November 25, 2003

 

To:       Attendees

From:    Gayle

 

Wellness meeting

 

Paul Verhagen	Rita Pierce	Josh Titus
Bear Ketzler	Gary Edwin	Merrily Verhagen
Lois Law	Pattie Adkisson	Nita Marks
Traci Wiggins	Jason Mayrand	Shelly Citron
Gayle Ramey	Endil Moore	Mona Douglas
Alvina Fowler	Jason Moore	Chris Sunnyboy

 

Bear – Our Wellness group should try to bring together all segments of our community that deal with youth issues to coordinate efforts.

 

Alvina –

§         Gave a report on the High Risk Kids Workshop.

§         Include local youth in our planning efforts.

§         Mentors – a possible mentor program - each mentor would have 5-10 youth for a one year period. Mentor would attend school functions and be available to talk. At the end of the year the mentor and youth would meet to discuss the results and how effective the mentor program was.

§         Adults have unrealistic expectations that youth have the skills needed to follow rules with out any guidance.

§         Parents need more education on parenting and how to learn more accurate facts regarding their kids.

§         Youth grieve all the time weather about seemingly small issues to very important issues.

§         We need to sponsor a youth rally to show our youth they really are an important part of the community.

§         Alvina has been approached about starting an AA group.

 

Paul – We have two new members to the Wellness group Josh Titus and Jason Moore.  They will be working on a plan to help our local youth achieve wellness and will be attending at least 3 wellness meetings.

 

Paul also gave a report on a court-related conference that he attended. Pin pointed problems:

§         There is a lack of support for individuals after they leave treatment facilities which results in failures.

§         There is a lack of actual bed space for inpatient treatment.

§         #3?

 

 

Chris –

§         The dance group is having a fundraiser on December 4^th 6:00 PM dinner and auction. Chris is looking for items to auction.

§         Will Mayo is willing to come to Nenana to start a faith based health group ‘ Wellness Warriors’. He will be at our December 9^th meeting.

§         Nenana School will be having Cultural Days on December 17^th and 18^th and Chris needs artists to teach cultural activities.

§         There will be drummer makers here on December 19^th and 20^th to make drums with/for the dance group.

 

 

Lois – Tisha Simmons the director Ch’eghutsen program would like to help start a Nenana Youth Group she will be at our December 2^nd meeting.

 

Lois also talked about the need to coordinate all groups and organizations to make sure we fill any gaps and do not duplicate efforts.  We need to make sure all organizations are aware of any local resources that they should or could incorporate into their programs. A need to put all information in a resource paper.

 

Paul – Talked about the lack of options as to where he can send people other than Fairbanks Corrections Facility. Many times a ‘good’ person commits a dangerous act while under the influence and his options a very limited. Paul suggested that maybe Jason Mayrand or Endil Moore could be instrumental in helping to get electronic monitoring equipment.

 

§         Endil will report at next meeting on ‘sars’ electronic tracing device.

§         Bear will report on other electronic monitoring equipment as to cost and availability.

 

Traci –

§         Commented on Paul’s expertise in the court while dealing with youth and how well the wellness group treated a youth visitor at a November meeting.

§         It is Christmas basket time again and Traci RMH needs a list of needy families, volunteers, donations and new toys.

§         Kat McElroy has purchased a house in Nenana.

§         RMH received a FAS grant to educate and diagnose.

 

Ralph Lindquist – The NSLC is putting together a committee to look at policy and procedures regarding NSLC discipline. The committee will meet December 1^st at 7:00 PM in the Lynx Den to organize, set goals and define rolls.

 

Endil – Reported that Birthday calendars are available.

 

Gary – Reported that over 57% of high school students are on the honor roll.

 

There was a consensus that there is a need for a 100 bed in patient treatment facility with local after care housing both in Nenana and the need to help establish after care drug and alcohol free housing in other villages. We need to do research to make sure it will be financial do able.  Where will the money come from to pay for the patient treatment.

 

Next meeting December 2nd same time same place!