Auburn interns give hope to neglected kids
Auburn interns give hope to neglected kids
KATIE GALLOWAY
Staff Writer
At the Lee County Youth Development Center in Opelika, Auburn students who intern and volunteer are gaining practical experience while giving practical love.
The Center, often called King's Acres, opened in 1973 in an attempt to provide shelter and long-term care for all Lee County children facing problems of neglect, dependancy and discipline.
Today, the Center continues to offer residential care to children, ages 12-17, enrolled in a shelter, evaluation, treatment or detention program for any length of time. Because of the Center's locality to campus, Auburn's students and faculty are convenient and useful resources within each of its programs.
According to an informational document concerning its history and present aims, the Center exists "to help children from Lee County who are neglected, abused, delinquent, pre-delinquent or in need of supervision."
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Such supervision and program implementation is provided by the employment of approximately 85 paid staff. Among this team are individuals like Patrick Lange, a senior in Auburn's criminal justice program.
Lange, a corrections officer for the Center, is responsible fo securing safety among kids by preventing fights, sexual contact and similar violations.
In addition to criminal justice, Auburn students majoring in social work, education and family and child development currently hold internships with the Center.
Currently, Auburn students and faculty are significantly involved in the treatment assessment phase of a child's stay.
After referral from a juvenile court or department of human resources, the treatment program begins when children are evaluated by the center to determine specific needs and an adequate response to those needs. The treatment program usually lasts several months and allows for approximately 12 children per day.
A contract with Auburn's psychology department provides the Center with psychological testing for each child.
Amy Key, a senior in elementary education, and Jaques Johnson, a graduate student in social psychology, supervised by Dr. Bridgett Smith, currently administer such tests.
Auburn's School of Nursing is responsible for diagnosis, evaluation and recommendation of all physiological, psychological and chemical problems.
Treatment assessment also involves behavioral evaluation--an aspect which can surface as suicidal tendencies,withdrawal, discipline problems or educational capabilities. The Auburn special education department determines all behavioral diagnosis and recommendation.
Finally, Auburn students are involved at the Center on volunteer status as well. The Center's shelter program provides a safe house for teenagers who can not live at home due to abuse, neglect, or their own undisciplined actions.
Organizations such as Reform University Fellowship, Baptist Campus Ministries, Circle K, Baptist Student Union and Project Uplift encourage their members to invest time in the Center's shelter program by organizing frequent visits and Big Sister/Big Brother programs.
Every Thursday afternoon, Nathan Grube, a senior in political science, accompanies a group of about 15 students involved with RUF to the Center. "When working with these kids, I realize how fortunate I am," Grube said. "They are really, really lonely. When they see us taking an interest in them they recognize it as someone who will take the time to love them and get to know them, and so they respond."
Amy Downs, a freshman involved with RUF, also sees the significance of their visits to the Center. "Often the kids know each other's weaknesses and make fun of each other so there is a definite need for love and affirmation."
The impact volunteers make upon the children can only be partially seen now.
"It's good that they come out here to talk with us or bring speakers who had a hard background and then changed," shared one resident.
From kickball to discussions concerning spiritual matters, activities initiated by the Auburn students aim to exhibit a positive lifestyle to the teens.
"Every week, we make it clear to the kids that we are there as an expression of Christ, and that any good they see in us is only because of Him," Grube said. "What a great opportunity."
The "opportunity" to be involved in impacting young lives has been extended by the staff and students of the Lee County Youth Development Center--an opportunity seen as a chance to gain practical experience and give practical love.
Auburn massage therapists knead out student tensions
MICHELLE BLEDSOE
Staff Writer
In the past, massage has conjured images of indulgence for the rich and famous, an intimate act to be kept at home and even a suggestion of sordid parlors where the massage offered could in no way be considered therapy.
But massage therapy has become a mainstream, accepted form of treatment for stress-related pain, injuries and simple relaxation.
Massage therapy is accessible and affordable in Auburn. Several of the therapists offer massages for about $30. Some are even cheaper. Ivy Spa, Auburn Hair Care, Hairport and Soft Tissue Therapy are among the places offering massage therapy in Auburn.
Massage therapy uses different techniques, including Swedish massage, which focuses on relaxing the muscles; Eastern, which Swedish evolved from; and sports and neuromuscular, which uses massage to target specific problems. Some therapists use combinations of the techniques.
As massage therapy becomes more popular, its benefits are being recognized by the medical community.
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"In terms of mind-body, I think massage therapy is an excellent tool," Vern Russell, senior coordinator of student counseling services at Auburn, said.
"The experience can have a positive impact in stress-related areas," Russell said. Massage therapy is something he would recommend to students, he said.
Several of the therapists in Auburn said some of their clients have been referred to them by local doctors.
The medical community has been slow to accept this therapy because of a lack of direct contact with therapists and lack of understanding of the potential therapeutic benefits, Fred Kam, interim director of the Student Health Center at Auburn, said.
