grpc
The Gila River Prevention Coalition, during a span of three years, has garnered unprecedented momentum in combining resources to combat social problems at Gila River. Its mission is “To promote cultural pride and strength in wellness.” Three topics hit hardest by the Coalition concern substance abuse, suicide prevention, and underage drinking.
Talia Porter, D4, Department of Human Services Prevention Specialist, serves as chair of the Coalition. Porter’s job duties and responsibilities as a DHS employee mirror those of what the Coalition espouses.
By February, Porter will have successfully completed her first year as chair. Her distribution list hits 120 addresses. Meetings average 25 to 30 attendees who cover a multitude of disciplines from gang prevention to elder care to family planning.
Networking and linking resources has become the new norm and the Coalition serves as the umbrella. Collectively, Gila River employs hundreds of individuals in the behavioral health and ancillary service related fields. Combined, at least 30 programs spend millions annually.
“DHS has always been at the table,” said Hilary Cummings, Executive Director of Education Outside the Box. Cummings oversees a $500,000 three-year Coalition grant funded by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Child, Youth, and Family Services entitled Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant whose mission is to fund substance abuse prevention efforts in communities where services will most benefit its members.
DHS, formerly known as ADAP, or the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, employs a staff of 130. DHS provides intensive treatment services at Districts 3, 5, and 6.
DHS’ crown jewel is the Residential Treatment Center, which opened its doors in 2007 and provides inpatient, detoxification, and transitional living care. The RTC is located on 40 acres near Lone Butte in D6 and accommodates up to 82 adults. In certain cases, minor children can accompany family members.
Often times, clients are mandated by the courts to attend outpatient counseling sessions. Demand for treatment is high. DHS recently added a youth services component that offers evening counseling sessions. Porter said parents sometimes approach DHS personnel with questions about signs of use or questions about ways to handle situations. A fe w voluntarily seek assistance.
Cummings, whose work also takes her to nearby communities, said she recently encountered an incident where a grade school kid was found with soda pop mixed with whiskey. Times have changed so much so that Porter said she has had to tailor her curriculum to include 0 to 6 years of age.
Porter said, “Instead of expelling that student for a number of days, we have students sign a behavior contract, which sets out written remedies. We want some day to have the record follow the student so that there will be less falling through the cracks. We want the School Resource Officers to know what they are facing . . . but we jump ahead. There are many things we want to set up, like a youth coalition,” said Porter.
Behavioral health service providers see and hear extraordinary experiences. Children often cannot decipher detrimental living conditions and are prone to adopt similar behaviors if not addressed early, said Porter.
Ninety percent of domestic violence calls are drug related. The Pinal County Medical Examiner, Dr. Rebecca M. Hsu, spoke at a recent meth awareness session held at the Boys and Girls Club in D3. The High Intensity Drug Area vehicle parked outside the Club. The vehicle is kid-friendly and serves as a holding place when a meth bust goes down.
Dr. Hsu’s frank discussion and images of trauma and death attributed to illicit drugs or alcohol abuse was a graphic revelation to attendees. Porter said the Coalition hopes to continue to include this side of the spectrum to get the abuse and anti-use message out. Porter also said the ME welcomed the standing invitation to speak before GRIC audiences.
Porter said, “We also had ER nurses and dental assistants there. They’re the first to see [the ravages of drug use].”
On a related note, Porter said the Community Council recently increased the budget for indigent burial assistance administered by the Department of Tribal Social Services. They are planning, Porter said. “It is sad, but the increased budget award is due to per capita,” referring to possible increase in deaths due to criminal activity or auto accidents during payout time.
Porter recognizes that Coalition efforts are supported by the Council and went on to specifically name Arzie Hogg and Auggie Enas, D1; Jewel Whitman, D2; Myron Schurz, D3; John Antone, D4; and Devin Redbird, D7. Porter also said that the Gila Buttes subdivision block party was emceed by Malcom Eschief, D4.
Being a newcomer to the GRIC, Cummings observed that the seven Districts have their individual ways to operate and more or less performed independently from one another. However, at a recent block party, she noticed residents from other Districts and employees attend and participate in Coalition activities. ‘They crossed borders,’ she said. Porter said, “Soon after DPW leveled the trash between houses, the kids quickly turned the fresh ground into a play area,” referring to the Coalition’s inaugural block party held at Blackwater.
According to Porter, efforts of the Coalition received the attention of the higher ups at the federal level. “Anyone who is in behavioral health knows of SAMHSA,” referring to US DHHS Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration. SAMHSA funds the Indian Country Methamphetamine Initiative of which the Coalition is a partner. The Coalition recently was awarded a $50,000 grant for an antimethamphetamine campaign.
Additionally, Porter said that SAMHSA sponsored 10 teenagers to experience a stint at college life at the University of New Mexico-Las Cruces. Porter drove a rented van to Las Cruces where the students stayed on campus and participated in a week long National Indigenous Youth Leadership Camp. “The kids were great. We had no problems. We chose outstanding kids who we thought would never have this kind of opportunity.”
Often times prevention criteria crisscross systems. “At one point I counted six people from GRIC at the same training, said Cummings. Someone from the Law Office who works with domestic violence matters, and someone from the Probation Dept. was there. It just makes sense to pull together,” said Cummings. Family Night will be held on Wed., Jan. 27, 2009 at D7, which, according to Cummings, is the “2.0 version” of their block parties. D1 will host theirs on Wed., Feb. 24. “We want to encourage families to participate. Everyone has a role,” said Cummings.
An intensive two-day suicide prevention training “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training,” will be held free of charge to participants on February 23, 24 and March 9, 10. The New Beginnings Building is on campus of HuHuKam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton. For more information, contact Gila River Behavioral Health at 520/562-3321 x 7031.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
