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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2017)
8 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 Upriver from 1A If a person is able to get hold of information on these types of programs, the rules and regulations can be confus- ing. “You sit down with the paperwork and say, ‘I have to understand this?’” O’Mara said. “If you’re getting that and you’re elderly, you may not understand.” Even accessing insurance information can be difficult, with internet access in the region sparse. Even if they could get health insurance, the deductibles are high for the community. Mashell Moore, who drives the school bus up and down Highway 36, expanded the idea of cost to the entire med- ical system. “I can spend $250 to step in the door and you tell me to take a pill, go home and let it work itself out,” she said. “I can’t afford that and most people up here can’t afford that stuff. People don’t want to pay $200 for them to take their blood pressure.” The Swisshome audience asked for educational oppor- tunities on insurance, where someone would be able to take a person through the process step by step, a solu- tion that O’Mara thinks the proposed medical building could handle. A mobile medical unit was also suggested by the Swisshome audience, or, at the very least, a transportation system that could bring resi- dents down to Mapleton for medical care. One of the largest discus- sions of night revolved around mental healthcare. “We need addiction and mental health counseling in And even at a school district, the recent shooting in the area. understand what ‘behavioral this area,” Pastor Moore said. when I call a crisis line to say In a carjacking spree that health’ is,” she said. “But “It’s a big problem in this ‘This kid’s in crisis and I need spanned a large swath of the when you say, ‘mental health,’ area. Huge.” the crisis response team,’ they Upriver community, Mapleton there’s a stigma. And we’re “There’s a big lack of sup- won’t come. And it’s not my resident Cameron Ollman, trying really hard to reduce port for any mental health first rodeo, it’s not my first who himself suffered from that stigma.” services,” O’Mara said. “And crisis. But even as an educa- behavioral health issues, While behavioral support that runs the gamut from chil- tional professional, I can’t get ended up in a shootout with for adults is still a vision, dren who have behav- counseling for chil- ioral problems all the dren and young adults “We want to have healthy, happy kids that grow up would be taken care way to addiction, to mental health crisis.” to be healthy, happy adults. And that’s not going to of by the grant. “We deal with the O’Mara went over happen if we don’t do anything about it.” kids all the time about different forms of — Mashell Moore therapy that could be this,” Mashell said. “Just go online and Mapleton School District Bus Driver offered. look at their Play therapy would Facebooks. You’ll see have children and what’s going on. If we don’t the crisis response teams.” Florence city police, along counselors building a trusting get to them in time, we’re The situation can be worse with county and state offi- rapport that could help coax going to have more for those without the crisis cials. out issues. Another therapy Brandon’s. And then we’ll training O’Mara has, particu- One of the major hurdles would be teaching a parent have the fallouts.” larly in an isolated location. regarding mental health is the how to interact with their In December 2016, “I can be driving a bus up negative stereotype that can child in a one-on-one parent- Mapleton High School fresh- the creek and some crazy dude surround it. ing class. man and football player comes out of the woods,” “People feel like that’s a “We need to teach parents Brandon Kimble took his own Mashell said. “I need to be stigma,” Mashell said. “So, it’s okay to say, ‘I don’t know life. equipped to know how to help they don’t want to admit that how to handle my child,’” “We don’t want that,” this person. I need to know to they need help. And then if O’Mara said. “That doesn’t Mashell continued. “We want distinguish what’s wrong, and they do get to the point of des- reflect negatively on the par- to have healthy, happy kids who I call to get somebody peration where they need ent, it just means you need that grow up to be healthy, some help. We need to know help, they’re afraid that they help and support. We need to happy adults. And that’s not those things because we are can’t afford it and that no one remove the stigma.” going to happen if we don’t do out in the middle of nowhere.” will help them. They slip O’Mara hopes the decision anything about it.” But even if someone could through the cracks. Even if on the grant will come down And it isn’t just children identify a problem and they get to step one, then in March. When that occurs, that are having issues. attempt to help, getting regu- they’re shoved off to nowhere progress on the project will be “I’m talking about adults,” lar mental health checkups land.” rapid. Pastor Moore said. “There are can be daunting. That stigma is something “We’re already in the plan- people in this area who don’t “I called a place that said, O’Mara wants to alleviate by ning process,” she said. “So, have the mental ability to ‘Leave your name and number calling the program Western when we get the grant, we’ll even help themselves. I mean, and I’ll get back to you within Lane Behavioral Health just hit the floor running. We we’ve got some people in two days.’ It’s been nine Network. can say OK. This is our site, Mapleton that walk the months. And she never called “A lot of people don’t we’ve already had an architect streets, and they’re not men- me back. And I had to go a tally stable.” different direction,” Mapleton Getting behavioral health- High School Principal Brenda care in the area can be impos- Moyer said. sible, even in times of imme- “Every case worker is too diate crisis. busy,” Green said. “And then “There’s plenty of services you have people who aren’t in out there you can call,” the system who need to be.” O’Mara said. “The problem is And for a tiny minority of getting them to respond to those who don’t get help, such a rural community. It has tragedy can strike. to be an extremely dire need. Pastor Moore brought up come look at the site and talk about the cost to update and renovate it. So it’s ready for healthcare support.” To make that project suc- cessful, with a path to greater medical help in the area, O’Mara said the community needs to be a part of the con- versation. “We need to keep that con- versation going and getting ideas and thoughts,” she said. “And once we get the grant, we’ll come out and say, ‘We have a grant, here’s the plan.’” The turnout at that night’s meeting in Swisshome was low — only five participants showed up. There had been other meetings in the past couple of weeks at Mapleton and Deadwood, and they were equally anemic, according to O’Mara. “It’s OK,” O’Mara said. “We will have other meet- ings.” O’Mara is confident that the community will continue the conversation, with new ideas and support coming in. She’s also confident that the grant will go through. “If for some reason the grant is not awarded, we won’t give up and we won’t stop. This is important,” she said. For more information on the network, contact O’Mara by phone at 541-268- 4312 or email at jomara@mapleton.k12.or.us. Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County We are looking for volunteers to help with • Elementary tutoring, mentoring and program assistance • Teen Center tutoring, mentoring and program assistance • Club van and bus drivers 1601 15th St. • Florence, OR. 97439 541-902-0304 Florence Food Share Ask us about volunteer opportunities. 2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514 Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-9110 info@fl orencefoodshare.org Friends of the Siuslaw Public Library Volunteer Get involved Donate Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! We are a non-profi t 501 ©(3) organization Our purpose is to partner with the Siuslaw Public Library District through advocacy & fundraising. We fundraise with book sales the community really enjoys! We have fun creating greeting cards to sell! We hope you will join FOL and be an active volunteer. Contact us at siuslawlibraryfriends@gmail. com Check our bulletin board in the Siuslaw Library for meetings schedule and more about what we do. Blanket Drive for the homeless Habitat for Humanity Volunteers needed for new home construction, home repairs, general offi ce work, public relations and program administration. Join an operating committee and help Habitat help others! Call 541-902-9227 or e-mail to fl orencehabitat@gmail.com Offi ce located at 2004 HWY 101, Florence Helping Hands Coalition Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri • 12:30 AM - 1:30 PM New Life Lutheran Church, 2100 Spruce St, next to Foodshare Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60 Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood, PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org The Salvation Army-Western Lane County Col. Sam Spayd, Volunteer Kettle Coordinator P.O. Box 1041 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-991-6139 Us Too Florence Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net www.ustoofl orence.org Share the Th is winter, Th e Siuslaw News is having a blanket drive to help the homeless in our community. Please help us by donating new or gently used and clean blankets to the homeless. You may drop off your donated items at Th e Siuslaw News 148 Maple St. in Historic Old Town Florence Donations accepted until December 29th Siuslaw News Need more info? Call us at 541-997-3441 or visit our website, thesiuslawnews.com
