It's been a rough summer, and my focus has been mainly been on our ambulance services and the 3/4-cent sales tax on the ballot coming up on August 18. A lot of work has been done under the Fremont County Association of Governments (FCAG) and the Regional Ambulance Service Evaluation Committee, of which I was in an advisory capacity. As I've been also continuing my work in Emergency Management and Victim Trauma over the past couple of years, I've learned the importance of how partnerships, collaboration, and teamwork greatly contribute to the success of a project...and also how also hindrance, apathy, and resistance can halt progress.
It's a lot of work to get to the juncture between vision and reality, and now with joint powers under FCAG with Tribal representation, I can now look forward with a better hope in building and securing the future of EMS in Fremont County and the WRIR.
The EMS industry is a tough one to be in. All first response agencies have their challenges, but it takes a very special person to be an EMT. Not everyone can stomach the kinds of calls or scenes they come upon. My biggest passion and focus has been on victim trauma, more specifically...what happens when a victim survivor leaves the hospital after abuse, assault, a mental health breakdown, or a suicide attempt. Those first 24 hours are the most critical, and to try to fill those gaps in care - from the exit doors of the ER to what's next - are the most crucial periods of time that can lack attention and awareness, because fear and trauma lingers long after the damage has been done.
Do they have a family or loved ones to care for them? Do they have a safe place to go, or will they be homeless and alone? Will they go back into the abusive relationship or environment because it's all they've known? Will they try to get the help they need, are there effective programs and resources in place? Will they attempt suicide again? Or will they go missing and never be seen again?
All of these questions constantly weigh heavily on my mind. And over these past few years I have been grateful for programs and organizations such as White Buffalo Recovery, Fremont County Prevention Services, UprisingWyo, Not Our Native Daughters, Doya Natsu, the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, WyoFind, Red Cross of Wyoming, Victim Services, and many more...where I can amplify their messaging and build those collaborative partnerships which are so critical for victim survivors.
Partnerships, collaboration, and teamwork...all contributors to the success and building of what is so very needed in our agencies, schools, workplaces, tribes, and communities.
I will be a presenter at the Native American Education Conference at CWC on Wednesday and Thursday this week, August 12 & 13. My presentation is entitled: Your Life Matters, Your Voice Matters, Your Future Matters. The conference is free, but you have to register (click here for the form).
As I've taken MMIP Wind River in the direction of pro-prevention, my continuing hope is that more awareness can be derived from within the spirit. It starts with ourselves, it starts with our families, it starts with our children and youth, and it starts with our students as they aspire to become who they are today, and discover who they will be in shaping the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment