Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1279

Georgetown, TX 78627

Georgetown Office

311 S. Main, Georgetown, TX 78626

P: 512-869-2571

F: 512-869-1667

Round Rock Office

2021 N. Mays, Ste. 500, Round Rock, TX 78664

P: 512-246-9880

F.: 512-246-9882

Waco Office

3221 Franklin Ave., Ste. 204, Waco, TX 76701

WWW.LIFESTEPSCOUNCIL.ORG

LifeSteps is a 501(c)(3), for donations:

By check: Send a check to the mailing address, P. O. Box 1279, Georgetown, TX 78627

By phone: call the Round Rock office, 512.246.9880

Online: visit us at www.LifeStepsCouncil.org, click on the donation button on the right

LIFESTEPS’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mariah Madewell, President

First Texas Bank, Assistant Vice President

George Brightwell, Secretary

Retired Community Activist

Barbara Brightwell

Retired Community Activist

Darryl Darnell

Deputy Constable Precinct 2

Gordon Perez

Round Rock ISD Assoc. Director of Administrative Projects

James L. Jarvis

Law Office of James L. Jarvis P.C.

Michael Hunter

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Special Agent

Julie Stevens, Director Emerita

Lindy Peterson, Director Emerita

Pat Hanger, Director Emerita

We imagine our Community as one in which all are empowered to build and

sustain healthy, productive lives and we believe the health of Georgetown

residents is influenced by the environment in which they live.

2425 Williams Drive, Suite 101, Georgetown, TX 78628 (512) 931-2221

MISSION

VISION

Georgetown Health Foundation congratulates

LifeSteps on your 40th Anniversary!

Georgetown Health Foundation generates and accelerates positive change in our

Community’s health.

A special thanks to

Barbara and George

Brightwell!

This is a promising moment. The importance of behavioral health and well-being have become obvious and awareness of substance use disorders and addiction, mental illness and peer recovery are emerging from the shadows and moving onto the front page. Conversations about behavioral health and substance misuse (that weren’t happening in 1978) are now happening everywhere. These days, there is an awareness that the answers to behavioral health and well-being are found not only in clinics and treatment centers, but also at school, at work and in communities. We know there is no surer path to stronger communities and improved well-being than people turning to one another for support, and communities working to remove the barriers that divide. LifeSteps has built meaningful, collaborative partnerships – with the Georgetown Project, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Oxford House, local law enforcement, Wilco Wellness Alliance, Wilco EMS, the Behavioral Health Task Force and Pavilion, to name just a few. We are doing what we do best; and partnering for the rest. LifeSteps’ board, staff and volunteers are passionate about the work we do and grateful for 40 years of visionary leadership. We promise to continue to bring the expertise and hope needed to sustain our community health,

safety and well-being. ENGAGE! Together, we have the opportunity to help families build parenting skills, create safe nurturing homes for their kids, and offer supports that assist with relapse prevention. The first and most important step we can take is to engage together to create a culture of mental, physical and social well-being. This requires that we reach out to one another, get involved in our communi-ty, speak up, ask the tough questions, find solutions and invest our resources to push for the change we know we want. We invite you to : Join our mailing list at: coalition@lifestepscouncil.org Engage with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeStepsCouncil/ Make time for yourself and to be

present with those you love. Take a stand and promote well-being

at school, at work, at worship, in your community.

LifeSteps’ Executive Director

. . .

PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS:

Fred Carter

C.W. Stewart

Genna Vinson

Pat Chalaire

Efrain Davila

Laurie Baty First Texas Bank Jim Jarvis Gordon Perez Julie Stevens St. David’s Hospital, Georgetown

Minuteman Press

Old Settlers Association, with gratitude to Michael Hunter Oxford House

Integrated Entertainment Systems

The Pavilion Clubhouse

LifeSteps is pleased to announce that recovery support is now a part of our Mission and Vision. Through our partnership with Communities for Recovery, LifeSteps is offering a Family Recovery Program, designed to support those who struggle with addiction, their families and allies. Our goal is to supply families with the tools they need to address addiction constructively and begin their own personal process of healing and recovery. To-date, Communities for Recovery has trained six volunteers to provide the Family Recovery Program in Williamson County. Eventually, LifeSteps aspires to provide clients with online and face-to-face options to connect with a peer recovery coach. Coaches, who are themselves in long-term recovery, assist individuals by facilitating their transition from formal treatment into a life of sustained recovery. For now, LifeSteps’ partnership with Pavilion offers an opportunity to assist with housing, help with educational/employment services, and assist with navigating the health care system. The long-term strategy is for LifeSteps to hire Recovery Coaches who provide role modeling and mentoring as a way of guiding individuals to find their own path to recovery.

Barbara and George Brightwell moved to Georgetown in 1977, when she became Dean for Student Development and an Instructor in Psychology at Southwestern University. Shortly after their arrival, the Brightwells were introduced to Fred H. Carter. Fred was a recovering alcoholic. Having retired to Georgetown, he set out to find local residents like him whose lives were impacted by alcoholism. Barbara appreciated Fred’s dedication to helping others who struggled with alcohol. She knew alcohol was part of the culture among students at Southwestern University and supported establishing campus prevention and recovery initiatives. When the Williamson County Council on Alcoholism (now LifeSteps) was established in August 1978, Dr. James Shepherd and Judy Shepherd, Ginger Girvin (deceased), and Barbara

Brightwell signed as officers of the new non-profit. Fred Carter became the first Execu-tive Director. Barbara Brightwell has served on the board continuously since 1978, and is now an Emerita board member. George Brightwell has been LifeSteps’ only Secretary-Treasurer. From underage drinking, to the opioid epidemic, Barbara has

advocated from her position on LifeSteps’ board to equip healthcare providers, school districts, policy makers, law enforcement and the courts with the evidence, the tools and the information needed to improve behavioral health services and counteract the negative impact of substance abuse in our community. Barbara’s passion for prevention also encompasses preventing relapse, and has informed LifeSteps’ new recov-ery support initiative. As a consultant with the Georgetown Healthcare System, Barbara created the volunteer Pastoral Care Program and the Healthcare Foundation. She served as Director of Community Relations and Educational Services at Georgetown Hospital. Barbara initiated and was chair of the organizing steering committee for the Central Texas Treatment Center, The

Georgetown Project; the Georgetown Community Resource Center, the Williamson County Institute for Excellence in Nonprofits, and Seeds of Strength, a women’s philan-thropic organization. She has served on numerous other boards and committees in the Georgetown community, including ROCK, Ride On Center for Kids, the Georgetown Health Foundation, and the Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation. She is a founding member of Wellspring United Methodist Church in Georgetown. Other recognition and awards include: Georgetown Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year,” Williamson County “Citizen of the Year,” Texas Hospital Trustees “Outstanding Board Member of the Year,” the Central Texas Conference Bishop’s Award for exemplary service in the field of ecumenism, and the Frist Humanitarian Award from Hospital Corporation of America, on behalf of St. David’s Healthcare Partnership. She holds Bachelor of Business Administration, Master in Education/Counseling, and Doctor of Ministry degrees, and a certification in Clinical Pastoral Education.

Williamson County

Council on Alcoholism established

1978

To better service the community, Williamson Council on

Alcohol and Drugs name

was adopted.

LifeSteps awarded

Youth Prevention grants to work in schools.

The program ended in

2013.

Williamson County

Council on Alcohol and

Drugs adopts LifeSteps

name.

LifeSteps licensed to

provide court mandated classes for DWI/Drug Offenders.

1997

LifeSteps receives a

Community Coalition

grant.

2004

LifeSteps awarded funds for PPI (Wee Care) and PADRE programs.

2013

LifeSteps initiated a partnership to offer a Family Recovery Program.

2018 1985 2001

2005

LifeSteps “Wee Care” program provides community-based

outreach and intervention services for mothers and babies in

McLennan, Travis and Williamson County through a state

grant. Wee Care assists pregnant, postpartum, and parenting

women with young children, who are at risk for a substance

use disorder or who are involved with Child Protective

Services, by providing prenatal and parenting education and

case management services. Wee Care partners with

community agencies to serve the most vulnerable women at homeless shelters, county jails,

community health agencies, local mental health authorities, churches, crisis centers and

methadone clinics. Wee Care also provides targeted outreach for identification of pregnant

and postpartum females using substances, with special emphasis on identifying females using

opiates. Wee Care provides case management and “Mommies” education to pregnant or

postpartum females at multiple methadone treatment centers. Since funded in 2013, Wee

Care case managers have provided parenting classes to 1,526 women and teen parents, and

helped expectant parents bring 168 newborns home to safe, secure and nurturing families.

“I am extremely thankful for the knowledge and information given to me that has equipped me with a recovery tool belt to use whenever addiction wants to fight its hardest!” – Jessica

Welcome and Introductions

Laurie Born, Executive Director, LifeSteps

Opening Prayer

Rev. Jeff Smith, Senior Pastor Wellspring United Methodist Church

Buffet Opens

A Tribute to Fred Carter, Founder and First Executive Director

Weldon Crowley, Ret. Prof., Southwestern University

DWI/Drug Court, A team effort helping repeat offenders recover from substance

dependency.

