Eric Mullen and the Music Department faculty and students. And, of course, a huge thank you to Liz Tyrell for coordinating the entire, wonderful event.

Wellness Department Committed to Helping Change the Health, Fitness, and Total Wellness of Our Community Young and Older

Posted on by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Becoming healthy, fit, and developing a total wellness lifestyle starts at a young age.

Wellness Department Professor Melanie Schiele Gady is teaching Mrs. Montgomery’s kindergarten class at Countryside Elementary School the importance of exercise, healthy anatomy and nutrition.  For example, in one recent class, the kindergartners started the class with our health chant:  “Low Fat, High Fiber, Lots of Water, and Exercise.”  Then we read a children’s book about the heart, brain, lungs and kidneys and what the organs and body need to stay healthy.  We then did 30 minutes of exercise with jumping, running, and yoga.  The session finished with the children coloring the heart, brain, lungs and kidneys on their paper, then cutting them out, and then gluing the organs on to the right spot on the body model.

Melanie will be working with the kindergarten class throughout the rest of the school year.