Professional:
I graduated from the U of U with a major in Psychology and a minor in English.
I am licensed as a bachelor-level Social Service Worker and Substance Use Disorder Counselor. I started at Southwest Behavioral Health Center in the LAST CENTURY (1999)! At first, I worked with families in the Frontier Counties Wraparound Project. We taught “Love and Logic” parenting classes and the school programs “Second Step” and “Why Try.” The original Wraparound Project contained many elements of good prevention, and we worked closely with schools and other agencies. I originally collaborated with the Prevention Specialist, Sandy Brauer, at the Beaver Office, and then Ronda Hutchings took her place. She and I got together with 4H and made up a summer social-skills group called “FunLinks.” It was a chance for kids that might not normally join 4H to have fun, make friends and go to day camp in our beautiful Tushar Mountains. After that grant ended, I continued as a Case Manager for our mental health clients and was certified to teach the Prime for Life education program for DUI offenders. That led me into work with the outpatient substance recovery classes which I helped facilitate first in Beaver, then in Garfield and Kane County where I also worked with Drug Court. I was certified in Moral Reconation Training, and have been teaching that program ever since – at least until I switched teams in July!
I graduated from the U of U with a major in Psychology and a minor in English.
I am licensed as a bachelor-level Social Service Worker and Substance Use Disorder Counselor. I started at Southwest Behavioral Health Center in the LAST CENTURY (1999)! At first, I worked with families in the Frontier Counties Wraparound Project. We taught “Love and Logic” parenting classes and the school programs “Second Step” and “Why Try.” The original Wraparound Project contained many elements of good prevention, and we worked closely with schools and other agencies. I originally collaborated with the Prevention Specialist, Sandy Brauer, at the Beaver Office, and then Ronda Hutchings took her place. She and I got together with 4H and made up a summer social-skills group called “FunLinks.” It was a chance for kids that might not normally join 4H to have fun, make friends and go to day camp in our beautiful Tushar Mountains. After that grant ended, I continued as a Case Manager for our mental health clients and was certified to teach the Prime for Life education program for DUI offenders. That led me into work with the outpatient substance recovery classes which I helped facilitate first in Beaver, then in Garfield and Kane County where I also worked with Drug Court. I was certified in Moral Reconation Training, and have been teaching that program ever since – at least until I switched teams in July!
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Hobbies:
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Personal:
I am originally from Oklahoma, spent my childhood in Laredo, Texas, finished high school in Idaho and came to college at the U. I met my hubby through an ad in a Salt Lake paper “City Weekly.” It started with “Wanted, a woman who runs with the wolves.” At that time, I was reading a book by that title and also “relief keeping” in the wolf exhibit, so it was fate! He’s a geologist, and his work on a project in Beaver County brought us here. That’s the short story. The longer story includes how my Southwest Center job connected me with USU’s extension coordinator for “Youth and Families with Promise.” She asked my husband and me to mentor a brother and sister, both of whom we later adopted. Now our kiddos are in their 30’s, and we have 5 grandchildren!
I am originally from Oklahoma, spent my childhood in Laredo, Texas, finished high school in Idaho and came to college at the U. I met my hubby through an ad in a Salt Lake paper “City Weekly.” It started with “Wanted, a woman who runs with the wolves.” At that time, I was reading a book by that title and also “relief keeping” in the wolf exhibit, so it was fate! He’s a geologist, and his work on a project in Beaver County brought us here. That’s the short story. The longer story includes how my Southwest Center job connected me with USU’s extension coordinator for “Youth and Families with Promise.” She asked my husband and me to mentor a brother and sister, both of whom we later adopted. Now our kiddos are in their 30’s, and we have 5 grandchildren!
Why I chose prevention:
I have seen a lot of loss on the treatment side of things. The metaphor of the stream works well because there is a cascading effect where one problem leads to others – like alcohol abuse causes depression which causes other issues. Loss of drivers’ licenses and wrecked cars leads to loss of jobs, money, homes, etc. . . . and the rapids build and sweep people along. They lose friends, family, love, peace of mind, time and eventually themselves as some go over the waterfall. Thankfully, many people swim to shore or get pulled out by rescuers. Recovery works and people can live well, but some continue to struggle with relapses. It’s heartbreaking to witness what could have been prevented.
When I started traveling to Panguitch about ten years ago, Melissa Veater invited me to a “free lunch” at her Panguitch Community Coalition. Something clicked, and I wanted to be a part of it. Being a member of her team has taught me a lot about the science of Prevention. As I look ahead, I truly want to “work upstream.” Everything is connected and living free of substance misuse prevents so many downstream issues, and as Verne Larsen says, “Prevention is prevention is prevention.”
I have seen a lot of loss on the treatment side of things. The metaphor of the stream works well because there is a cascading effect where one problem leads to others – like alcohol abuse causes depression which causes other issues. Loss of drivers’ licenses and wrecked cars leads to loss of jobs, money, homes, etc. . . . and the rapids build and sweep people along. They lose friends, family, love, peace of mind, time and eventually themselves as some go over the waterfall. Thankfully, many people swim to shore or get pulled out by rescuers. Recovery works and people can live well, but some continue to struggle with relapses. It’s heartbreaking to witness what could have been prevented.
When I started traveling to Panguitch about ten years ago, Melissa Veater invited me to a “free lunch” at her Panguitch Community Coalition. Something clicked, and I wanted to be a part of it. Being a member of her team has taught me a lot about the science of Prevention. As I look ahead, I truly want to “work upstream.” Everything is connected and living free of substance misuse prevents so many downstream issues, and as Verne Larsen says, “Prevention is prevention is prevention.”
