LAC hears presentation on Sober Life Program

The Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council heard, at its monthly meeting Monday, a presentation on the Sober Life program and its possible expansion to Havre.

Dean Snow of Alliance for Youth in Great Falls spoke to LAC members about the program and explain what exactly it does.

He said it’s an organization started by people in recovery, for people in recovery, providing connection and purpose in the form of activities to help them on their journey.

He said the organization holds events like dance fitness classes, volleyball games, women empowerment events, as well as gathering to address the challenges of Native American people in recovery.

“I see people who come in with that initial fear, they’re scared, but if we can just get them into that first event they keep coming back,” Snow said. “… it changes them.”

He said the program is still operating on a shoestring budget, but a Building Communities Through Recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Health snd Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration could allow them to hire someone to work in Havre.

Snow was born on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and grew up in Chinook.

He said he’s spent a great deal of time in Havre and he thinks his organization can be of use to the community.

LAC Treasurer Darlene Sellers suggested that Snow get in contact with student services at Montana State University-Northern, which may benefit from his help.

“We have a huge problem with substance use on campuses,” she said.

Snow said his organization, upon receiving the SAMHSA grant and with the LAC’s approval, could start networking and building a core group of people in recovery in Havre who understand their needs, and the needs of others in the area struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, a group which tends to overlap with people dealing with mental health issues and trauma.

LAC members also suggested possible locations for the organization’s activities including the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line and The Bridge.

LAC Member Deirdre Reiter also suggested that he reach out to the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, which also works with people in recovery.

Snow said he appreciates the suggestions especially since people struggling with addiction are often stigmatized to the point where it becomes difficult to find a place willing to host events.

National Alliance for Mental Illness Havre President Crystal Laufer also provided an update on her organization’s activities, including Peer to Peer groups running Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m.

Laufer said she is also setting up a Family and Friends Class with Timber Creek Village Assisted Living Staff.

She said even with the completion of the organization’s conferences, she’s been keeping busy and anyone interested in setting up a class should get in touch.

Members also discussed the Service Area Authorities that LAC’s like them belong to.

LAC Chair Andi Daniel said she’s been thinking about ways to improve communication with the SAA’s.

Central Service Area Authority Chair Crystal Evans, who attended the meeting, said someone from the SAA is supposed to sit in on LAC meetings and bring information back to their own organization, but that hasn’t really been happening for the last two years.

A substantial increase in the CSAA’s funding was also discussed by LAC Member Curtis Smeby, who said it would help address a lot of issues the organization has been facing.

The LAC voted unanimously to join the Peer Advocacy and Leadership Project that they heard a presentation on last month by Montana Peer Network Executive Director Jim Hajny.

The project is aimed at getting people in-recovery from mental health, substance abuse or addiction struggles involved in local LACs.

LAC Members also discussed making official decisions on how to spend the funds received in a recent $20,000 grant.

Daniel said the check for the grant will be cut next week and the LAC needs to start making official decisions in preparation.

LAC Vice-Chair Amber Spring said she’s still working on getting in touch with local mental health care providers to put in the resource guide the organization is creating with the funds from the grant.

She said she thinks the student helping with the project should get a stipend of $9 an hour for her work, which will include more than the guide over the coming months.

LAC Board Members voted to approve paying this stipend with the grant, and Daniel said further use of the funds would be discussed by email.

Spring also said she’s working on setting up the Health Care Worker Fair discussed in previous meetings.

She said she talked with Career Services at Montana State University-Northern and they are looking for participants.