ConcussionSmart Marin is a community coalition committed to the health of Marin’s youth. Recent reporting by the Marin Grand Jury and the Marin IJ’s editorial voiced concern about Marin’s student concussion response. The coalition ConcussionSmart Marin (‘CSM’) was formed in response to the Grand Jury’s report in 2016 and has been working to address the recommendations of the grand jury’s report since that time. CSM has developed a program for middle school and high school students based on best-practice in other states and from existing models found in California. The program began roll-out to the schools in March during Brain Injury Awareness Month. The goals of CSM are to: 1) Establish a standard level of care in the assessment and treatment of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury; 2) To help in the prevention and awareness of student concussion; and, 3) Ensure schools and student athletic organizations are in compliance with current law.
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Join Our Team as a Support Group Facilitator
Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery is currently seeking a creative and compassionate Support Group Facilitator to join our team of dedicated professionals.
Are you accepting, empathetic, and supportive?
Are you a better listener than a talker?
Passionate about helping people adapt to the changes in their life after trauma?
Our small and highly collaborative team is positive and fun to work with. The staff and consulting professionals include licensed mental health therapists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, expressive art therapists, and marketing and fundraising personnel. The center is located in Larkspur near a walking path, estuary, and is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Hours: 1.5 hours/ per week (1 group)
Compensation: Hourly Rate TBD based on experience
Essential Responsibilities:
- Leading weekly support groups for ABI/TBI survivors on Tuesdays from 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm.
- Consulting with Schurig Center staff, clients and other professionals as needed.
There is an additional opportunity to establish a part-time private practice offering individual and/or family sessions on-site for interested candidates.
Qualifications:
- Licensed as a PhD/PsyD, LCSW, SLP, OTR, MFT in the state of California. Other licensed professionals with brain injury experience will also be considered.
- Experience in the field of acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury preferred.
- Previous experience facilitating groups required.
- Must be able to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.
To apply, please mail or email resume with cover letter to:
Reiko Kitamori, Program Director
Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
1132 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, CA 94939
reiko@schurigcenter.org
Let’s Talk About Aphasia
June is National Aphasia Awareness Month
According to the National Aphasia Association, aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing.
Aphasia affects about two million Americans. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke. About 25-40% of stroke survivors acquire aphasia. However, any type of head injury or other neurological causes can cause aphasia.
There are many types of aphasia. Some people have difficulty speaking while others may struggle to follow a conversation. In some people, aphasia is fairly mild and you might not notice it right away. In other cases, it can be very severe, affecting speaking, writing, reading, and listening. While specific symptoms can vary greatly, what all people with aphasia have in common are difficulties in communicating.
Communicating with People Affected by Aphasia
Below are a few helpful tips on how to communicate with a person who has aphasia. To download a free copy of the “Communicating Through the Barriers” poster below, visit the National Aphasia Associations website here.
Improve Your Communications Skills at Schurig Center
If you or a loved one is experiencing aphasia after a stroke or other neurological impairment, there is a place to go to improve your communication skills! We are pleased to offer a 10-week Aphasia Communication Group. Taught by a license speech therapist, this class provides the opportunity to practice and develop communication and cognitive skills in a supportive environment. Topics covered include: engaging in conversation, body language, communication strategies, listening skills, connections with friends, family, and your community. To get more info about this group, please visit our classes page here.
The Most Killer Tomato Plant Sale Ever
In case you missed it, “the most killer tomato plant sale ever” was held at Schurig Center over three days in May.
Michelle, Karen, Midge and Lise
get ready for the sale
According to Karen, “The clients really put amazing heart and energy into these plants and this sale. With their help—including sneaking a few more seeds into those pots than I expected – we grew a record number of plants this year! I honestly wasn’t sure how we were going to sell them all. But clients really stepped up. I’m grateful to them and to our new and repeat customers. Now we’ve got more room for our next project!”
The tomato sale project was part of Schurig Center’s Thursday STAR Academy Class, which supports clients with opportunities to practice life skills and feel successful while engaging with their community. The word “STAR” stands for “Survivors Together Achieving Results.”
Each member of the team contributed to making the sale a success. Leading up to the event, participants worked together to make signs and took part in a mini marketing class.
Alyssa preps to help shoppers select a plant
The sale was well-attended and even had a few VIP’s stop by…
“One of our customers said he is even on the City Council, how cool is that? But seriously, this was really great because my dream before my brain injury was always to have my own dress shop, so today I got to practice what it’s like being a sales person. It was a blast!” beamed tomato salesperson extraordinaire Michelle.
TK inviting passersby to stop in
As much as possible, therapists and educators at Schurig Center strive to ensure that the recovery work clients do is generalizable to clients’ lives in the community and at home.
“Understanding that sticks with a person often happens better when there’s a full-cycle experience to tie it to,” added Sara. “This project gave us that full-cycle aspect with built-in steps that as a group we could take together toward a tangible goal.”
Thank you to all who stopped by to take home a plant!
We hope the plants will bring joy to your home every time you enjoy a fresh tomato wedge in your salad or a delicious bowl of pasta smothered in fresh tomato sauce.
Very Special Thanks to Master Gardener Karen Halvorsen
Karen’s dedication, amazing green thumb, and countless hours of volunteered time help bring enjoyment and peace to all who visit the garden at Schurig Center.
We hope to see you at next year’s sale!
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