Akwesasne Addictions & Counselling Program; located in Kanonkwatsheri:io Health Facility Tel: 575-2341 Fax: 575-2346 Your right to privacy and confidentiality relating to your treatment is our main concern. AKWESASNE YOUTH COUNCIL The Akwesasne Addiction and Counselling Program promotes health lifestyles and supports a youth oriented prevention program called the "Akwesasne Youth Council". This group consists of young people from the Akwesasne Territory between the ages of 13-20 who meet weekly to share ideas and have fun. These are the goals the youth are working toward: Spirituality - To reaffirm their spirituality as the guiding force to bring about a healing within Native America. Unity - To instill within the youth the knowledge and desire to live in unity with themselves and the world. Environment - To teach youth to have an understaning, respect and sense of responsibility for th environment. Heritage - To instill in the youth a greater understanding of and respect for their rich and unique heritage. Family - To strengthen and support the family. Education - To provide each individual with the opportunity to attain a quality education. Health - To promote the mental and physical health of each individual. Sobriety - To promote lifestyles of sobriety. Service - To promote community services. ADDICTIONS COUNSELLING After initial contact, an assesment of the individual's problem is made. from there it is determined which steps are necessary to help the person in need. A four week motivational program is offered to ensure program completion and to help in getting beyond denial. A ten week educational program is offered to sho how addiction progresses to drugs and alcohol in the human body and mind. This is for individuals who are not addicted or those in the early stages of addiction. A twelve week aftercare profram is offered for those who complete in-patient treatment. A three month follow-up program is offered to support th eperson in thier recovery. PREVENTION This program promotes alcohol and drug education focusing on parents and youth. The program provides community education on healthy practises relating to alcohol and drugs, and the program also promotes individual anf community awareness on substace abuse and mental health issues. COUNSELLING The Akwesasne Addiction and Counselling program provides counselling on many levels. First, there is Individual Counselling where a patient is offered help on a one to one basis with a qualified therapist. Second there is Group Counselling. In these sessions, a group setting takes place which involves information and support sharing within the circle of other people who are experiencing the same problems. Third, there is a Family Counselling. The behavior of one person in a family affects all the members of that family. For every action, there is a reaction. Counselling is provided for children as well as adults. CLIENT ADVOCATE The client advocate is a person who can speak out in your support and your best interests. She/He will work with you to communicate with any agency and provide you with options of appropriate services which could best meet your needs; so if you've become frustrated trying to find the solution to your problem, the client advocate is the person to contact. Akwesasne Addiction and Counselling Program offers these services to Akwesasne for the health and well being of the community. Your health is our health. With a better understanding of what effects an addiction has on yourself, your family and your community, you will have a better chance of successfully defeating the problem. Counselling is the first step to changing your path in today's social climate and once you have defeated the problem, facing other challenges won't seem so hard.