Writing Experience
 

 

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February 2009

 

2008    Completed a non-fiction book, Foster Parenting the Medically Fragile Child. 

2005-2007       Freelance Writer, Preemie Magazine, Kevin Self Chief Editor (magazine now closed down)

 

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

2004 –2007     Volunteering part-time for Department of National Resources, wildland urban interface unit working on wildfire prevention, grants, school and community prevention materials.

 

1987-2004 September--  Retired (after 17 continuous years) providing foster care for medically fragile infants and young children.

 

2001    I was a volunteer member of the Parent Advisory Board for the Pierce County Birth to Three, Developmental Disabilities; I worked on several Initiatives and Surveys with Barbara Russell during the time I volunteered.

 

1997-2000 Vice-President for the Association for Glycogen Storage Disease

1994-1997       Editor, Association for Glycogen Storage Disease newsletter

 

1980-1990       Ratelco, Inc. (now Day Wireless), Electronics Technician, Customer service, repaired pagers and 2-way radios, Seattle WA

 

My Recent Articles

2008 Sept     Exceptional Parent Magazine, article Transition to Middle School

 

2007 July         Mommy Steps:  Tips for helping your preemie learn how to walk

 

2006 July         Freelance article about safety at home was published in Preemie Magazine summer issue.

 

2006 Apr         Freelance article, “Tubes and Wires in the NICU” published in Preemie Magazine Spring Issue (I also supplied photos for this article)

 

2006 Jan          Freelance article, “Does Your Preemie Need an IEP?” published in Preemie Magazine Winter Issue

 

2005 Oct         Freelance article, “Preemies and RSV” published in Preemie Magazine

 Fall Issue

 

2005 July         Freelance article, “Bonding With Your Preemie” published in Preemie Magazine Premiere Issue

 

 

CLASSES

2008 Sept        Leadership Training (Advocating for Developmental Disabilities)

2007 Jan          Attention Deficit Disorder information class, White River School District, Buckley WA, 1.5 hrs

 

2006 Feb         Yellow School Bus Tour – This was a class on augmentive communication for disabled children, Seattle WA, 5 hour credit, certificate

 

2005 Sept        Dept Social Health Services – Pierce County Foster Care class

2005 July         Defibulator, CPR & First Aid, 8 hours, card

2005 July         Class on ventilators, given by Maxim Healthcare, 2 hours, certificate

 

2004                Freshman English, Global University, pass, 5 credits

2004 May        Resource Fair, I hosted Foster Care info as volunteer with Families For Kids (Brandi Seekins)

2004 April       Presentation about Foster Care to PTA, Foothills Elementary School, Buckley, Families for Kids

2004 April       Presentation about Foster Care to Ladies Bible Study, Rainier Hills Christian Church, Buckley, Families For Kids

2004 Feb         Presentation about Foster Care to PTA, Wickersham Elementary School, Buckley, Families For Kids

 

2003                Business Math, Global University, pass, 5 credits

2003 May        First Aid & CPR, Washington State “Know” HIV / Childcare, Jean Chavez, Child Development Center (Good Sam) Pierce County Birth to Three, cards

 

2001                First Aid & CPR, Blood Born Pathogens, Lori Wattenbarger, Tacoma EMT, cards

 

From

1996-2000

classes:  (this part of my resume has been lost)

 

Before 2000

Assistive Technology class, Good Samaritan Hospital Children’s Therapy Unit;

 

Children with High Tone need for Dorsal Rhizotomy and Baclofen Pump class, Good Samaritan Hospital;

 

Latex Allergy class, Good Samaritan Hospital;

 

May 1995        The Impact of Pediatric Pulmonary Disease on the Lives of Children and their Families, Children’s Hospital and Dept of Social Health Services Seattle WA, 4 hours, certificate.

Jan 1995          A Systemic Approach to Dealing With Fetal Alcohol and Drug Affected Children, Baptist Family Services, Seattle WA, 7 hours, certificate.

 

Nov 1994        CPR update, Tacoma Pierce County Red Cross, 8 hours

Sept 1994        Conference on Glycogen Storage Disease, Little Rock AR, 8 hours

Aug  1994       Dealing with Severe Behavior Issues, Kent DCFS office, 4 hours.

Mar  1994        Sexual Abuse, Kent DCFS office, 6 hours, certificate

Mar  1994        Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder - Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment, Dr. Russell A. Barkley, Seattle, WA, 3 hours 15 minutes

Feb 1994         Children With Feeding Tubes, Renton, WA, certificate, 6 hours

 

Nov 1993        Pediatric Massage for the Special Needs Child, Mary Fuhr & Kathy B., Federal Way, WA, certificate

Nov 1993        First Aid/CPR Infant, Child & Adult, Auburn Red Cross, Auburn, WA, certificate

Oct 1993         Attachment Disorders - Foster Cline, Bellevue, WA

 

Sept 1993        Disabled/Medically Fragile in Foster Care (I gave this talk);

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Dr. John Taylor; Vision Therapy, Hope Clinic;

Auditory Integration, Auditory Health Center (All these seminars were taken at the Annual Foster Care Conference) Ellensburg, WA

Sept 1993        Glycogen Storage Disease Conference, Seattle WA

June 1993        HIV/AIDS Update, TB, Hepatitis B, and other STD's - Casey Family Program, Tacoma WA, certificate

May 1993        Brains At Risk Seminar - put on by Cortex, Seattle WA, certificate

May 1993        Living with Hepatitis B & C - Liver Support Group, Children’s Hospital, Seattle WA

Mar 1993         Nutrition in Liver Disease and after Transplant - Liver Support Group, Children’s Hospital Seattle Wa

Mar 1993         Hepatitis B class, Merrywood School Bellevue WA, certificate

Jan 1993          Parents as Partners in Education--Kent Schools, classes - "Writing...It Isn't Just A School Activity", "Setting Your Child Up For Success" Kent, WA

 

Dec 1992         Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Conference Seattle, WA

Sept 1992        Washington Protection and Advocacy - I spoke at an in-service training about the disabled in foster care, Seattle, WA

Sept 1992        Glycogen Storage Disease Conference, Philadelphia, PA

Aug 1992        Adult and Infant CPR re-certification, Renton, WA

July 1992         Oley Conference (ng, g-tube, central line, nutrition and care), Cleveland, OH

Feb &

Apr 1992         Drug Affected Infants, Pediatric Interim Care Center, Kent, WA

 

Aug 1991        Glycogen Storage Disease Conference, San Diego, CA

June 1991        CPR and First Aid re-certification, Renton, WA

 

Dec 1990         Foster Parent Scope, Mary Lou Szatkiewicz and Eileen Bowen, Seattle, WA

Nov 1990        Foster Parent Training provided by Merrywood School, Bellevue, WA

Sept 1990        Glycogen Storage Disease Conference, Durham, NC

Feb 1990         Pediatric AIDS class, Seattle, WA

 

Dec 1989         Helping You Care - HIV/AIDS class, Seattle, WA

Oct to

Dec 1989         Parent to Parent support workshop, Seattle, WA

Sept 1989        Sibling Workshop by Don Meyer, Seattle, WA

 

Sept 1987        Foster Parent Training and Licensing provided by the Merrywood School in Bellevue, WA (now called Kindering Center)

Spring 1987     Sign Language Class, Renton Voc Tech, Renton, WA

 

1979-1980              Medical Assisting College, Pruitt College, Concord, CA, certificate

 

1976    Graduate Mt Diablo High School, Concord, CA, diploma