A zombie can be defined as someone totally lacking independent judgment. This is an accurate description of the crazed man known as the “Bath Salts Zombie” who brutally and viciously attacked another man in Florida earlier this year by biting his face and body, tearing off flesh and eating it.

Bath salts, the name of a designer drug which has become much more powerful since it was first introduced two years ago, was the drug believed to be behind the recent face-eating attack. Although initial reports were incorrect and no bath salts were found in the man’s system, it was truly an honest mistake given the level of psychosis that can result from the use of this deadly drug.

Palmer board members and staff logged many volunteer hours during the annual Palmer Sand Springs Criterium event to help educate parents on the dangers of bath salts as well as numerous other designer drugs with names like plant food and lady bug attractor; names cleverly designed in an attempt to fly under the radar of FDA scrutiny.

The Palmer Sand Springs Criterium, an annual cycling competition, is just one of the many ways Palmer is helping to create awareness about

Oklahoma’s increasing need for substance abuse and addiction treatment. We sincerely appreciate our event sponsors and hope to expand education and outreach for next years event.

Our top event sponsors this year included the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Cyclonic Valve, Bank of Oklahoma, Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Magoon and Associates Insurance, Arvest Bank, CommunityCare, KPI Architects, Philip and Miranda Kaiser, Drake Systems, Ben E. Keith Company, Hammerhead Bikes, and the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Besides all the hard work at the cycling event, more extensive work is being done behind the scene which is really beginning to pay dividends for Palmer’s consumers in

terms of outcomes, measures of success, and positive changes in individuals and families.

In 2011 alone, Palmer provided over 994 free drug screenings for women and adolescents while continuing to develop new programs designed to help 12-21 year old students with full-blown addiction problems (see Your Gifts at Work).

As Palmer continues to improve and expand services, be sure to keep an eye out for the changes. An overhauled website, new branding and marketing strategies, and a completely revamped annual charity event tradition is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more!

Sincerely,Michael Sokol2012 Palmer Board Chair

BOARD CHAIR UPDATE

1st Place Winner of Children’s Race at Palmer Sand Springs Criterium

AUGUST 2012

to hope

ADOLESCENT SERVICES5319 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 219Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105918-832-7763 (8:30 am - 5 pm)918-873-0820 (after hours)

Palmer offers free outpatient treatment programs for young people ages 12-21 based on their individual needs. An assessment is the first step to determine what customized level of care, if any, is needed.

Walk-in assessments are conducted every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to noon. No appointment needed.

Palmer’s trained professionals meet with each young person and his or her family for the assessment before recommending a personalized treatment plan. Family participation is encouraged. For those clients needing services, total program length can range from 4 education sessions to 6 weeks or more of combined group, individual or family counseling as well as relapse prevention and recreational activities. Treatment sessions are offered in both the afternoon and evening

hours at several locations to accommodate schedules of teen clients and their families.

PREGNANT WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH CHILDRENTulsa Women and Children’s Center2442 Mohawk Blvd.Tulsa, Oklahoma 74110918-430-0975 (answered 24/7)

Palmer’s unique residential program, the Tulsa Women and Children’s Center (TWCC), provides free trauma-informed, substance abuse treatment services to pregnant and parenting women. It is one of the few programs in the nation that can accommodate children while their mothers participate in residential treatment.

Women, 18 and older, can bring their children, 12 and under, to TWCC while an in-house Children’s Program provides specialized care for their infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-age children. TWCC maintains a dual

focus of addressing the women’s chemical dependency needs as well as parenting skills.

TWCC also provides a comprehensive treatment program to address the specific needs of children impacted by having experienced living in a drug environment. The Children’s Program offers treatment solutions to problems that may include prenatal drug-exposure, abuse or neglect, witness to violence or living in chaotic environments.

Children in the program are assessed and treatment plans are developed based on each child’s emotional strengths and limitations. Counselors in the children’s and women’s program work closely to ensure specific issues relating to parenting and bonding are addressed.

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Palmer needs your help to provide much-needed items for infants and children living at the Tulsa Women and Children’s Center (TWCC). Items needed include:

• Diapers and baby wipes

• Babyshampoo,soapandlotion

• Blanketsforagesbirthto5years

• Infantdevelopmentaltoys

• Booksandboardgames

• CardgamessuchasUno,Go

Fish, Old Maid, etc.

• ToyssuchasBarbiedolls,Barbie

car, Lincoln logs, etc.

• Crayonsandwashablemarkers

• Artsupplies

• Infantbouncychair

• Largebabyswing

• Toyclimberfortoddlers

• Kidsdressupclothesforages5-9

Additionally, mothers at TWCC are in need of ladies underwear, all sizes, as well as clothing for sizes 16 (XL) and larger.

Please email, call or text Laura at LChalus@palmer-tulsa.org or 918-633-8508 to schedule pick-up or delivery of donated items.

WISH LIST for Children at Residential Program

Pre-school class at Tulsa Women and Children’s Center.

Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on events

and activities! Share with all your friends!

www.facebook.com/PalmerTulsa

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Palmer’s mission is to provide quality,

compassionate treatment for substance

abuse and addiction which promotes

sustained recovery for adolescents,

women and their families.

Treating Addiction. Healing Lives.

www.palmer-tulsa.org

MEET OUR PROFESSIONALS

Patty Crisp joined Palmer in February of 2011, moving from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to accept the position as Program Director at the Tulsa Women and Children’s Center (TWCC). Patty most recently served for 16 years as the CEO and Pastor of Charis House, a 78-bed homeless shelter for women and children at Fort Wayne Rescue Mission Ministries.

Originally from Appalachia, Kentucky, Patty is the mother of 4 adult children and 10 grand children. She received a Masters of Mental HealthCounselingfromtheUniversityofSaint Francis and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the State of Oklahoma.

Patty always has a warm and welcoming smile for all those around her, but don’t let her sweet exterior fool you because she also has a fierce and tenacious attitude towards service and helping those in need.

TWCC program changes Patty has made since arriving in Tulsa have created a much more peaceful, fulfilling treatment regimen for all concerned. Consumers are remaining in their treatment longer and graduation rates have soared. The staff is cohesive, pleased and motivated, not only with the consumer outcomes but also with Patty’s leadership style. Patty is truly is an integral part of the Palmer Leadership Team and has added much value to the Palmer flagship program, as evidenced by a recent consumer letter . . .

Mrs. Patty Crisp, Program Director at Tulsa Women and Children’s Center.

To: Ms Patty

I feel appreciative, moved, thankful, touched, delighted, loving, optimistic, trusting, empowered, proud, confident and restored when I see tremendous changes to fit my recovery.

When I first came, rules were rules. Then rules became guidelines. Now guidelines are relationships. I am delighted to be treated as an individual by others that appreciate my willingness to have input or feedback to circumstances or accommodations to fit my recovery. I am amazed by the level of trust to receive privileges which allow me to fully understand that my disease is there, and I can practice handling emotional, addictive triggers with the tools taught to me at TWCC.

And what I want is to let everyone know how huge changes that seem small that are coming or have come to encourage our recovery for a longer term. If we only embrace the positives, the stronger we become.

Erica

Mothers and their children graduating from the Tulsa Women and Children’s Center (TWCC) need your help in re-establishing their lives and households.

One of the most recent graduates from TWCC left with her children after nine months of hard work and recovery services. When she was just nine years old, Erica’s mother “rewarded” her with a narcotic for doing dishes and watching younger siblings. Erica progressed through life selecting her own drug of choice, meth. She not only used meth, she also cooked meth and gained a reputation as one of the best cooks in her county. During this time she had three daughters.

By the time Erica came to TWCC, her children had been removed, she had made the front page of the newspaper for a raid on her meth lab and was facing a prison term. She was accepted by drug court and chose TWCC as her hope for change.

During her time with us, Erica worked hard to allow herself to remember and understand the effect trauma had played in her life as well as the damage the extensive drug use had caused her mentally and physically.

Eventually she began the healing process. She experienced her first nine months of sobriety since she was nine years old. Her

three daughters have been returned to her. She has had her criminal consequences exonerated by her successful completion of drug court. She has purchased a van, rented a house and plans to return to school in the near future. She will participate in TWCC’s outpatient program as well as participate in 12 Step Meetings with her sponsor.

To help families like Erica’s, please donate new or gently used furniture, kitchen items, linens and other essentials needed by those who are starting over. Please email, call or text Laura at LChalus@palmer-tulsa.org or 918-633-8508 to schedule pick-up or delivery of donated items.

HOW TO HELP

Successful consumer at Tulsa Women and Children’s Center.

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This graphic summarizes the drugs most commonly abused by mothers seeking treatment at TWCC. The font is scaled by frequency of use.

methprescription drugs

crackalcohol

oxycontin

cocaine

heroin

opiates

marijuana

pcp

lsd

xanax

vicodin

benzos

ice

PALMER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Greg Sneed, Executive Director

Michael SokolChase Investment Services Corp.

Board Chair

Marilyn FoosheeBrokerage Concepts, Inc.

Board Vice Chair

Jeff HarjoBOK Financial Corporation

Board Treasurer

Marcelino LealNielsen

Board Secretary

Mark MitchellBaker - Mitchell Law Firm

2011 Board Chair

Ruth AddisonMcAfee & Taft

Board Intern - New Voices

Garrett GravesCyclonic ValveBoard Member

Sandra BergSociety of Exploration Geophysicists

Board Member

MiShell GarverThe HIAT, LLC

Advisory Board Member

Dan GibsonMidwest MetalsBoard Member

Chris HerouxHeroux - Helton

Advisory Board Member

Karen LangdonLegal Aid Services of Oklahoma

Advisory Board Member

Shelle LutkeOfficeoftheUnitedStatesTrustee

Board Member

Rosa Martinez-HarrisAbility Resources

Board Member

Megan MooreTulStar Products, Inc.

Board Member

Steve MilamSteve Milam & Associates

Board Member

Seelan SubramanianSeelan, LLC

Advisory Board Member

YOUR GIFTS AT WORK

Monetary donations are an extremely important and integral component of Palmer’s annual operating budget, paying for substance abuse treatment programs for young people in trouble. If it were not for our generous donors, many more young people in our communities would not get the help they need. There are just not enough beds and not enough providers to help all those who want and need our services.

Palmer’s Leadership Team and Board of Directors continue to be committed to prudency and fiscal responsibility with your donations. Even in these times of austerity measures, we have worked hard and are very proud to report a reserve of three months worth of emergency operating expenses, as recommended by the Tulsa Area UnitedWayforalltheirpartneragencies.

In addition, we are continually working to reduce our expenses and leverage limited resources. Within the past year alone, there are multiple successes we have realized in this area, one of which we are particularly excited about as it is having a huge impact for local students.

As an integral TPS partner, Palmer has provided free drug assessment and counseling services to TPS students for many years. This partnership was enhanced during the development and expansion of the New Vision drug school program for the 2011/2012 school year when Palmer was chosen as the program’s sole service provider.

The New Vision program is specifically designed to help TPS students, age 12-21, identified with progressed substance abuse challenges and addictions. Students in need are referred by teachers, counselors or other school personnel from any TPS high school, middle school or alternative school site.

Per the school district’s Behavior Response Plan, student behaviors targeted for referral to Palmer include any student suspected of using or possessing alcohol, drugs or drug paraphernalia

or being under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or unauthorized drugs or substances.

After an initial drug abuse assessment has deemed the student to be in need of the New Vision program’s increased level of care services, the student is enrolled at TRAICE Academy (Tulsa Resource and Adolescent Intervention Centers of Excellence), a TPS satellite program where the New Vision program is also housed. The New Vision program includes an academic maintenance component as well as substance abuse treatment. Students receive their academic hours from instructors at TRAICE Academy and substance abuse treatment services from Palmer counselors.

The TRAICE school-based program serves as an alternative to out-of-school suspension. The fact that a student is still in school not only reduces the likelihood they will get into more trouble, including legal trouble resulting from criminal activity, but also keeps the limited financial resources for the school district from being underutilized.

For New Vision students, measurable progress is being tracked and shows positive changes in behaviors including reduced health risk behavior, reduced substance use, increased school attendance and increased grades, among others. For the 2011/2012 school year, 63% of the 19 New Vision students enrolled showed an increase in their GPA scores by a total magnitude of 76%! Students also showed increased attendance of 31 days per student, on average. In addition, 42% of students showed decreased health risk behaviors by a 50.3% average reduction in substance use.

Palmer is already gearing up for the 2012/2013 school year and looks forward to helping an increasing number of students from our community get back on track. If you are interested in helping fund this program, or if you would like more information, please contact Laura Chalus, Director of Development, at 918-633-8508 or LChalus@palmer-tulsa.org.

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In an effort to give back to our generous donors, Palmer has joined a partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) to provide free planned giving services including estate planning assessments and educational seminars such as “Don’t Lose Your Assets When Giving”.

By scheduling an appointment with our partnering certified estate planners, you will learn how to tackle financial issues which can be solved with charitable tax and estate planning.

What does this mean for you? It can mean learning how to save money on taxes, lowering your tax on social security and finding easier ways to accomplish your philanthropic objectives, all at no cost to you!

TCF’s Planned Giving Program (PGP) was designed to encourage agencies to consciously build endowment gifts through planned giving and to include planned gifts alongside annual fundraising and capital campaigns as part of overall fund development. Planned gifts are gifts to charity from donors’ assets, rather than gifts from donors’ income. Common planned giving vehicles include wills, revocable trusts, charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities.

As a part of the PGP, TCF works with The Advancement Group (TAG) to provide a wide array of services to PGP agencies and donors. Based upon the philosophy that planned giving should meet donor’s needs first, TAG believes the best way to serve a donor is by creating a process

that prioritizes family first objectives, followed by their financial concerns, and then their philanthropic objectives. For example, TAG can provide information related to 2010 legislation that was passed extending the current lower tax brackets for income, gift and estate purposes. The low interest environment and a stock market recovery create a unique planning window that has not existed for well over 40 years.

The next donor seminar date is October 9th, 5:45 pmatOUTulsa’sPerkinsAuditoriumandwillbeon General Planned Giving. To learn more about Palmer’s partnership with TCF, to schedule a free donor appointment or to RSVP for the October 9th seminar, please contact Laura Chalus at 918-832-7764 or LChalus@palmer-tulsa.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Palmer Continuum of Care, Inc.PO Box 580700Tulsa, Oklahoma 74158-0700

For more information about Palmer or if you would like to be removed from our mailing list, contact us at: 918.832.7764, ext. 224. | www.palmer-tulsa.org