Volume 3, No. 1 Winter 2015 “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” — Chief Seattle, 1854 Engaging and Empowering Native Youth Leaders INSIDE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Conference 1 Services Administration Conference Director’s Corner 2 Departments of Justice and Education Engages and Empowers Native Youth Release Correctional Education Guidance It is a good time to be young and Native. Philandrian Tree, a Native youth facilitator at Package 3 Nowhere was this more apparent than at the NYC and tribal & program liaison to Chair­ Culture Leads Native Youth 2014 SAMHSA Native Youth Conference (NYC), woman Mandy Metzger, District 4 Supervisor in Prevention 3 held November 17−19. The 3-day conference, Coconino County in Arizona, explains how the “Gen-I” Ambassadors Celebrated at White with participation of over 200 tribal representa­ young participants responded to the call to House Tribal Nations Conference 4 tives (nearly 125 Native youth) and 30 speakers share their views with high-level federal repre­ My Brother’s Keeper: A Year of Progress 4 from across the federal government, was the sentatives. “At first, many participants were NEW!! Native Youth Perspective 7 first SAMHSA cross-agency meeting to engage shy and kept to themselves. But by the end, Native youth in efforts to improve the health they were engaged and had a safe place to Why Youth Leadership? 7 and well-being of American Indian and Alaska express the truth of their experiences, which Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Youth Visit 8 Native communities. At the conference, youth was amazing to see.” Another Native youth Native Youth Honored by Secretary Jewell 9 shared their views on federal programs and facilitator at the conference, Maegan Ray, who Champion for Change Testifies 10 activities; shared their input for a national tribal works with Kauffman and Associates, Inc. and behavioral health agenda, and learned about the SAMHSA Tribal Training and Technical Resources 11 best practices supported by SAMHSA’s tribal Assistance Center, observed: “They brought Announcement & Events 12 grants. (continued on page 5) learning Indian songs were key to increas­ Tribal Law and Order Act The knowledge, Director’s Corner ing their sense of self and having wellness expertise, motivation, and passion within and balance Comprehensive programs and the OTAP team can be far reaching as we Dr. Marcella services designed to achieve balance culmi­ continue to build partnerships, respect nated from the study’s findings tribal sovereignty, increase awareness and “Marcy” Ronyak understanding of substance abuse and Director, Office of Leading Change in the Paschal misuse, and support the development of culturally specific prevention, interven­ Indian Alcohol and Sherman Indian School tion, treatment, and long term recovery Substance Abuse After working as a tribal psychologist for models the Colville Tribe, Dr Ronyak worked for the My goal is to lead through example, by Before she became the new Director of Paschal Sherman Indian School where she collaborating with federal partners to the Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance developed education models that incorpo­ provide tribes with outstanding technical Abuse (OIASA), Dr Marcy Ronyak realized rated psychological services for students assistance and resources that are unique how important mental health and well­ and families These services focused on to tribal communities Thinking outside ness are to Native communities and the addressing the underutilization of services of the box and incorporating the unique interrelatedness of the two health areas for Colville tribal members and determined needs of tribal communities can be accom­ in maintaining balance Her life’s work and what gaps existed to develop making posi­ plished in a variety of ways educational pursuits in clinical services tive services that would instill a sense of First and foremost, providing outstand­ provided insight into how her community hope ing customer service both internally and perceived mental health and wellness, As a result of her work, suspensions and externally will allow for the development and led to strategies for achieving holis­ expulsions went down and the number of of trusting relationships Our mission and tic health by bridging the spiritual and students being out of class decreased as goals lend itself to a multidisciplinary emotional sides with mental health students learned effective coping skills She approach, which is necessary to increase Dr Ronyak, a member of the Confeder­ also helped staff to better understand and awareness and implement culturally ated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in provide for student needs, which impacted specific prevention, treatment, and long­ Nespelem, Washington, has been provid­ their ability to learn term recovery modalities ing clinical services since 1997 She previ­ The holistic approach to healing will ously worked for the Colville Tribes as a A Desire to Make Impact empower tribes to implement cultural tribal psychologist for two separate terms, at the Policy Level specific programing, messaging, and treat­ and as an independent contractor provid­ ment to strengthen their communities ing clinical services to children and fami­ As a practitioner, Dr Ronyak understood The voices, beliefs, traditions, and cultural lies within the community It was in these that making more impact would mean respect within the tribal communities capacities that she first recognized a need making changes at the policy level that will drive the new energized workflow of for wrap-around services to improve the would cascade down As a practitioner, she OIASA in the upcoming year health and wellness of the community recognized limitations in what she could do Her desire to create meaningful, sustainable It is time to strengthen our tribal communi­ But it was her study of the Colville Tribe impact led her to the Office of Tribal Affairs ties through holistic healing, an enhanced while working on her doctorate degree and Policy (OTAP) She needed to go where definition of integrative behavioral health that qualitatively identified community policies were developed, reviewed and services, and strategic planning that needs around mental health and wellness updated to be able to make changes that accommodates the uniqueness of each The study, which involved tribal members would impact all levels Prior to becoming tribal community” 18 years of age and older indicated Director, she was the Alcohol and Substance emotional support, mental wellness, a Abuse Lead Public Health Advisor for the About Dr. Marcella Ronyak sense of self, physical wellness and spiri­ Indian Health Service (IHS), within the Divi­ Ph.D., LICSW, CDP tually as priorities for achieving balance sion of Behavioral Health (DBH) She consid­ in health and wellness Tribal members Dr. Marcella Ronyak received her doctorate degree ers being Director an honor and is looking in Counseling Psychology & Educational Leadership also noted that physical and traditional forward to building and strengthening from Washington State University in 2004 and activities made an impact on their mental partnerships completed her pre-doctoral internship with health and wellness Colorado State University Counseling Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. “This made me realize that there was a In a statement to OIASA staff, Dr. Ronyak high need to address mental health and states: She completed her Master of Social Work degree at wellness through increased resiliency,” “It is an honor to join the Substance Abuse Walla Walla College (University) in 1998 as a part of Dr Ronyak said “We wanted to increase the advanced standing program and was a recipient and Mental Health Services Administration of an Indian Health Service Scholarship in 1997-1998. the strength of balance within their lives, (SAMHSA), OTAP/OIASA team As Director of Dr. Ronyak received her Bachelor’s degree in social increase positive relationships, support the Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance work from Eastern Washington University in 1997. identification for connectedness to Abuse (OIASA), I am dedicated to continue cultural elements, which would lead to to build and strengthen the partnerships personal success, improve self-esteem, with the federal, state, regional, and local and hopefully reduce substance abuse communities within the community” As a leader, it is important to recognize the Study participants identified that involve­ strengths within our staff and federal part­ ment in tribal activities, such as attending ners to make the largest impact by align­ root feasts, berry picking, participating in ing resources, implementing innovative pow wows, dances, grave cleaning, and ideas, and fulfilling the requirements of the (continued on page 7) Prevention & Recovery 2 Winter 2015 Departments of Justice and Education Release Correctional Education Guidance Package to Improve Quality of Education Services for Confined Youth “All children—all children—deserve equal federal student aid eligibility for students access to a high-quality public education. And confined in adult correctional or juvenile this is no less true for children in the juvenile justice facilities, and answers to frequently justice system,” said the Former Attorney asked questions about the guidance package. General, speaking at the release event. In a letter to