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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2011)
8 community august23 2011 Local Program Awarded $41,000 National CASA Grant CASA for Kids, Inc. has been selected to receive a $41,000 National CASA Association new program development grant, according to Tom Dunn, chief financial officer of the NCASAA. Confirmation of the award came in a recent letter from the national leader. Kathryn Bourn, executive director of the local CASA program, is excited about the grant award. “This grant will provide us with financial stability to grow the CASA program in Columbia County,” she said. CASA for Kids provides volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who give a voice to abused and neglected children in foster care. Last year, 182 children in Columbia County spent at least one night in foster care. CASA for Kids was able to provide an advocate for only 1 in 5, however. The grant funds will help CASA for Kids train and supervise new CASA advocates. “Our goal is to serve all foster children entitled to a CASA by the end of 2014,” Bourn said. To achieve that goal, CASA for Kids will need an additional 60 CASAs. “We added eight new CASAs this spring, and plan to train 12 more CASAs this fall,” she said. “We plan to train 20 CASAs a year until every foster child in Columbia County has a CASA.” CASA for Kids is recruiting prospective volunteers for its upcoming October new CASA class. Having a CASA is an evidence- based best practice for serving abused and neglected children in the foster-care system, Bourn said. When children in the foster-care system have a CASA advocate, studies show that: • The children receive more services to address their educational, psychological and medical needs, and their parents receive more services to address the reasons the children were removed from the family home. • Children who are able to return home to their parents experience more stability— rather than bouncing in and out of foster care. • Children who are not able to be reunited with their parents are more likely to be adopted than to remain in long-term foster care. CASA for Kids, Inc. was one of six CASA programs across the country to receive a new program development grant, according to Coral Edward, NCASAA grants program manager. Overall, National CASA awarded $7.3 million to 224 programs in various grant categories. Grant funds came to National CASA through the federal Department of Justice. According to Dunn’s announcement, the grant period Tooth Talk: Sip All Day, Get Decay By Dr. Christopher Scheauerman With its sweet, bubbly, refreshing taste, soda pop has been a favorite drink for many. Between the caffeine acting as a diuretic and the sugar interfering with the body’s absorption of fluids, it makes us even thirstier. Couple that with the pick me up effects of caffeine, it is almost addicting. What was once touted as pharmaceutical remedies for various ailments is now causing health problems among old and young alike. A Short History of Soda Pop In 1809, the imitation mineral water was born. The combination of sodium bicarbonate and acid produced the effervescence that adds to soda’s refreshing taste. In hopes of finding remedies for various ailments, pharmacists across American and Europe experimented with different ingredients. Different flavors such as root beer, sarsaparilla, ginger ale, lemon, and other fruit flavors were constantly appearing on the market. In the 1880’s, manufactures began experimenting with adding stimulants; cola nuts and coca leaves where the most commonly used. Bolivian workers chewed on coca leaves to ward off fatigue, while West African workers chewed on cola nuts as a stimulant. In 1886, the Coca Cola tonic was created. Containing coca nuts, it was originally marketed as a headache reliever and brain tonic. Since cocaine is derivative of coca leaves, it also had a small amount of cocaine in it. Although it is unknown how much cocaine was in coca cola, between the coca leaves and sugar, it became a popular drink. Shortly after the invention of Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola was invented in 1893. Unlike Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola contained cola nuts. Pepsi was advertised as being a remedy for stomach ailments because of the cola nuts and pepsin, a digestive enzyme. Soft drinks are no longer an occasional treat. They’ve become a daily habit for a growing number of people, especially kids, teens and young adults. You may be surprised to learn that, on average, every American consumes 56 gallons of soda pop a year. The health consequences of excessive soda consumption are becoming more and more apparent to dentists. Why? Because the sugar and acid in soda can cause tooth decay, even in patients who have had good dental check-ups in the past. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and it protects the crowns of the teeth. Sugar in Soda combines with bacteria on your mouth to form acid attacking your enamel. Diet or “sugar- free” pop contains its own acid so it is no better that regular soda. Acid in soft for the award is the 2011-12 fiscal year. While grant recipients will have an opportunity to apply for additional funding next year, Bourn noted that Congress has proposed cutting federal funding for CASA back to 1995 levels and further National CASA grants are not guaranteed. “It’s important that we use this opportunity to build a resource base of community giving,” Bourn said. The local CASA program is a 501(c) (3) non-profit supported by the Oregon Commission on Children and Families, the Northwest Educational Service District, the cities of St. Helens and Scappoose, foundations, and individual and corporate donors. For additional information regarding CASA’s upcoming events, or to become a CASA, contact Bourn at 503-366-4133 or email info@casaforkidsinc.org. drinks, whether they contain sugar or not, weakens your tooth enamel, thus allowing the acid to attack your teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes, and starts over again every time you take a sip of soda. When your tooth enamel is damaged from repeated acid attacks, the bacteria in your mouth causes cavities. More cavities mean more trips to your dentist, more drilling and more fillings. According to the American Dental Association between 56 percent and 85 percent of school-age children consume at least one serving of soda pop each day. Often the amount of soda pop consumed daily is much larger. At least 20 percent of school- age children consume a minimum of four soda pop servings every day. A significant association of cola beverage consumption and increased risk of bone fractures has been recently reported among teenage girls, and among female former athletes. The consumption of soft drinks, including carbonated beverages, fruit juice, sport drinks, and energy drinks in the United States has increased by 500% over the past 50 years; this trend shows no indication of leveling off. From 1945-95 to 2005-06, the average daily consumption increased from 195 ml to 275 ml in the general population and from 345 ml to 570 ml among adolescent boys. With the average consumer drinking 56 gallons of soda pop a year the amount has surpassed all other beverages, including milk, beer, coffee and water. The U.S. market includes nearly 450 different soft drinks, with the total retail sale over $60 billion annually. If you buy four 20-ounce bottles of soda from a gas station or a soda machine each work day, that’s about $5 a day. That doesn’t sound like much until you add it up. At today’s soda prices: In 15 years you will have spent $13,500. In 25 years you’ll have $22,500, and in 50 years you’ll have $45,000. If you sip all day you’ll get decay, try a glass of water or milk today and who knows maybe you’ll save enough to take an adventurous getaway. Dr. Chris
