Osage Nation Counseling Center is accredited with 3-year CARF Certification

NEWS RELEASE

New leadership and hard work pay off for program and clients

By A.M. Jefferson, Osage Nation Photojournalist

Osage Nation, Pawhuska, Okla. (May 4, 2015)—In writing class one thing stressed was to avoid using clichés. Be original. Be creative. But, every now and then, some of those adages simply carry a good lesson, thought or meaning.

One that comes to mind is how work is its own reward. This for many people is probably true. Work requires commitment, physical and/or mental exertion, and time. Once you have invested yourself, the outcome should be gratifying. There are always disappointments and one has to accept that sometimes the outcome may fall short of the desired end result. This is where WA-SHKON^, the Osage word for “do your best” comes in. If you did your best, you know it, and you move on.

However, when we know others have worked hard and achieved good things, we want to do a little bragging. This is the case with the Osage Nation Counseling Center (ONCC). Director Brooke Ashlock and her staff were awarded the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the next three years; the highest one given. And what is important about this endorsement per CARF International, an “independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services” is that, “through accreditation, CARF assists service providers in improving the quality of their services, demonstrating value, and meeting internationally recognized organizational and program standards.”

Director Ashlock emphasized that any agency in the field of behavioral health and drug and alcohol wants CARF certification. It is basically a stamp that says your program is good; it makes you able to do treatment.

The clients of ONCC are Native American and come from all walks of life from all areas of the United States; not just Osages nor from only Osage County. Clients come for this program. They come for the cultural aspect included. Ashlock stated, “If you have CARF, you can be open to provide services to Native American people that are needing help with addictions.”

So while CARF is great news for Ashlock and her team, it is better news for the clients who can expect to receive exceptional treatment.

What Clients can expect from ONCC

Individuals check in for a 45-day treatment program with licensed and certified counselors. Ashlock said of her staff, “We really have an awesome team right now. I’m really, really excited about our team and what we’re doing here. They care. They want to help the clients.” This is imperative because the clients by undertaking this treatment basically walk away from their families, jobs and lives. They give up their freedom.

It is not easy. Clients come to ONCC for various reasons. Some individuals may be there by court order; others because they are seeking help. Ashlock said, “I don’t think anyone is hopeless.” But they know that for some people it can take up to three times in rehab. ONCC sees between 60 and 65 clients per year.

When a client leaves the program, ONCC staff does not just send him or her off and move on to the next person. Of course, the personnel are paid a salary and that is why many of us work. Another cliché which comes to mind is that this is not just a 9 to 5 job. ONCC operates 24/7, the staff and its director are on-call, day and night. These individuals have gone to school for this line of work. They chose this field. It is their passion to serve these clients. Brooke Ashlock, has been a social worker for the past fifteen years.

ONCC will help a client leave an environment that is detrimental to his or her recovery. There are services available to assist.

The Cultural Aspect of ONCC

The sweat is a favorite of the clients and is directed by staff members. Vann Bighorse, Director of the Wahzhazhe Cultural Center provides clients with traditional crafts and a type of story time, teaching them about Osage history. It does not matter that the clients are members of different Indian nations. As Ashlock explained, “… [we] put back that cultural piece, back into their life if they’ve lost it through the use of drug and alcohol.” For many the opportunity to involve themselves in Native culture allows them to pull from Native American “strengths to get through stuff.”

The clients also like to be active. Depending on the time of the year and what events the Osage Nation is occupied with, clients might assist in preparations such as the Red Ribbon Dance in October. In June, individuals will attend the In-Lon^-Schka.

Individuals also learn from one another. They share details about their culture. Unless you are Native, it can be difficult to understand that there is a need within one to learn and know something Native.

Perspectives and Taking Care of Today

The Osage Nation in the past year is under new leadership, and ONCC in less than a year has also undergone a transformation of its organization leadership. While there are many components to the upgrade in ONCC services and business practices, as CARF International pointed out in the survey of the program, there were two items which stand out.

One is the transparency the new leadership has brought to the program. Director Ashlock has put an emphasis on accountability and the implementation of current best practices for substance abuse treatment.

Second is the staff. Many of them are also new to the program, but as previously stated, they are each qualified counselors.

In order to apply for CARF, the staff and leadership of ONCC worked for four, grueling months to prepare for the week-long survey while at the same time administering to the needs of their clients. The program has made a total turn around in its operation.

The negative and the past are things which do not go away. Clients of ONCC have to deal with this in their lives and recovery. ONCC, which has had bad press in the past, is focused on the present and continuing forward. Perspectives sometimes can be other peoples’ problems. The new coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Billy Donovan, may have said it best when he told a reporter when asked about winning a title his first year, “… we need to take care of today.”

Always remember in case of an emergency call 9-1-1.

ONCC 24-hour Crisis Line is 1-800-897-4747.

To learn more about ONCC visit the Osage Nation website at www.osagenation-nsn.gov.

For media inquiries contact Osage Nation Communications Department at 918-287-5599.