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.
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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:
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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!
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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
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Aug. 2, Noon
Siletz Community Health Clinic I
Conference Room
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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!
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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
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Siletz News
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