LAKE COUNTY — New Beginnings” “Million Dollar Baby Drive” continues. The effort is aimed at raising much needed funds for the organization as well as bringing awareness to the variety of services available in Lake County.
New Beginnings, the county”s sole provider of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment program for pregnant or parenting women, operates under the supervision of Lake County Community Action Agency (LCCAA). In 2009, the organizations teamed with the community open the first safe house ever established in Lake County for displaced teens.
“We are committed to making a difference one teenager at a time,” Janet Thomson, New Beginnings outreach provider said. “We are surrounded by chronic poverty, violence, child abuse, domestic violence and substance abuse. Multi-generational families lack the economic, emotional, social and educational resources to raise their children well. When children and parents feel desperate and depressed they often seek solace in substance abuse and high-risk behavior, fail in school and employment and perpetuate the cycle of poverty and despair.”
New Beginnings has maintained a partnership with the Konocti Unified School District for the past 10 years. Youth Services division programs include New Beginnings Highlands Campus and New Beginnings W.C. Carl? High School. “As part of our commitment, we have established a comprehensive and structured program, which provides education, behavioral/emotional counseling and participant accountability to individuals and their families,” Thomson said. “Through this partnership, the community has gained awareness to the alcohol and drug problems afflicting our youth today.”
Thomson said that the program began with eight students 10 years ago. She said it currently serves approximately 340 students throughout the community.
According to Highlands Campus Principal Carl Stewart, the students began to bound with New Beginnings counselors in such a profound way that when grades were given out or when a positive result happened due to their change in behavior, they ran to that counselor to share the joy of a job well done, Thomson said.
“These are the same students that in the first semester of school could not remain focused long enough to attain any grade,” Thomson said. “Our goal is to reach young people early in their development and hopefully provide them with tools that will allow them to become responsible adults who will make positive contributions to the community rather than become second, or even third or fourth generation addicts who remain lost in their addictions.”
Thomson said in 2004, community indicators of alcohol and drug abuse risks were identified by the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS). The system is designed to assist with county prevention planning and policy making. “This report confirmed the prevalence of alcohol and drug-related environmental problems in the community,” Thomson said. “Lake County youth start using substances early and heavily.”
Thomson said that 40.3 percent of Lake County users seeking treatment started using before the age of 15 years old. “Alcohol and drug use is driven by boredom, stress, access and a need for immediate relief of their circumstances,” she said. “Lake County”s population of 64,106, with a growth rate of 13 percent, was claimed last year to be the fastest growing county in California, so the problems are not likely to disappear.”
Laura Solis, of Lake County Mental Health Department, division of Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (AODS), and her staff have been instrumental in program success, providing support and encouragement with the growth of New Beginnings” youth services division ensuring the availability of wrap-around services. “The mission of AODS is to prevent and address alcohol and drug-related problems by promoting individual and community responsibility for an environment free of alcohol misuse and drug abuse,” Thomson said. “AODS has made a tremendous difference in the success of our prevention/treatment education services within the community.”
Thomson said that great progress in bonding and building trust has been realized at the Highlands Campus. She said John Hamner, a registered addiction specialist, introduced a program designed to assist male students who have lack a male role model at home. The “Walk Like a Man” program guides these students to feel comfortable within the group or individually allowing them to ask questions of areas they don”t understand. Hamner said he”s notices a great behavior improvement. “He is very confident that not one of the students will be left behind,” Thomson said.
Thomson said that donations to the “Million Dollar Baby Drive” will help ensure that programs like these continue in Lake County. Donation canisters have been places in various locations throughout the county. Canisters are located at Hardester”s Market in Middletown; Lake View Market in Nice; Food, Etc. in Clearlake; Euphoria in Clearlake Oaks; Kit”s Corner in Kelseyville; and Riviera Market in the Clearlake Riviera.
Business owners interested in hosing a canister should contact Thomson at 995-3235. Further donation information is available on New Beginnings” new Web site, www.newbeginningslake.com.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
