Spotlight

Quad Cities Business News approached Tracy Sauer, with the Yavapai Superior Court, to be our featured Spotlight.  Sauer is a program manager for CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.  She works closely with a group of community volunteers who spend time advocating for the region’s abused or neglected children.

 

1)     What would our readers be surprised to learn about the children in need within our county?

 

There are currently more than 350 children in out of home placements in Yavapai County because of abuse or neglect. Each of those children deserves someone to be committed to and speak only for them. Although the CASA Program just celebrated 25 years in Yavapai County, many people are still unaware of the incredible need that exists here.  

 

2)     What do you find most rewarding about your work with CASA?

 

Taking part in the process that allows for volunteer advocates to speak for, mentor, and support these incredibly vulnerable children, right here in our community, is very rewarding. Knowing that we can help to define the permanent solution that is in the “best interest of each child” is the ultimate reward.

 

3)     What kinds of volunteers bring the most success to CASA and are you in need of additional volunteers?

 

The diversity of our community volunteers provides the greatest success. No special background or experience is needed. The volunteers come to us from all walks of life and each one brings with them simply, the heart to help an abused or neglected child. We teach them the rest.

The needs are great. Our program is committed to a goal of finding a volunteer for every child in an out of home placement in Yavapai County. Currently, less than one third of the children that need them have an advocate to support them.   

 

4)     How is supporting a program like CASA an investment in the future?

 

You can tell so much about a community by their commitment to their children. Supporting these children and families at the most difficult time in their lives absolutely equates to a healthier, safer, and more positive future for everyone. No matter how abuse or neglect touches your life, you are forever affected by it. Nothing promotes change faster than getting personally involved in that change, by helping to provide a better future for a vulnerable child.

 

5)   How can people find out more information about CASA? To find out more about the CASA program, please contact us at (928) 771-3165 or visit our website at CASAofYavapaicounty.org  

 

6)   Is there anything else you would like to add? I would like to offer our sincere thanks to those who volunteer to help others in need, not only in the CASA Program, but in all areas volunteer service. Your selflessness and commitment to others challenges us each day to be the best we can be.

 

 

 

https://www.quadcitiesbusinessnews.com/790/

When Kathryn and Damon Sage

looked for an ideal place to open

their practice, they chose Prescott.

The search criteria for this husband and wife

team included a beautiful environment with

abundant outdoor activities, and a good community

to start and raise a family. “Having lived

in the Pacific Northwest for the last 11 years,

we were desperately in need of some sunshine

and dry weather,” Damon said. They recently

celebrated the one-year anniversary of Sage

Healing Center in Prescott.

The Sages offer naturopathic medicine along

with acupuncture and Traditional East Asian

Medicine (TEAM). Naturopathic medicine is

different from conventional medicine in many

ways. “Naturopathic medicine goes beyond the

basic goal of conventional medicine – instead of

focusing on symptoms and disease, the goal of

a naturopathic doctor is to find the root cause

of an ailment while at the same time helping

the patient integrate healthy lifestyle changes to

promote a lifetime of wellness,” Kathryn said.

Kathryn believes that in many cases, pills

may relieve symptoms, while the root cause of

the problem still exists. She said, “Take blood

pressure medications for example: As soon

as a person stops taking their blood pressure

medication, their blood pressure will return to

its original readings unless they address the

true reason their blood pressure is high; diet,

response to stress, other medications, etc. Our

goal as medical practitioners is to help patients

identify why their blood pressure is high in order

to bring it down to a normal level without the

need for a daily medication or other supplements.

“The most common issues I treat include

the symptoms of menopause, weight-loss,

digestive issues (IBS, diabetes, etc) as well as

those chronic conditions that patients have not

been able to find relief from using conventional

medicine. I also love seeing kids and treat a lot

of ear infections, colds and flu, skin issues and

allergies,” she continued.

Both Kathryn and Damon said with the tools

of diet and lifestyle counseling, botanical and

homeopathic medicines, as well as pharmaceutical

drugs when necessary, they can treat most

any medical problem.

Damon also offers unique services to the

clinic. He is a licensed acupuncturist and practices

TEAM, which maintains that a patient’s

mind, body, and spirit influence and balance

each other. “I primarily see patients suffering

from pain. I treat everything from migraine

headaches to lower back pain to fibromyalgia

and more. It is also effective for many chronic

conditions like diabetes and hypertension,” he

said.

Damon says that when he treats a patient,

he looks at the bigger picture instead of focusing on a symptom or only one part of a person’s body. A patient’s insomnia may be related to

their digestive issues, which may be causing their back pain – by treating the person and not the

symptoms, all of these aspects of their health will be treated simultaneously. TEAM works with the

body’s innate ability to heal itself.

