AUTISM SPECTRUM WORKSHOPS

TheLevel 1 Autism Services Department(formerly Asperger's Related Disorders) at Ridgewood-based West Bergen Mental Healthcare will present workshops for professionals, family members and students. Participation is limited. $25 per workshop; advance registration is required. All workshops will be held at the West Bergen Center for Children and Youth, 1 Cherry Lane, Ramsey. Complete the registration form at westbergen.org and mail it with a check payable to West Bergen Mental Healthcare. Questions may be directed to Rich Miller at 201-934-1160.

Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorders 101 (formerly Asperger's 101): Designed for those new to the diagnoses or interested in better understanding this disorder and the changes being made to the diagnosis. Attendees will learn the diagnostic criteria, associated features and strengths of the population. Presented by Loren Galese, LAC, and Samantha Cerami, LCSW on Jan. 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Therapeutic Social Skills for Individuals with Level 1 Autism Spectrum andRelated Disorders: This workshop will provide education on understanding the

scope of social skills development frequently needed by those diagnosed with

Level 1 Autism Disorders. The nature and complexity of social skills, various

techniques and tools and how to target social skills development within the

natural environment for children through adolescents will be examined.

Presented by Richard Miller, LAC, and Stephen Neer, MA, on Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Two or Three for One - The Complexity of Co-Morbidity (additional diagnosis) inLevel 1 Autism and Related Disorders: This workshop will review the symptoms

and criteria for the most commonly experienced co-morbid (co-occurring) disorders and examine various treatment options. Presented by Michela Tripodi, LPC, and Corrine Derderian, MA, on Jan. 11, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

West Bergen is a nonprofit organization providing psychiatric and counseling services for all age groups with various levels of need. For information, call 201-485-7172.

Wellbeing series

This series was developed by the Ridgewood Public Schools Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and is a component of the district Community Outreach Program, which strives to help parents and guardians create balance in children's lives and support their emotional health. It is co-sponsored by The Valley Hospital, with support from the Ridgewood Education Foundation and the district's Federated Home and School Association. For information, visit ridgewood.k12.nj.us or contact 201-670-2700, ext. 10532, or Charlene Labenda at clabenda@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

Tackling Childhood Stress - How to Raise Happy Kids in a Stressful World: On Jan. 24, adolescent psychotherapist Katie Hurley, LCSW, will focus on how happiness is the key to raising confident, capable children, and she will offer strategies to meet children's social-emotional needs.

The Grit Guide for Teens: Clinical psychologist and certified school psychologist Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman will share insights from her book on Feb. 28 about the research findings that grit, self-control and positive mindset are important factors in academic achievement and the emotional well-being of children and teens.

Change is Opportunity: Motivational speaker Scott Chesney, who suffered a sudden paralysis, will share his personal story on March 28, offering insights and tangible actions to incorporate self-care and gratitude in daily life.

The Valley Hospital

Call 800-825-5391 or visit ValleyHealth.com/Events to reserve a spot at one of the following events:

Diabetes Support Group: Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Dorothy B. Kraft Center, 15 Essex Road, Paramus. Open to anyone ages 18 and older with diabetes. Members will be able to meet and share with others who have similar issues. For more information, contact Mary Kirchmeier at 201-291-6213 or mkirchm@valleyhealth.com.

Stroke Support Group: Members will share their challenges, triumphs and other personal experiences. The group is coordinated by a licensed social worker. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Valley Hospital in the Cheel 2 Conference Room. New members are welcome. Call 201-447-8000, ext. 111-2263 to register for monthly invitation and newsletter.

3-D Mammography Available to patients: 3-D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, will be offered to all patients at the Breast Imaging Center. 3-D mammography is similar to a conventional mammogram except it uses multiple images to create a three-dimensional view of the breast. The benefits include greater accuracy in pinpointing size, shape and location of abnormalities and greater likelihood of detecting multiple breast tumors. To schedule an appointment, call 201-447-8600 or visit ValleyHealth.com/DI.

Valley Achieves a 4-Star Rating for Hospital Quality: The Valley Hospital announces it has a received a four-star rating from Hospital Compare, a program run by the federal government designed to provide consumers with information regarding the quality of care provided at hospitals throughout the United States.

In this latest release, as a result of its commitment to quality and patient safety, Valley moved from a three-star to a four-star hospital.

The hospital ratings, which were released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), range from one to five stars. The most common overall rating is three stars, according to the CMS. Valley was one of only 16 hospitals in New Jersey to achieve a four- or five-star rating.

The star ratings combine performance on more than 50 measures of hospital quality into a single rating of one to five stars (with five stars being the best). Quality measures that factor into the star ratings include those related to safety, readmission, patient experience and mortality. The overall rating shows how well each hospital performed, on average, compared to other hospitals in the U.S.

The new hospital ratings, can be found at medicare.gov/hospitalcompare.