Pine River Shares and Southern Colorado Community Action Agency are joining forces to develop strategies on how to aid those dealing with substance use and other issues in the rural communities of Bayfield, Ignacio, Vallecito, Tiffany, Allison, Arboles and Sam Brito.
The strategies will address long-standing substance use issues among other concerns in those rural areas, and the lack of prevention or intervention programs as a result of remote location inaccessibility. The partnership between Pine River Shares and SoCoCAA was orchestrated by Lori Niewold, SoCoCAA’s executive director, who began to see the need in the rural communities of La Plata County for substance use services beyond what was currently available, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted Niewold and SoCoCAA to take action.
“I wrote a grant proposal,” Niewold said, “with the help of West Slope Casa and received funding from Colorado’s Office of Behavioral Health.”
The $11,000 funding is helping to pay for the dialogue sessions Pine River Shares is holding in the rural, 275-square-mile area of La Plata County including Bayfield, Ignacio, Vallecito, Tiffany, Allison, Arboles and Sam Brito. The funding will additionally pay for meals for those in attendance and a stipend for those running the sessions.
“The only place we’re not holding sessions is in Durango,” Niewold said. “This is solely for people in rural areas who cannot get to Durango. If you don’t have enough money to feed yourself, you don’t have enough money to get to Durango for treatment.”
Pine River Shares Executive Director Pam Wilhoite explained the roles each organization will have going forward.
“The community dialogue sessions are a joint project,” Wilhoite said. “SoCoCAA runs their drug and alcohol substance use program, and they wanted to use Pine River Shares format of getting communities together, since they’re so spread out, in order to address the barriers community members have toward their well-being and overall health, whether that’s parents struggling with drug abuse, lack of access to food, or transportation issues, etc.”
Pine River Shares, a constituent-led, community-outreach organization, will hold each dialogue session in a different location, with transportation available to those who might not otherwise be able to make the journey, with the intention of encouraging group discussions and feedback.
“We’re hoping to increase collective power in these communities,” said Wilhoite, “so that we can bring about healthy change. We’re inviting people impacted by substance use.”
Wilhoite said participants don’t have to divulge personal information but rather reflect more broadly on the specific harms personally affecting their communities and what they would like to see in terms of change.
“We’re especially looking at how to help the most vulnerable in each community: senior citizens, the disabled, etc,” Wilhoite said. “We want to look at strategies and action plans specifically designed for them.”
“SoCoCAA has a program called Peaceful Spirit that provides many services for those suffering substance use issues,” Niewold said. “We have individual counseling, DUI therapy, alcohol and drug use testing and counseling. These community dialogue sessions led by Pine River Shares will help us evaluate where we need to provide or extend services, like with opioid or methamphetamine addiction.”
Another goal for both organizations is to continue collecting the data they receive from the sessions into 2023, before presenting it to each community in order to address their findings and receive feedback on future action, including preventions and interventions.
“We’ll be looking at common themes across the board,” Wilhoite said, “and interpret the data. We’re hoping it helps us better understand what we as organizations need to do to help them thrive.”
The sessions will begin from 5:45 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Bayfield, and then move to Vallecito from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 3, before covering the Tiffany, Allison, Arboles, and Sam Brito areas on Nov. 10, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Those interested in participating are encouraged to call 884-6040, and those who need transportation to the sessions can call 563-4545 to reserve a ride.
molsen@durangoherald.com
