=== Center of Attention ===
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
8 December 2003

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Calendar of Events
*Announcements: New Women's Reading/Support Group begins January
*Feature Article: Minimizing The Baggage - Supporting the Parents
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<
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Marin - 12/9/2003, Tues. 7-9pm
Impulsivity Around Money - Connie DePropis, ADD coach 510-465-6505
And Our Holiday Party !! -- Learn how to stop spending impulsively
and avoid holiday debt. Connie is an ADD coach with special interest
in helping ADDers change habits including spending habits and ways to
live well while getting out of debt. And it is our annual holiday
party!! Come and enjoy holiday treats and great company!!! Bring
something to share, if you wish.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Santa Clara - 12/9/2003, Tues. 7:15 - 9 pm
Support Group for Partners! -- A new CHADD group in Palo Alto to
provide support and community-resource information for partners of
folks with ADHD.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Gina Pera: 888-759-9758
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Sacramento - 12/9/2003, Tues. 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
The Ingredients of Learning and Academic Output with Dr. Mel Levine
-- Dr. Levine is a nationally known education expert, pediatrician
and author of the best selling books, "One Mind at a Time" and "The
Myth of Laziness." He will discuss: Non-labeling approach to
differences in learning, Key areas of brain development, Interaction
of brain functions to produce optimal learning, Ways teacher and
parents can observe child's developmental functioning, Insights to
approaches enabling all children to find their ways of succeeding.
DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento - Contact: bdriscol@...:
760-736-6335 or visit www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/peak-3/levine.pdf
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Alameda - 12/10/2003, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting --
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
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Contra Costa - 12/10/2003, Wed. 7-9 pm
Antioch Parent's Support Group - Topic TBA -- For parents and
caregivers of children with AD/HD offering the opportunity to share
stresses, strategies and successes.
Sutter Delta Medical Center, Antioch - Contact: Colleen Ruddock: 925-757-2372
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Marin - 12/16/2003, Tues. 7-9pm
Adult Support Group. Come celebrate the Holidays and connect with
others who really understand. -- Facilitator: Beverlee Kell
415-789-9464
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Online - 12/17/2003, Wed. 4-6:00 PM PST
Fostering Resilience in Children -- Guest Expert: Robert Brooks, Ph.D.
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 888-759-9758
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Contra Costa - 12/17/2003, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
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Marin - 12/29/2003, Mon. 12:30am-2:30pm
Parent Resource Group -- Call First...
30 Catalpa Ave., Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly
Seerley: 415-383-6048
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Contra Costa - 1/7/2004, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting: Goal Setting Challenges, Part II --
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
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Santa Clara - 1/7/2004, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Mark Schiller, MD - Guiding Medications with EEG --
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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Santa Clara - 1/8/2004, Thu. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute - "Attention Deficit Disorder and
Bipolar Disorders" -- Matthew Stubblefield, M.D., an adult and child
neuropsychiatrist, specializing in ADHD. ADD/ADHD and BAD (Bipolar
Affective Disorder) both represent chronic brain chemistry
imbalances. Not only are they often difficult to diagnose by
themselves, but they frequently occur together. After some comparing
and contrasting, Dr. Stubblefield will explain how the psychiatrist
should approach treatment when these two conditions coexist in the
same person.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443 or visit www.kpinst.org/
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>> ANNOUNCEMENTS <<
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New Women's Reading/Support Group begins in January

A new CHADD women's reading and support group will begin on Monday,
January 5, 2004 and meet every other Monday evening through April 5th.

Using Sari Solden's first book, Women with Attention Deficit
Disorder, and excerpts from other reading material as a basis for
discussion and self-exploration, our objective is to find the clarity
and self-acceptance to work with our ADD symptoms and move forward
with our personal goals. The format itself is structured to provide a
model for each group to continue as a peer support group once the 8
weeks are completed.

Please contact Kali Grosberg if you wish to be put on the waiting
list for the January group.

You can also email Kali for information about other support that may
be available to women.

Kali.g@...

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>> FEATURE ARTICLE <<
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Minimizing The Baggage - Supporting the Parents

by Dana Hemmingsen, CHADD Branch Coordinator and ADD Coach

This is not about how the DSM currently defines AD/HD, or the expert
opinions on why this definition should be updated. This is not an
article about the latest scientific information supporting AD/HD as a
neurobiological disorder. Nor is it about whether AD/HD is an
attention deficit brain problem or the result of latent development
of our self-control processes. This article is about young people
with AD/HD and how they must cope with the challenges daily, no
matter what the label. But more importantly, how parents can and
should be empowered to play a much bigger role.

Don't get me wrong. Tremendous strides have been made in the medical
and psychiatric community to better diagnose AD/HD and intervene with
appropriate pharmaceutical and psychological treatment. And we
continue to make major advances in our understanding of AD/HD and
other learning disabilities through more comprehensive studies of the
brain. The resulting increased awareness of AD/HD has helped
enormously. More and more people are being convinced that AD/HD is a
real and tangible biological problem.

But the reality today is that there is no cure, and there is sparse
support at the local community level to help our young people cope
with AD/HD. As a result, these young people continue to struggle with
personal, social and family relationships, education and their
overall outlook on life. This leads to poor self-esteem and below
average school performance, creating a real obstacle in terms of
fulfilling their aspirations and talents. This can also lead to a
much bigger waste due to problems at work, substance abuse and
incarceration. Or to put it another way, they accumulate "negative
baggage" that drags them down.

Not to step on toes, because there are certainly some dedicated
advocates, private practices and groups out there that are indeed
making a difference. But these efforts and the available resources
are very limited, no matter how good our intentions are. There is so
much more work that needs to be done at the local level to reach out
to our often talented AD/HD youth to help them stay on track, thrive
and contribute to society. The CHADD Inservice Work focusing on
teacher education is a good program. But let's face it; the demands
on our educational system (especially in California) and teachers are
overwhelming. No matter how supportive and sensitive a teacher may
be, it is extremely difficult to devote much time to a few students
with AD/HD in a class of 30.

OK, enough with all the negative feedback. So where does this lead us
- to the PARENTS. Parents can be the best counselor, coach and
advocate for their AD/HD child. They know their child better than
anyone, as well as their personal AD/HD traits that may interfere
with day-to-day activities. And they are available 24/7. They just
need more knowledge and information about how to assist their AD/HD
child. Not that parental support should be the sole form of
treatment, but educated parents should be a key player in the
multimodal treatment approach. Likewise our efforts to reach out to
the parents of children with AD/HD support must be increased.

A new CHADD Parent-To-Parent Family Training program appears to be
right on target and will be rolled out through the CHADD network
soon. This workshop approach will provide parents with more
comprehensive information and methods to assist their AD/HD child,
and it will be offered in a more accelerated presentation format. The
series of seven rotating classes will be offered throughout the year.
We should hear more about the Parent-To-Parent program in the near
future, and it is an awesome step in the right direction. If we can
do a better job of helping parents "minimize the negative baggage"
that their AD/HD kids may accumulate, we will have accomplished quite
a bit.

For more information about the Parent-To-Parent Training program,
please contact Dana Hemmingsen, 925-362-4113, email:
danahem@....

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>> PLEASE TELL US <<
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We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter and CHADD of Northern
California more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at Lew@.... Simply
replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the editor.

Lew Mills, Editor

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>> CHADD INFORMATION <<
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About the Newsletter:

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.

* CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support *

Contact:

--

Lew Mills, PhD, MFT
Editor, "Center of Attention"
CHADD of Northern California, Chapter # 504
mailto:Lew@...
http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
Fax or Voice Message: 510-291-2950
Toll Free 888-759-9758