counseling

Headlines, both regionally and nationally are full of the message: Opioid addiction is sweeping the country and its out of control. With the death of musical artist Prince of an opioid overdose, the stigma of the addiction to strong prescription pain pills has been erased. It isn't a poor person's problem, it isn't an unemployed person's problem, it isn't a metropolitan problem. It is a problem in South Lake Tahoe, Reno, the west and the whole country.

The third annual Mental Health Forum in South Lake Tahoe today brought together almost 60 people who are dedicated to helping the mental and behavioral health in the community.

Hosted by Barton Health, this year's forum participants shared the progress they've made on strategies for mental health and local service gaps that were generated during the 2015 event.

Jeanne Nelson from the South Lake Tahoe chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) was very pleased with the outcome Thursday.

When Nick Arbelaez moved to South Lake Tahoe with his fiancee Stephanie Shamo, he was taking the Assistant Soccer Coach position at LTCC and she was headed to Barton Health.

After Head Coach Ben Wade and LTCC parted ways mid-season, Arbelaez stepped in as interim head coach, leading the Coyotes to the final four for California Community Colleges.

At Tuesday's board meeting, Arbelaez was introduced to the trustees along with
other coaches and volunteers that have helped both the men's and women's soccer teams have early successes in the young programs.

Tahoe Youth & Family Services has been the recipient of some truly amazing kindness from the community in the last few months.

In a community with many needs, the Barton Foundation today donated $35,500 to ten different agencies that provide services to the residents of South Lake Tahoe during their annual Philanthropy Day. For the seventh year, the Barton Foundation gave away money raised through their annual fundraising efforts which include the annual Festival of Lights.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, 2015. This enrollment period is one of the few times Medicare beneficiaries can change, enroll into or disenroll from, a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO) or a Part D drug plan. Changes to plans will be effective January 1, 2016.

Tahoe Turning Point is holding a charity golf tournament on September 17, 2015 at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course.

The agency has been serving the community since 1980 with five residential group homes for youth ages 13-18, counseling services for children, adults and families, as well as transitional housing programs for foster youth.

For $125 players will receive a round of golf at Lake Tahoe Golf Course, breakfast buffet, on course lunch, BBQ after playing, and awards.

Sign up on their website, or call 530-541-4594.

Students at South Tahoe High and South Tahoe Middle schools now have an option to the normal suspension process thanks to the Brief Intervention Program (BIP) developed by the South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition.

In the past, students would be sent home for three days when suspended for having, or being under the influence, drugs or alcohol while at school. In many instances this method was looked at as a few days vacation with little, or no, opportunity to learn from their errors.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and the Mental Health Collaborative have declared May 10 to 16, Mental Health Awareness Week. Throughout the week, public events and articles, like the one below, will highlight “Each Mind Matters” in South Lake Tahoe.

According to California’s Mental Health Movement and the Centers for Disease Control, half of us will experience a mental health concern in our lifetime.

Knowing that not all South Lake Tahoe kids plan on heading to a four-year college, John McDougall wanted to help those students find their vocational path.

And he is accomplishing this in two ways: Pay it Forward Scholarships and with a High School Mentoring Program.

"I'm helping kids that are taking the vocational path," said the 1972 South Tahoe high graduate.

The tributes and memories of Dejon Smith continue to pour in via Facebook and media outlets as well as through much desired hugs.

South Tahoe High had counselors on hand Monday during the school day, helping students deal with grief. The death of 14 year old freshman Dejon Smith has affected not only his friends and classmates but also unknown people around the country.

"This was the best school assembly ever," said a South Tahoe High Junior after hearing youth motivational speaker Mike Smith on campus Wednesday. "His message was amazing."

Smith spoke of how the words that you say can leave a mark on someone’s life forever. And if you’re a bully, that mark is a scar.

The 2014 Fall Aging & Caregiver Series will be given for the next six weeks in South Lake Tahoe. This six week series of classes are designed to provide instruction and support for caregivers who are, or are planning to, care for a family member or friend age 60 or older.

All classes are held at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel (formerly Embassy Suites) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must register by calling 530-621-6369 or 800-510-2020. Free in-Home respite is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.

Guidance and Planning for Success, or as it's known on campus, GPS, is a new state mandated program that requires all students at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) to complete a new student orientation, take Math and English assessment tests so they are placed in courses that match their needs, and to work one-on-one with an LTCC counselor on a personalized Educational Plan prior to enrollment.

GPS is required for both new and returning students.

The Tahoe Youth and Family Services Board of Directors has announced that Christopher Croft will take the position as the agency's new Executive Director. Croft comes to TYFS from Tacoma, Washington where he was the Family Division Director of The Rescue Mission, a non-profit agency that provides shelter, counseling and meals for homeless men, women and children.

The South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts (STAR) has spent the last several months spreading good cheer to local non-profits. They gave Christmas Cheer All Year $5,000 prior to the holidays and have now given both Tahoe Youth and Family Services and Live Violence Free $5,000.

The El Dorado County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is offering free assistance to all Medicare beneficiaries in El Dorado County during Medicare's Annual Election Period that starts October 15, 2013 and ends December 7, 2013.

Several Lake Tahoe area nonprofit organizations and agencies will receive financial aid this year through partnerships announced Monday by the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

The partnerships are aimed to address issues identified in each of the Lake Tahoe area communities, said Karen Barsell, CEO and president of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

Women have a new choice for their health care in South Lake Tahoe with the grand opening of Barton Women’s Health offering obstetrics, gynecological and infertility services. OB/GYN physician, John Missanelli, DO, joins longtime family nurse practitioner, Patience Wenck, MSN, at Barton Women’s Health which opens on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Conveniently located across from Barton Memorial Hospital and Barton’s Family Birthing Center at 2175 South Avenue, Barton Women’s Health features a newly remodeled office. Barton Women’s Health offers complete women’s care services including:

All are invited to a ribbon cutting and book signing to celebrate the centers years of success and community service, and a newly published book. Ray Goodenough and his daughter Kathy Rem recently co-authored a book entitled “Parallel Journeys.”

After 33 years of separation, the two were reunited and in this book they compare stories and realize what an incredible parallel journey they have undergone.

“Empowerment” is the premise of Barton Health's Community Advisory Committee (CAC). After careful evaluation of 19 grant applications, nine-non-profits recently received $24,000 in grants from the CAC. Through these grants, the CAC is able to “empower” area community programs with funding to help close the health gaps and address health issues within the community.

The next BAHM! (Business After Hours Mixer) is set for Wednesday, October 17, 5:30-7:30pm at Tahoe Bowl in South Lake Tahoe. Attendees can mix and mingle at the newly remodeled Tahoe Bowl facilities including the 11th Frame Diner and the beautiful outdoor patio. BAHMs are $10 for chamber members, $20 for non-members, and include appetizers, drink tickets, and raffle tickets.

Services aimed at getting students ready for college are available for up to 500 South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School this school year through a Lake Tahoe Community College federally funded grant program.

The Department of Education grant that started in the tail end of last school year consists of $230,000 a year for five years to provide services to 500 low-income, first generation college-bound students at the middle and high schools.

St. Theresa's School second- through eighth-graders would like to thank Ms. Lisa Stull, MS, LMFT (Comprehensive Counseling Solutions), for donating her time to teach us how to prevent bullying, how...