Making a Difference
Jan. 5, 2009 | Author: Bobby Dipasquale | No Comments »Linda Weinberg went where she wasn’t wanted and made a difference.
Suicide has been a major problem in Native American communities for decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicide rates among Native Americans have been more than double the general population. As recently as 2003, suicide was the second leading cause of violent death among Native Americans aged 19 or younger behind car accidents. In one tribe, three 12-year old girls committed suicide in a month.
“There are a lot of factors that can contribute to high Native American suicide rates,” Weinberg said. “There are problems with substance abuse, isolation, lack of employment, lack or resources, and the trouble of living in two worlds: Tribal and non-Tribal.”
Weinberg has been with Cenpatcio Arizona as Policy Developer for 3 ½ years. She knows and understands the problem suicide has been in the Tribes in her area and knew she had to help make a difference. “There was no prevention department,” Weinberg said. “There were no enrollment, and no diagnoses services in the tribal areas.”
Tribes can be very protective of their people and their lands. Outsiders aren’t always welcome or trusted; especially those who wish to discuss and help solve a very taboo problem like suicide. This is a fact not lost on Weinberg. “I had to be invited onto Native Lands,” she said. “I learned about each culture and made sure to be seen to prove that I could be trusted. People of any culture want to see that you want to learn and will keep your word. I had to learn who my supporters were and build upon those relationships.”
Weinberg was able to secure funds from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) for suicide prevention services for the Maricopa Ak-Chin and the San Carlos Apache Nations.
She identified the type of services the Maricopa Ak-Chin felt were needed and got permission to bring services in the form of Critical Incident Stress Management Training and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. She went to Columbia University for training to be able to teach Teen Screen to behavioral health and school personnel so they could screen youth who may be at risk for suicide and trained personnel who worked with youth from each the Maricopa Ak-Chin, San Carlos Apache, and Gila River Pima Tribes.
At San Carlos, Weinberg works closely with the Wellness Center and the Vice Chair of Tribal Council to identify services to meet the Tribal needs and has contracted for training of school personnel, detention center staff, behavioral health, housing department and other Tribal Departments. She also contracts with the Tribe for a public education campaign, the training of caregivers (including all materials) and works with the Tribe on infrastructure development for more staff to be trained to conduct suicide prevention training and debriefing after a critical incident.
In part because of Weinberg’s work, Native American Suicide rates in Arizona dropped below the state mean for the first time in Arizona history. In September 2008 Weinberg was awarded for her works with the Native American Suicide Prevention/MBrace Life Award.
“Change takes a long time,” Weinberg said “When you see the stats and see the changes in a community … rewarding isn’t a big enough word to describe the feeling.”
This entry is filed under Close Up.
Cenpatico’s new Medical Director enjoys adventure. It’s that sense of adventure that helped Dr. Bernard T. Engelberg, M.D. decide to move his family from Albany, NY to Austin, TX. “I’d heard so many great things about Austin, but once I visited, I fell in love with it. It more than fit my imagination, even with the over 100 degree heat. If you can enjoy a city then, you know it’s a great city,” said Dr. Engelberg. The Doctor’s family; wife Ligaya, daughter Carina, and son Kevin, are also looking forward to the move. “They’re excited,” Dr. Engelberg said. “My son is even looking at possibly applying at the University of Texas or Rice.”