Judge Laura Barker, County Court at Law Two, Williamson County

Recovery Support Services,

Donna Connell, Chair, LifeSteps Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

LifeSteps' Story - An Interview with George and Barbara Brightwell

Bill Gravell, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3

A $40,000 Goal for a 40-Year Legacy

George Brightwell, Secretary/Treasurer, LifeSteps

Prevention Works!

Commander Karen Hearrod, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Regional Administrator

40th Anniversary Leadership Legacy Award - Barbara Brightwell

Mariah Madewell, President LifeSteps

Closing Remarks, Bill Gravell, Justice of the Peace

Thank You, Laurie Born Executive Director, LifeSteps

LifeSteps “PADRE” (Parenting Awareness and Drug Risk

Education) program provides intervention services to teen

and adult fathers involved with Child Protective Services

and who are at risk of developing a substance use

disorder. PADRE provides case management services and

parenting education in McLennan, Travis and Williamson

County. PADRE case managers have provided services to

567 participants since 2013.

WEE CARE AND PADRE STAFF: Lisa Wallace, Director; Teresa Fulps, Coordinator; Case Manag-

ers: Misty Harris, Iisha Haggard, Alejandra Orquiz, Samyra Davis; and Jill Vera, Admin. Assistant.

Certified Court-Approved Classes. Since 1997, LifeSteps classes

have served more than 8,000 individuals. LifeSteps’ classes

are designed for participants who have been referred by the

Court, probation or Department of Public Safety (DPS) to

take educational classes due to an alcohol or drug

offense. We offer: Alcohol Education for Minors (Minor in

Possession), DWI Education, Drug Offender Education,

Repeat Offender Education, Advanced Alcohol and Drug

Education, Cognitive Change Education, and Choices Not Chances.

STAFF: Jenee Coleman, Office Manager/OEP Coordinator, and Amber Rivers, Admin. Assistant

INSTRUCTORS: Meredith S. Jones *, Glenn Richardson *, Terry Szafranski, and John Westlund.

(*) in recovery

Our Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is committed to

raising public awareness of the risks and consequences of

underage drinking and drug use, educating the community

about current and emerging drug trends, partnering and

building liaisons. The Coalition mission is to engage, inform

and empower the community to prevent and reduce

substance use and other behavioral health disorders among

youth.

We work to develop, implement and support environmental

strategies to reduce substance use in Williamson County. LifeSteps’ prevention efforts target

underage drinking, marijuana use and prescription drug misuse. Over the years, the Coalition’s

programs have impacted thousands of youth and adults through large group, small group, and

one-on-one interactions.

STAFF: Rosana Sielaff, Coalition Director, and Kaitlin Vincent, Coalition Coordinator CHAIRS: Donna Connell, and Mary Ann Kluga

The Honorable Judge Bill Gravell Judge Bill Gravell was elected

March 4, 2014 as Justice of the

Peace for Williamson County Pct.

#3 and was sworn into his first

full term on January 1, 2015.

Judge Bill Gravell has an

expansive sphere of experience

that qualifies him to serve in his

position. For the last 30 years of

his professional life Judge Gravell

has been involved in ministry.

Through pastoring, Judge Gravell

has spent countless hours

listening to the needs of the

people and offering advice. He

wants to help provide the same

strong guidance he received as a

teen back to our community. As

Justice of the Peace he has

created a mentoring program for

kids who are on the wrong side

of the law.

Judge Bill Gravell believes it is of

utmost importance he give his

time to help make our communi-

ty prosperous, safe and a great

place to live.

Commander Karen Hearod

As a SAMHSA Regional Administrator,

Karen Hearod oversees Region 6,

which includes Arkansas, Louisiana,

New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas. CDR

Hearod had oversight over behavioral

health and substance abuse programs

across Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas

providing services impacting 410,00 Native Americans. She was

successful in seeking out and implementing multiple grants

addressing substance abuse and suicide prevention, sexual assault

forensic treatment and prevention, HIV and teen pregnancy

prevention, and cardiovascular disease prevention.

SAMHSA’s Regional Offices provide expertise on behavioral health

and a link between SAMHSA and other Federal agencies, States,

behavioral health service providers, community-based organizations

and others in the region.

The Honorable Judge

Laura Barker

On June 7, 2016, following her

runoff election victory, Laura Barker

was appointed by the Commissioners Court as judge of Williamson

County Court at Law Two. Judge Barker was sworn in on June 17,

2016.

Prior to being appointed as judge, Judge Barker had a private law

practice concentrating in criminal and juvenile law. She previously

served as President of the Williamson County Bar Association, is a

Co-Founder of the Women Lawyer’s Section of the Williamson

County Bar Association, and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar

Foundation, an honor bestowed on only the top third of 1% of

Texas attorneys each year.