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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2006)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Ask Raven Dear Raven: There are a lot of parents around here who refuse to believe that their youth are doing drugs, drinking, and causing problems in the community. These youth are on a negative path and could very well end up in jail, prison, or worse. How can we get through to these parents? Unsigned Dear Unsigned: It's normal for par ents to want to believe the best about their children. As parents, we see the innocence in our children no matter how old they are and how troublesome their behaviors have become. I will share with you some do’s and don'ts from this old Raven's point of view. • • • • • • • • Don’t lecture. Don't make accusations unless you have proof. Don't try to talk with other parents about your concerns when you are angry. Do stay in touch with your caring. Do put yourself in the parent’s shoes. Imagine how they might be feeling about the situation. Do maintain healthy limits about your home and what goes on there. Do invite other parents to commu nity events that are intended to make this a safer community for everyone. And last, don't give up, even when it’s hard. Siletz Tribal Alcohol & Drug Programs Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and Women’s Transitional Siletz: 1 -800-600-5599 or 541 -444-8286 Eugene: 541-484-4234 Underage Drinking Awareness by Delina John, Prevention Coordinator Parents, did you know: • • • • • Raven ATOD and Youth Delinquency Prevention Parents, if you think your child may be at risk for alcohol, tobacco, or other drug problems and/or juvenile delinquency behaviors, please call Delina John or Jenifer Metcalf at 1-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286. One of them will talk with you about risk factors and those things that help pro tect your child from developing those problems. They will help you make a pre vention plan that will support you as a parent and provide your child with sup port for making good choices. Other Activities The summer activities are under way. If you would like to be notified about summer prevention activities, please contact Jenifer and Delina. There still are openings for youth who are interested in learning how to use a kayak or a canoe. Please contact Jenifer or Delina to sign up. If you would like to help with the A&D Program float for the pow-wow parade, please call us. We would love to have your ideas, artistic abilities, help, and involvement! • • 47 percent of youth who drink before age 14 become alcohol-dependant. Underage drinking results in 3,200 deaths a year, killing four times as many youth as all illicit drugs combined. Alcohol is a depressant. One study showed that youth diagnosed with alcohol abuse were four times more likely to experience major depres sion than those without an alcohol problem. Youth who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active, which places them at a greater risk of HIV infection and other sexu ally transmitted diseases. Favorable attitudes about drinking have been associated with youth ini tiating and continuing alcohol use. Researchers suggests that children are less likely to drink when their parents are involved in their lives and when both parents and children report feeling close to each other. Youth drink less and have fewer alcohol-related problems when their parents discipline them con sistently and set clear expectations about drinking. For awhile now I have been put ting information in Siletz News for par ents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, or just concerned community members to read regarding underage drinking and how harmful it is for our youth to en gage in. I have decided to repeat some of these facts that I stress to you as very important to know and to share with your children. Families have a powerful influence over a young person's decisions about whether or not to use alcohol. In tact, parents’ disapproval is the key reason children give for not using alcohol. I ask you to be a part of your children’s lives, ask questions. Give them facts. Let them know you care! Any questions, please feel free to call the Alcohol & Drug Department at 541-444-8267 or 1-800-600-5599 and ask for Delina or Jenifer. We are here to help. Salem: 503-390-9494 Portland: 503-238-1512 TLC Attitudes of Gratitude by Lynn Whitlow In this fast-paced world we live in now, we often find ourselves more "hu man doings” than "human beings." There can be a variety of reasons we find ourselves in this predicament. Probably none of us "planned" to be where we are. Sometimes we think we need to be involved in a lot of ac tivities to “help" others. Or we just want to fill our time so we don't have to think about those things in life we would rather weren't there - situations, people, “stuff.” We might actually take great plea sure most of the time in being involved with many activities. No matter what the reason, when we get over-involved in activity we can end up extremely tired, stressed out, irritable, and feeling sorry for ourselves. Not good and definitely not a situation to promote gratitude. We all need to stop and take time for ourselves. We need to relax, rejuvenate, stop and smell the roses (or some lav ender, which has a calming influence). It’s not selfish to take care of your self first. You will be no good to any one if you're on your last nerve and feel like biting the head off the next person who looks at you. Make sure you are in a good physical, emotional, and spiritual place before you reach out to give someone else a hand. You can do it! Come back having gratitude for life and what it brings you. The TLC again wants to thank its faithful volunteers for being here. Grati tude to Alice McCain. Trish Morning star, Pat Darcy, and Denise Riding In for the nights they sleep here. You are so appreciated! Thank you to the crew at Public Works for helping us "fix" those little things that need repair. Thank you to the A&D staff for supporting residents and our activities. We do have an attitude of gratitude! And by the time this is printed we should have our new cook top installed! Now that will make us real happy - no more burned pancakes! Meth Task Force Meeting I I I Aug. 2, Noon Siletz Community Health Clinic I Conference Room I I The Meth Task Force is open to all community members - youth and adults. If you have questions or need more information, please call Janet or Delina at 541-444-8286 or I-800-600-5599. You can make a difference! I I Please join us! Talon Crani gets ready to jump into the pool in Toledo. Sponsored by the Siletz Tribal Education Program, more than 50 kids spent the afternoon swimming in late June. August 2006 • Siletz News | | | | I I • 5