After weeks of conventional medical treatments for sinus and other respiratory ailments, Vikki

Kozora was exhausted and not feeling any better. She was lethargic and had no appetite. “I had

been on so many antibiotics so many times and I was tired of taking pills. I was on meds every

three months and thought I’d try something new,” she said. That’s when she visited Kathryn and

Damon. “Kathryn put me on vitamin B-12 and other herbal medicines to build up my immune

system; the treatments really helped,” Kozora said.

“Damon did acupuncture on my sinuses and helped me relieve stress, and I really like his

techniques. I really felt he knew what he was doing. Kathryn knows what she’s doing, as well, and

when I feel bad, I’ll go to them. Most doctors don’t want to research, they just want to put you on

pills. Kathryn and Damon want to get you on the road to recovery,” Kozora said.

The Sages say their Healing Center is unique in the natural health field because they are able to

incorporate aspects of both of their

medicines, providing the best possible, personalized care for

each of their patients. QCBN

https://www.quadcitiesbusinessnews.com/737/

 Quad Cities Business News reached out to a variety of people to discuss healthy life choices for the upcoming New Year.  The link to the article is at the bottom of this page.

 

Dr. Cheryl Hamilton provided numerous insights, many, which can help individuals, increase the quality of their lives.  Despite the fast pace of the holidays, Dr. Hamilton provides simple steps to better health.

 

 

 

On eating during this time of year.

 

Gear down at mealtime. It takes 20 minutes

 

before the brain is able to recognize satiety. Practice presence in

 

eating and increase the enjoyment of food by doing the following:

 

• Put your fork or spoon down between bites.

 

• Allow yourself to recognize that you are chewing and

 

swallowing. Taste the food.

 

• Wait a moment to allow the food to enter the stomach before

 

picking up your fork again to take another bite.

 

• During this time, allow your senses to delight in the aroma and

 

texture of the food.

 

Ravenous appetite? Ideally, the total volume of food eaten at

 

mealtime should equal the size of your fist. This allows the stomach

 

juices to properly begin the process of digestion, which means less

 

indigestion. Here are some easy portion size equivalents:

 

• 3 oz serving of meat is equal to a deck of cards

 

• 3 oz grilled/baked fish equals a checkbook

 

• 1 cup of yogurt is equal to a baseball

 

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter or hummus equals a golf ball

 

• 1 tablespoon butter is equals a poker chip

 

• 3 0z muffin or biscuit is equal to a hockey puck

 

• 1 . oz of cheese is equal to 3 dice or a domino

 

Oh what fun…the parties, drinks and hors d’oeuvres! BUT – Ugh! The

 

morning after headache, fatigue and – what? Did my clothes shrink

 

again? Argh! To avoid an ugly morning after, try the following:

 

• Eat a healthy meal before you go to parties. It’s much easier to

 

maintain self-control when you aren’t ravenous.

 

• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach. You’ll

 

lose your decision-making skills and be more apt to overeat.

 

• Keep a glass of water in your hand to sip on. Better yet, have a

 

seltzer with a lime splash and a little stevia to satisfy that sweet

 

tooth.

 

• Drink wine spritzers: Ice, . glass of red wine, sprinkle of Stevita

 

or Truvia (Stevia) and fill with sparkling water – truly satisfying!

 

• Nibble on veggies most of the time and keep your indulgences

 

to one or two small treats. Most importantly, enjoy the treats

 

without guilt.

 

• Lose the “Oh well, I’ve already blown it – I’ll start my diet again

 

tomorrow” excuse to pig out. Make each moment the first

 

moment of the rest of your life. Make each moment something

 

you want to remember.

 

On living healthier more balanced lives in 2014.

 

 

 

Health is a conscious choice and the more conscious you are,

 

the healthier you’ll want to be. Here are some suggestions:

 

• Eating foods that promote health, exercising, especially

 

physical activity in nature, and paying attention to what

 

you expose your mind to, all contribute to a positive

 

outlook and vibrant energy.

 

• Practice Earthing: Put your bare feet on the earth and

 

absorb some the Earth’s natural, gentle negative charge.

 

It’s energizing and balancing – you’ll love it!

 

• Most importantly, live in gratitude. Keep a diary of all you

 

have to be grateful for – even if it’s just for the basics of

 

clothes, shelter, food, being able to use a washer/dryer

 

for laundry or feeling the sun on you face (it’s fabulous to

 

refer back to what you’ve written at those times when

 

things aren’t going so well). Allow yourself to feel

 

gratitude with every moment of life, which allows you to

 

manifest even more to be grateful for. Happy New Year!

 

Dr. Cheryl Hamilton sees patients in Prescott and Prescott Valley at Women’s Health and Healing Center.

 

http://womenshealthandhealingcenter.com/

 

Read the entire article on healthy choices for the new year here:  http://www.quadcitiesbusinessnews.com/striving-successes-new-year/

 

https://www.quadcitiesbusinessnews.com/590/