Good Samaritan
Dear Editor: I am an 85-year-old man here in Sitka. I was driving into town with my wife when I started choking. I pulled into a parking lot near Swan Lake and out of nowhere, this young lady saw what was wrong. She jumped in and saved my life!
I’m sorry I don’t remember her name. Thanks is NOT ENOUGH! I’m just glad I live in Sitka and proud to be one of you!
Gene Newcomb, Sitka
Requests
Dear Editor: Request for support and involvement.
My name is Loyd Platson and I am the prevention director at Sitka Counseling, as well as the Healing Our People and Environment Coalition director.
Sitka Counseling-HOPE Coalition has partnered with several community individuals and organizations since the coalition’s inception in 2015. These partnerships have helped develop, design, guide and implement comprehensive substance misuse prevention programs and activities in our community, both within and outside of the school setting.
These partnerships have allowed us to collect valuable information regarding youth substance use patterns and trends as well as apply for and receive state and federal grants to support prevention efforts in our community. Since the coalition’s beginning, we have brought in over $1,521,821 into the community to support substance misuse prevention efforts. Currently we have a state grant which provides $150,000 per year and a national grant which provides $125,000 per year (plus an additional $125,000 of our own in-kind match per year). We are now in the process of re-applying for an additional five years of National Drug Free Communities funding which will provide $125,000 per year in prevention funding (plus an additional $125,000 of our own in-kind match per year).
Part of the application process requires us to have 12 sectors of the community engaged in the coalition. Those 12 sectors are: youth, parents, law enforcement, schools, businesses, media, youth-serving organizations, religious and fraternal organizations, civic and volunteer groups, health care professionals, state, local, and tribal agencies with expertise in substance abuse, and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse.
We are requesting any individual or organization interested in supporting our youths and young adults through prevention programs to contact us. We are especially needing parents and youths to be a part of the coalition/prevention program.
We are setting aside $5,000 specifically for a youth component of the coalition in which they decide on how to use the money for youth prevention efforts. Youth leaders may also be able to attend state and national leadership conferences related to prevention (at no cost).
For more information and/or to sign up to be a part of this worthwhile program, contact me at 907-747-3636 ext. 226 or lplatson@scpsak.org.
Loyd Platson, Sitka Counseling
AmeriCorps Week
Dear Editor: My name is Alaina Sokolski, and I serve with Sitka AmeriCorps at Sitka Counseling and Prevention. I began my service in August 2021 after moving from Philadelphia. After graduating from La Salle University last May with a degree in Computer Science, I was stuck on what I wanted to pursue post-graduation. As appealing as a tech job was, it seemed like so much of my college experience had been hijacked by COVID-19. I was not quite ready to begin my journey down that road. After a lot of reflection, I decided that dedicating the next year to serving with AmeriCorps would be the perfect opportunity to explore and give back to a unique community.
Serving at Sitka Counseling has opened my eyes to so many of the ways that mental health can affect youths. Though I have had previous experience working with kids, I was not familiar with specific therapeutic approaches to trauma. Through the experiences I’ve had, I’ve developed a deeper sense of empathy, understanding, and communication that will be endlessly beneficial in both my personal and professional life.
I find that often there is a stigma around mental health and it is not taken as seriously as physical health. Though it is not an easy field, it is by far the most rewarding. The clients that I work with have changed my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a safe outlet for them.
Working with such a close and welcoming community has been nothing short of wonderful. Thank you to Sitkans who have made these service positions with AmeriCorps possible, and for all your support.
Alaina Sokolski,
AmeriCorps Volunteer
