Dental Care Education
You Mean I Can’t Have ANY Candy???
October 6, 2018 by Sandra Holifield, Oral Health Outreach Manager
With Halloween coming up, children will be getting that candy filled gleam in their eyes, trying to find the most popular costume, and start counting down the days until their “Candy Coma”.
So, is eating candy really that horrible?
The simple answer is no…if you follow some simple guidelines.
The bad thing about candy is the amount of sugar it contains. Most candy is made up of sugar, but the most popular and worst choices are based on sugar content, with nearly 40 grams or 7 teaspoons of sugar in each piece of candy!
Try this when you are at home - take a teaspoon and measure out 40 grams of sugar. That’s what a child will consume with each candy bar or sticky, chewy serving of their Halloween treats! Now, multiply that by 100, because if your child is anything like me as a child, they will gorge themselves until they fall into a sleep sugar coma.
How can I say that eating candy isn’t that horrible?
Well, like most things today, eating in moderation is important to consider. If your child has a huge pillowcase full of candy, find a great hiding place to store some of the candy.
The first and foremost tip to follow, whether candy is involved or not, is to have an established home care routine. This routine must involve proper technique, adequate time, and parental supervision and help. You shouldn’t expect little Billy at 4 years old to go into the bathroom and brush his teeth effectively.
Children typically do not have the dexterity and control to brush for themselves until they can write legibly, which is about 8-9 years old. For children who need to “do it myself”, you can allow them to brush, but always follow up and brush after them.
Are all candies the same when it comes to oral health? Simple answer…no.
Sticky, chewy candies tend to stick in the grooves of teeth longer and have the potential to cause more damage. The best candies would be the ones that melt quickly or can be ingested quickly.
However, these things won’t matter if your child is consuming candy constantly; the sugar will still sit on their teeth. Again, this is why you’ve already taken the pillowcase and found a great hiding place for it!
So, remember that Halloween is a fun time for kids, but should always be supervised and always, always be followed by proper brushing and flossing either with you or by you! Have a great and safe Halloween!
Meet our familytrea
Angela Evans, Community Victim Advocate at COMTREA's A Safe Place
October 4, 2018
MY JOB
I work with victims of domestic assault that occurred in Jefferson County. I am a representative stationed at the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office (JCSO), and review all the intimate partner domestic assault reports. After reviewing report, I select cases to take on as a Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT). I reach out to victims and share resources, support, intervention, and advocacy. Sometimes, victims just need to be heard, but I support them with safety planning, emergency shelters, referrals to other community services, assistance with filling out legal documents, and attending court hearings. Cases are reviewed in a monthly meeting which includes the Prosecuting Attorney, Prosecuting Attorney Victim’s Advocate, Probation & Parole, Private Probation, JCSO Victim Services, JCSO Detective/Lieutenant, Family & Drug Court Coordinator, ASP Manager, & myself.
IMPACT
I think it is important for victims to know they are not alone and that there is help out there. There are so many victims that “fall through the cracks” because the process can be so overwhelming and they may not know what to do or how to get help. So many will give up if they don’t have someone that believes in them, encourages them to believe in themselves, and helps them through a daunting and sometimes scary system. If I can help improve the lives of victims in our community by providing resources, support, intervention, and advocacy, then that will spread to others creating a positive chain effect! It is my hope that no victim feels unseen –that there are always options to any situation.
ABOUT ME
I am a survivor of domestic violence and would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the services I received from COMTREA and ASP. In 2004, I sought shelter at ASP to flee a domestic violence situation and my life was forever changed! That experience fueled my heart and passion to help other victims. I have been volunteering with ASP since 2006 by speaking out at various engagements and fundraisers, modeling in the former ASP fashion shows (fun, fun!), becoming an ASP Ambassador, and participating in different committees. I am currently the chair on the Friends of A Safe Place Advisory Committee and love every minute of it; all community members are welcome so contact me if interested.
Meet our familytrea
Jen Heizer, Healthcare Home Nurse Care Manager
September 29, 2018
Meet Jen Heizer, Healthcare Home Nurse Care Manager. Heizer has worked for COMTREA for five years, and began as a Community Support Specialist.
In my role, I see behavioral health clients annually, and complete a head-to-toe health screening on them, covering all the bases of the individual both mentally and physically. I work daily on assisting individuals in accessing needed health care, behavioral health, and social services and supports. As a Nurse Care Manager, I serve clients with managing their mental illness, physical well-being, and other chronic conditions, and educate each client individually on working towards improving their general health and developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
My job is important to COMTREA and the community because I am a stepping stone for our clients. When I sit down with an individual for their health screening, I always begin with asking them to focus on their physical and medical health! My goal is to enlighten clients that taking care of your mental health is important, but not to neglect your medical and physical wellness. I encourage clients to step out of their comfort zones and visit their primary care physicians to talk about aches, pains, questions, and concerns. Prevention screenings such as yearly vision exams, dental exams and cleanings, and well-woman exams and mammograms are vital. I discuss and bring these to their attention in hope of them recognizing how important it is in achieving a comprehensive state of wellness.
I have lived in Festus all of my life! I attended Southeast Missouri State University after graduating from high school, and I have been a nurse for 11 years. I have two sons; there is never a dull moment at my house, and I know way more about Fortnite and NBA 2k18 than I care to admit! I love to cook, but require everyone stays out of my kitchen. I am one of those people that loves winter! It is the snow, ice, burning fireplace, comfy pajamas, warm fuzzy socks, soup, cookies, and hot chocolate.
Meet Our Familytrea
Sarah McGrath, School Liaison Counselor
September 23, 2018
Meet Sarah McGrath, School Liaison Counselor at COMTREA. I provide therapy and resources/supports to students, their families, and school staff in the Jefferson County School Districts. This year, I am servicing schools in the Northwest School District. I collaborate with school staff and provide more intensive therapies that the school counselor is not able to provide or that their job does not allow the time and intensity to provide to students. I conduct group therapy, individual therapy, collaborate with teachers and staff to support students, and connect with parents and caregivers to provide support for carry-over at home and/or other resources available to assist the student and family, overall.
The school liaison position is very important due to the amount of time we can spend with a student versus a school counselor. I was a school counselor for 11 years, and one of the drawbacks was time constraints; this did not allow for developing therapeutic relationships. As a liaison counselor, I get to build therapeutic relationships. I can dive deeper into a situation, not just teach, but practice skills with students to better themselves. I am able to have conversations with families about medical and mental health needs that unfortunately school staff are limited to discuss. School counselors really depend on the services that the liaisons provide for kids. Many times, as the school liaison, I am the only way that a child can receive some more in-depth therapeutic interventions and that is really important!
Life throws crazy, unexpected things in our path, but one thing I have learned is the power of relationships and kindness. All it takes is one friendly smile or a simple “hi” to change someone’s day, know that they matter, and have purpose in this world.”
