Witnessing clients overcome their struggles with addiction is what makes counselor Christine Haskew’s career and dedication worthwhile. UNDERAGE DRINKING in schools and communities is a current target for PFH staff in its efforts to prevent substance abuse. DEBRA KRAAI is the clinical supervisor for the Iola and Winfield offices. Included in her duties are inpatient and outpatient counseling. She also sees mental health patients in Wichita.
“I’ve been doing this for awhile. The people who are thankful and glad they entered counseling makes this definitely rewarding,” Haskew said.
Haskew is a counselor at Preferred Family Healthcare, 726 W. Patterson Ave., in Iola. She and staff help clients with their struggles with addiction, battery intervention cases and mental illness.
Preferred Family Healthcare has come a long way since its beginning in 1979 with a small halfway house. In its first year, the Missouri-based non-profit provided services for approximately 70 consumers. In 2014, the Iola office served 269 clients.
The organization has continued to expand across Missouri and into Kansas with 31 locations. Iola’s office opened in 2009. In 2014, the Iola and Chanute offices were combined.
Haskew works with clients in group treatment and individual settings.
“My primary job is to provide drug and alcohol services but I also do a batterer intervention program,” Haskew said.
Clients are typically referred from attorneys or correction facilities. Sometimes they are referred by a church.
“We also have people who come in on their own,” she said. “They need help and don’t have a court obligation.”
Evening hours figure into her schedule in order to accommodate clients’ needs.
Haskew’s upbringing drew her to counseling. Her mother suffered from a mental illness when she was a child and Haskew was placed in foster care. That experience influenced Haskew’s decision to make a career of helping others. She earned her master’s in social work and in clinical addiction counseling.
Tara Solomon, prevention coordinator with PFH, said a one-time prevention campaign or event isn’t effective. Solomon and Stacy Haines, prevention specialist, are currently working with a task force to address alcohol abuse in Allen, Labette and Neosho counties.
In a wider effort, the two are working with 11 counties to reduce usage of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
“We have to keep looking at each community and addressing the issues,” she said. “It’s a continued discussion and we want to bring awareness and choose strategies to tackle it.”
Solomon got her start in outreach at the Kansas State University Research and Extension Office. She served as an agent for the Southwind District and became a state licensed counselor for Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas.
Solomon grew up in a family with substance abuse and said she wanted to continue helping others by moving her career to PFH.
“There isn’t a family that hasn’t experienced substance abuse in some form,” she said.
As a supervisor Kraai signs off on the staff’s plans for treatment and prevention.
“I make sure everyone is receiving good services and we are up to code,” Kraai said.
Kraai’s education is primarily in mental health. She has a master’s in counseling psychology.
“My interest started when I was an intern for a facility and found I had a knack for it,” she said. “I felt like I was doing something helpful.”
Kraai said the facility is funded by the state. The center also accepts Medicaid, AAPS/Block Grant and most private insurances.
To learn more about the services at PFH contact 620-365-8408.
Helping overcome life’s hurdles
