April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Courtesy photo by
Tina Retasket
By Jenifer Metcalf, Prevention Coordinator
Alcohol Awareness Month encourages communities to focus on alcoholism and
alcohol-related issues by raising public awareness and educating people about the
devastating effects alcohol can have on our youth, individuals and families.
Tribal member
Lisa Norton
teaches a class
in social welfare
policy at Portland
State University.
She taught during
winter term and
has been asked to
return for spring
term. These classes
are in addition
to her work on a
doctorate degree
in social services
work in Indian
Country. She
is pursuing this
degree through
PSU’s Ph.D.
Program in Social
Work and Social
Research.
References and Resources
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - www.ncadd.org. Visit
this website and find more information nationally on what alcohol does to our com
munity and our youth.
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How old are kids when they start drinking alcohol?
Two of every 12 kids in the sixth grade said they had consumed alcohol in the
past 30 days - two out of 12! (from the Addictions Mental Health, Student
Wellness Survey 2010. Tribal Youth in Lincoln County)
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How old are sixth-graders?
The average age for Tribal sixth-graders in this area is between 11-12 years old.
Volunteer for Prevention Program
If you are interested in volunteering with the Prevention Program, here are
some specific guidelines:
Apply to be a Tribal Prevention volunteer at Human Resources. This will
include agreeing to a criminal background check and a drug screen.
Attend an orientation with Prevention staff to learn about ethics and program
policies and procedures. A volunteer training program will be developed.
For those with previous problems of alcohol/drugs, at least one year of living
a clean and sober lifestyle is required.
Participate in making a prevention video/DVD.
All people to be filmed must sign an agreement to be filmed.
The Tribal general manager and Tribal Council must approve of the final
cut before it’s released for public viewing.
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For information about Agent Orange, possible
health-related problems
and VA benefits:
Toll-free Helpline
800-749-8387, Press 3
Any question regarding this process, please contact Jenifer Met
calf, Prevention coordinator, at jeniferm@ctsi.nsn.us or 800-600-5599 or
541-444-9618,__________________________________________________________
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/
TLC attitudes of gratitude: Deal with your problem, get ready for next one
By Lynn Whitlow
Over the years, the late Norman
Vincent Peale has offered valuable guid
ance and information that continues to
benefit thousands if not millions of folks.
I recently ran across one of his quotes that
pulled me out of my reverie: “There is
only one group of people that don’t have
problems and they’re all dead. Problems
are a sign of life. So the more problems
you have, the more alive you are.”
»
None of us escape from problems.
They are sometimes of our own making
and sometimes not. What we do with them
or as a result of them is up to us.
Do we make them bigger problems by
our response or do we look at the problem,
get rid of the “poor me” syndrome and
figure out what is in our control to make
the situation better or at least manageable?
Often the best solution is to change
our attitude (oh no, not that again).
All too often we get to thinking “Why is
this happening to me? No one understands.”
I hear this one a lot.! Actually, exactly what
is happening to you may not be happening
right now to someone you are aware of,
but be assured that others somewhere are
going through similar experiences.
Just about everyone around you is
experiencing some type of problem situa
tion at any given moment. If nothing else,
be thankful you are alive, deal with your
problem and gear up for the next one. Life
is an adventure!
TLC residents and a past resident are
grateful for many things: “I’m grateful for
the support I have in my life, my recov
ery team is so important to me and have
helped pull me through the tough times
when I wasn’t able. I’m so blessed. I’m
so happy for my best friend, Elaine, who’s
doing so awesome and I’m truly inspired
by her drive for life and her as a mother
in recovery. Sometimes it seems as if my
life is a puzzle, the pieces are all on the
table and it’s time to put it together. I’m
grateful to be clean.
I’m grateful that I was able to move
into my new apartment and for the friends
and family that helped me move. I’m
grateful for my friend, Nikki, whom I
love. I’m grateful for my son and for this
new chapter in our lives. I’m grateful for
random dancing(!), for my job, and my
carpool buddy, SBT. I’m grateful for the
A&D program. Without them in my life
I would not know how to be grateful or
have the things that are possible in my
life. I’m grateful for the housing program.
Others we have to be grateful for are
our volunteers, Alice McCain and Denise
Riding In. You are such an asset to the resi
dents and the TLC program. We could use
a few more with your heart and dedication.
Thank you so much to Papa and Sammy
for bringing equipment to fill the big holes in
our “temporary” driveway. One was threat
ening to swallow cars whole. These guys
fixed it right up and we are so appreciative.
It should last until the new street and access
are built this spring or summer.
Tulips are popping out of the ground.
Seems like new growth every day - look
ing forward to color! Thanks again to
Sharia and Tre for getting those flowers
in and to Ellen for taking care of the
ones that someone forgot to bury. I’ll say
“thank you” again when they bloom.
Set your attitude on a happy spring!
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CEDARR
Siletz Tribal A&D
Programs
• Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore
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.
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Prevention, Outpatient Treatment
and Women’s Transitional
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Siletz: 800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free
Help Une - 877-233-4287
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494
Portland: 503-238-1512
For Information on Alcoholics
Anonymous: www4M-oregon.org
Mission Statement: We will utilize resources to prevent the use of alcohol
and other drugs, delinquency and violence; we will seek to reduce the barriers
to treatment and support those who choose abstinance.
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April 6 • Noon
Siletz Community Health Clinic
I Behavioral Health Conf. Room
200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz
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• Topics to be discussed: Underage drinking awareness for the community and
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bully prevention action in the community
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Last month’s CEDARR meeting was well-attended. If you are interested in
• becoming a CEDARR member, please feel free to contact Jenifer Metcalf. To
• fulfill our mission, your services are welcomed. Let’s get together.
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Siletz News
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April 2011
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