"I am a supporter of massage therapy and a user of it," Kam said. "My belief is that there are multiple ways of treating peopleŃ conventional methods and alternative methods which include massage therapy." "Massage could be both preventative and therapeutic for a defined set of medical ailments, including stress relief and general mental and physical well being," he said.
But Kam recommended people seeking to use massage therapy for pain relief after an accident should first consult a doctor.
With the medical community beginning to accept massage therapy, Alabama has adopted legislation that will help regulate the profession.
Beginning in January, people practicing massage therapy must obtain a state license to do so.
Connie Sellers, a local massage therapist, is acting chairperson of the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy. Sellers and her business associate, Larry Sellers operate Soft Tissue Therapy in Auburn.
"Ask a local physician to refer you to a massage therapist," Connie Sellers said about people who want to try therapy.
When seeking a therapist, people should also look for a state license (in 1997), national certification or a professional affiliation, she said.
The Sellers' have been in practice for 11 years. Connie Sellers said her clients range in age from teen-agers to the elderly.
Massage therapy has been opened up to the mainstream, Connie Sellers said.
"I think we're past that so-called stigma or allusion that stipulates other things," she said.
One massage therapist interviewed believes part of that stigma may still exist.
Because she works out of her home, she asked for anonymity and will be referred to as Lilly Geassam.
She attended the Atlanta School of Massage and has been in practice for 10 years, Geassam said.
Massage therapy is her sole source of income.
"I don't advertise publicly,"she said. "My clients are my friends and people who are recommended to me by friends."
Some of Geassam's clients are referred to her by the hospice of East Alabama Medical Center, she said.
Even with a fairly exclusive clientele, she treats seven or eight clients per day, Geassam said.
One of the reasons she doesn't advertise publicly is her fear that she will be approached by people who are looking for more than therapeutic massage, she said.
The city of Auburn hasn't received any claims of wrongdoing against any of the local massage therapists, Wendy Hassett, assistant to the city manager, said.
There are also no complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau of West Georgia and East Alabama, Lynn Pollock, of The Better Business Bureau, said. Joe Dansack currently practices at Auburn Hair Care on Opelika Road.
Dansack has been in practice for about six years. He became interested in massage after being treated by it, he said.
Dansack is planning to open his own office, Auburn Neuromuscular Therapy and Clinical Sports Massage.
Massage therapy can be found in Auburn in businesses like Ivy Spa on Glenn Avenue. Ivy Morris is a registered nurse practitioner and owner/manager of the spa.
Morris also became interested in massage therapy after being treated by it.
"I had massage, and it did wonders for me," she said.
Morris' philosophy is to take care of clients and teach preventative care.
Clients arriving for appointments can wait in a room that contains a reclining chair with an electric massage mat.
Morris maintains an examination room for client evaluation.
This room also has a seated massage chair, which resembles a piece of exercise equipment and allows clients to remain in a comfortable, seated position while being massaged.
Another massage therapy room at the spa contains a small fountain. The sound of the dripping water, added to the soothing music in the background, makes even standing in the room a relaxing experience.
Bill Baggett, 22, and a salesman at West Building Materials, received a massage in that room.
"The atmosphere was happy and relaxing," Baggett said.
"It's something I will do again," he said. "It's good for your mind."
Connie Sellers said another reason massage therapy is growing in popularity is that, after being treated by it, many people are learning it. Some are practicing massage therapy as a second profession, she said.
Although massage is gaining acceptance, some people are reluctant to try the therapy.
"I'm interested in trying massage, but I'm hesitant about having a stranger touch my bare skin," Dana Sullivan, a graduate student in agronomy and soils, said.
Council approves plan to construct bicycle pathways, improve safety
JENNIFER ELLIOTT
News Staff
Riding your bike along College Street, dodging cars and watching each turn for your life may be a thing of the past.
At the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, council members agreed local bikers should have pathways surrounding various Auburn areas.
There is already an existing grant for most of the area, but an area on Shell Toomer Parkway needed a supplementary grant for an additional $75,000 stretch of bikepaths.
"Part of this is with cooperation with the University," City Manager Doug Watson said.
Some of the future bike ways will be on Donahue, College Street, Wright Mills Road heading towards Chewacla and Shell Toomer Parkway.
Aside from this $75,000 addition, the estimated cost of these bikepaths is about $500,000, Watson said.
These future bike paths will help to ensure safety and convenience for local cyclists.
"I think they create a safer environment. Primarily, it allows bicycles to be off the asphalt and on a path that's made just for them," Watson said.
These paths will help keep bikers safe and make riding more convenient.
"There are so many people who ride bicycles in Auburn for safety and for excercise and just because it's a hobby for a lot of people, we think that it's an important thing to do," Watson said.
The engineering for these paths is already underway, Watson said.
These paths may be constructed in late spring or early summer.
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