Clinic targets tobacco/alcohol use

Organizers from Wichita-based Preferred Family Healthcare have been visiting at length with community groups to determine ways to prevent youth from turning to tobacco and alcohol.
Since November, Preferred Family Healthcare has been designated a Regional Prevention Center by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Service.
The organization has an office at 602 S. State St. in Iola.
“We’re excited about having these grants and working with these communities to find ways to prevent children from 
turning to tobacco or alcohol,” said Dulcinea Rakestraw, program director.
Such services are particularly beneficial for Preferred Family Healthcare, which typically deals on the treatment side, she said.
Through the grant, utilizing state and federal monies, Preferred Healthcare will offer a number of resources for communities looking to start or further development education and prevention programs; spark more community involvement; identify or even create other resources; and assist with community assessments.
While the bulk of the program is targeted toward children, educational materials and other programs will be developed as needed for adults, Rakestraw said.
“We really want to offer ourselves as another resource,” Rakestraw said.
Spearheading the program locally will be Angela Johnson, project coordinator, and Rachel Harrington, a prevention specialist. They’ll be assited by Sharon Aldrich, a receptionist also trained to provide support services.
While Allen County is included in the 11-county region, alcohol and tobacco usage rates among youth have declined here in recent years, Rakestraw said, which means the group’s initial focus will be in other counties.
“We’ll still push our services here,” she said. “We’re always willing to work with community stakeholders, wherever they are.”
The goal, Rakestraw said, is to be so successful with its prevention services that demand on the treatment side declines as well.
Preferred Family Healthcare was designated as a regional prevention center through a bidding process with the state. Funding runs through June. Similar programs were offered last year through the Southeast Kansas Educational Service Center at Greenbush.
For more information, contact Preferred Family Healthcare at 365-7682 or 365-8408.