TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
care professional can explain these
laws to you.
The most important thing is to
give someone a chance. There are lots
Ask Raven
Raven will answer your questions
about problems associated with alco
hol, tobacco, and other drugs. You can
call in your questions to the numbers
below or mail them to:
of people who are trustworthy and who
will listen to you and care about you.
Thank you so much for trusting me by
writing. Raven
Raven
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Dear Raven: I was wondering if
an adult who’s department may put on
activities (not necessarily the Pre
vention Department) for tribal youth
who sometimes will say this is an
alcohol- and drug- free event needs
to live an alcohol- and drug-free
lifestyle? I ask this question only be
cause, myself personally, I feel if
someone is working in Prevention or
is a volunteer for events hosted by
either Prevention or their depart
ment, they should be living an alco
hol- and drug-free lifestyle. I feel that
they are misrepresenting the whole
purpose of alcohol and drug aware
ness to our children if they are luke
warm. To me, their behavior tells our
children, “Do as I say, not as I do"
and completely defeats the hard work
of A&D and Prevention, and that’s
just wrong. I know we can’t tell
people what to do when they’re not
at work but if you don’t practice what
you preach, what are you teaching my
children, your children, and all our
youth? A Concerned Parent
Dear Concerned Parent: Thank you for
writing. This is a very important ques
tion and one that can be hard to talk about.
It’s hard to “walk our talk." We need
to support each other by working to
gether as a team with youth so that when
one of us is struggling with behaviors
that contradict what we tell youth, the other
team members can reach out and help.
It takes a whole community to help
our children be safe and learn about
making good choices. Sometimes
adults who want to help support youth
may not be ready to be the kind of role
models youth need.
When that happens it can be hard to
know what to do. Usually when people
are not living the kind of life they want
to be living, it’s a sign they need help.
As I have said in the past when oth
ers have written to me. it takes courage
to let people know when we are con
cerned about them and when we think
their actions are harmful to others.
If you have done that and nothing
has changed, let someone know who
is in a position to make sure that youth
have good role models.
Thank you. Raven
Dear Raven: I am afraid of talking
about my problems to any adults who
work at A&D or the clinic. If I do,
the adults will talk to each other about
it and then before long every body will
know about it. I need to talk to some
body, but who can I trust to keep it
confidential? Teen Confidential
Dear Teen: I am glad you wrote to
me about your concerns. I don’t know
if you have already had an experience
talking to someone at A&D or the clinic.
There are laws at both places that pro
tect patient’s confidentiality. All staff
are required to be professional and fol
low those laws strictly.
I know this is a small community
and it can seem like people talk. I do
strongly encourage you to talk to
someone at the clinic or the A&D Pro
gram about your concerns. You can
start out asking about confidentiality.
Once you do talk with someone about
it, you will know more if you feel com
fortable with this issue.
I don't know your age. If you are 14
or older, you can see an A&D counselor
without parental permission. No infor
mation can go out to anyone without
your written permission. You can re
ceive health care without parental per
mission at the age of 18 and the same
kind of confidentiality laws apply.
There are exceptions to all confi
dentiality laws, especially regarding
child abuse. Any counselor or health
TLC Attitudes of Gratitude
by Lynn Whitlow
Just when I wonder. “What could I
possibly write about gratitude this
month,” I get hit over the head with a
situation of my own doing to undo ...
not a pleasant task.
You probably have done the same
thing yourself - opened your big mouth
and said something that hurt another
person’s feelings unnecessarily. One of
the hardest things for human beings to
do is to admit we are wrong, that our
actions are inappropriate and unacceptable.
I said something to a friend whom
I do care about and I regretted it about
as soon as I said it. No matter how sin
cere and heartfelt the apology, the dam
age is done as soon as the words slip
through the lips. The wound still scars
the heart and healing can be slow. What
I needed was an attitude adjustment
before I opened my mouth.
An attitude adjustment is an ongo
ing affair. We constantly need to be aware
of how we are feeling and not let our
attitudes get so negative that we hurt
others with them.
I still feel like crying over the pain I
caused my friend (I hope I will be for
given and that we are still friends). I knew
I was feeling peevish and angry so I
should have been talking to my Higher
Power before I opened my mouth.
Attitude adjustments come from
recognizing our blessings and ac
knowledging them. We keep grocery
lists and prayer lists. Why not keep a
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
Monday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
2315 N Coast Highway (101)
Newport
Tuesday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
TLC - A&D Building
565 Old River Road
Siletz
Thursday - 8-9 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman
Lutheran Church
1226 SW 13th St.
Lincoln City
Friday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
2315 N Coast Highway (101
Newport
Tuesday - 8-9 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman
Lutheran Church
1226 SW 13,h St.
Lincoln City
Saturday - 6-7 p.m.
Siletz VFW
143 SE Eggbert St.
Siletz
Toll-Free Help Line - 1-877-233-4287
8
•
Siletz News
•
May 2007
SiletzTribal A&D
Programs
Prevention, Outpatient
Treatment, and
Women’s Transitional
Siletz: 1-800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494
Portland: 503-238-1512
“Gratitude List” and refer to it daily.
We can share our “gratitudes” with a
trusted person - a friend, sponsor, or
family member.
Gratitude can start with the simple,
necessary things in life - life itself (my
personal favorite), a place to live, regu
lar employment or other income, a cool
glass of water, lunch, family, friends, a
warm bed, clean air, the trill of a song
bird, the sun after a wet spell, the rain
after a dry period, or an tulip opening
after a long winter.
The list can go from there. The
important thing is to read it, add to it,
and use it to keep our attitude a posi
tive one, even when adversity strikes
- and adversity will strike.
Another tool to keep us on track
with attitude is the Serenity Prayer -
“God, grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change, Courage
to accept the things I can, And wisdom
to know the difference.” What strength
and hope there is in knowing we have
a Higher Power to help us handle any
thing that comes up in our life.
Periodically at the TLC, residents
will write down several things for which
they are grateful. Usually those lists are
very basic, involving safe people, se
cure housing, children, and recovery.
Some of those safe people they re
fer to are TLC staff, including volun
teers Alice McCain, Stephanie Rilatos,
Denise Riding In, and Levi Simmons,
as well as A&D, clinic, and SSP staff.
Thanks to all of you!
Thank you also to Mary Parker for
the baby afghan and outfits she sent
over for residents.
The TLC still is seeking women
who are willing to volunteer to spend
some time here. The training is easy to
understand and spending time visiting
with the residents is rewarding. The
sleepover bed is very comfortable.
Especially if you are a woman in
recovery, your experience is invaluable
to our residents in strengthening their
recovery. Give me a call at 541-444-8238
or 1-800-922-j 399, ext. 1238, if you
are interested in volunteering or have
any questions about TLC services.