Poundmaker's readies St. Paul treatment center for opening

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With less than two months till opening day, staff at the Poundmaker Adolescent Treatment

Center in St. Paul are finding their days busy indeed.

Ruth Morin, director of the 30-bed facility, says the 20 to 25 staff required to operate the programs are undergoing intensive training.

"We have addictions training, adolescent treatment procedures, behavior management, suicide prevention and first aid," she says. As well trainees will be visiting other facilities like the Strathmore Youth Development Center. They will also be attending a conference in Edmonton in September called Healing Our Youth, which is sponsored by the parent organization, Poundmaker's Lodge in St. Albert.

"Selecting staff was not an easy job," says Morin. "Since we have to work together as a team we were very careful when talking to prospective employees."

The center was formerly known as St. Paul Corrections Center. "Our clients will come from the solicitor general's department, they'll be part of the justice system," explains Morin. "As well social services and the government of the Northwest Territories may be making referrals to us."

The clients will range in age from 12 to 17. A 90-day program will offer counseling and training in life skills, addictions and a fully accredited Alberta education curriculum for upgrading school subjects. The clients will also study culture, customs and spiritual values. The program is founded on the 12 steps used by Alcoholics Anonymous.

"We will have recreational therapy, too," Morin states. "We recognize young people have a lot of energy, so we plan on some dancing and other fun activities." Participants will receive group therapy as well as one-on-one counseling. "There will be one teacher for every six students in the school program."

The Native culture and spiritual values component of the program is important of the program is important to the clients' future success. "It is hard enough being an adolescent in today's world," says Morin. "But it's even harder being an Indian adolescent."

She notes some of the youngsters will not likely have been exposed to their culture before.

Native advisor Clifford Cardinal, a full-time staff member, will be responsible for this program.

"We want to have them leave here proud of the Native heritage," says Morin. "They need self-esteem to be successful once they return to their own communities."

Once the young people return home, some of the old problems may reappear , so the program stresses family involvement.

"We invite families for a one-week stay and discuss problem solving, working together and supporting the youth while they are in treatment," says Morin. If families can't attend for a full week, attendance over two weekends is possible.

A wilderness weekend is planned for the youth as well, where they will live exclusively off the land. "It will be just them and Mother Earth," laughs Morin.

The center will also use elders from neighboring reserves in their program. "We are in a fortunate situation here, where we have several Indian bands living in the area," says Morin. "As well we are linked up through an advisory committee with the county of St. Paul, the St. Paul friendship center, Sharon Steinhauer at AADAC in St. Paul and Theresa Cardinal from Saddle Lake." Susan Quinnery and Gary Gagnon are the community liaison workers.

The center will mark National Addictions Awareness Week but plans are uncertain. "We will have just opened a few weeks before and may not have a lot of input this year," she says. As well the focus of the program means they are concentrating on addictions awareness every day.

More information can be obtained by calling Morin at (403) 645-1884.