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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 39
Northeast Iowa still Ruford’s seeking volunteers adventures for CASA continue in Vital mission to stand up for children local children’s book series
The mission of supporting children who have endured abuse, neglect or trafficking is the sole duty of volunteers who volunteer their time as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). They stand beside children who have seen trauma, and are an advocate for their care and help them see justice, as well as a hope for a better life. Kerry Brennan, CASA Program Coordinator of rural northeast Iowa, is eager to assist interested volunteers in enrollment and training to be an advocate in the court system, making recommendations to judges, and showing support to children faced with impactful and often confusing court cases following their rescue from abuse and neglect. Brennan explained, “I recently had the opportunity to watch the movie “Sound of Freedom”, and it left a lasting impact on me. The film tells the powerful story of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who left his job to start a non-profit organization that rescues children from human trafficking.
The movie sheds light on the horrific realities of human trafficking, and the heroic efforts of those who are fighting to end it.” “Being stirred by the movie and wanting to know how I could help, I googled how to help with human trafficking. The first article I came across suggested, as the number one action step, to become a CASA volunteer helping to protect children. I was floored.” “CASA volunteers work with children who are in the foster care system, advocating for their best interests and ensuring that they are not forgotten or neglected. I believe that we all have a responsibility to stand up against the injustices of the world, and the Sound of Freedom movie serves as a powerful reminder of this. It is important that we support organizations like Tim Ballard’s Operation Underground Railroad and CASA, who are doing critical work to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.” Learn more at iamforthechildiowa.com or by emailing kerry.brennan@dia.iowa.gov or calling 515-725-5350.
After a longer-than-planned release, Sue Lienau of Ossian has completed her second in the Ruford series of children’s books, “Ruford Visits the Northwoods.” Written and illustrated by Lienau, the book follows the fledg-
ling eagle hatched in Decorah, first featured in the 2018 release, “Ruford Visits the Farm,” in a brand-new set of adventures, lovingly illustrated in colored pencil with a high level of detail in fur and feathers and a tender, engaging story. In this newest book, Ruford is five years old and has taken off on a grand adventure north, traveling hundreds of miles from his home in Decorah to Duluth, Minn. He’s excited to take in the sights, including Lake Superior and the Northwoods. But Ruford has a problem—his wing is sore from his long journey, and it hurts to fly. Luckily, he meets plenty of new friends in the Northwoods who help him get better, including someone quite lovely. “I write about places and people
By Kate Klimesh
I know and love,” said Lienau. “I chose to set Ruford’s second adventure in and around Duluth because it is such a jaw-droppingly beautiful area. I also based several of the animal characters in this book on some of my dearest friends. In fact, you can read all about who’s who in the character list at the end of the book!” Lienau noted that after the first book, she heard from a father who had made Ruford’s journey with his son, Elias, after reading the book and stopped at all the places described. She reported she selected the towns for the second book knowing it would make another great father-son journey for them, and many others. “Knowing they were going to travel Ruford’s journey again I picked those towns because I knew they were kid-friendly, and they would have a good time visiting them all.” “It was always the plan for Ruford when I released the first book – if it was successful – that Ruford could visit many places. This will be the second of three in the Ruford series,” Lienau shared. “The third book, I’m already planning to start on this winter, and it will be the final Ruford book. I’m excited and hoping to have the final Ruford book ready for release in 2025.” Lienau intimated the final book will see Ruford back in the Winneshiek County area on his next set of adventures, and he won’t be alone. The third book will feature Ossian and all its landmarks, including Bambino’s. Each page’s illustrations averaged between nine and ten hours of work,
Ruford
continued on page 5 Written and illustrated by Sue Lienau of Ossian, Ruford’s second visit, to the Northwoods, is a story about taking on adventure, making memories and finding some special new friends along the way. Love finds a way!
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
‘Step Up, Reach Out’ Suicide Awareness Walk Sept. 30 Every year in September, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. This is also an opportunity to reduce the stigma that often surrounds the topic of suicide and mental health conditions, said Cindy Thompson, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Spread awareness and break the stigma by joining in the “Step Up, Reach Out” Suicide Awareness 9th Annual Walk. The Saturday, Sept. 30, event begins at 9 a.m., with registration, followed by a short program at 10 a.m., and the walk immediately after the presentation held at Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health at 905 Montgomery Street in Decorah. The guest speaker is Becky Bina of Cresco and events include a memory wall, kids’ ac-
tivities, roll call, raffles and suicide awareness materials. The walk is stroller and pet-friendly. Free will donations go towards suicide prevention education, provision of mental health services to un-or-underinsured individuals and support for families and friends who have lost someone to suicide.
Step up, save a life The “Step Up, Reach Out” Walk has provided education throughout the northeast Iowa community and schools over the last nine years. The need to continue to provide support is evidenced by recent statistics released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). After declining in 2019 and 2020, suicide deaths increased approximately five percent in the United States in June 2021. The provisional estimates indicated that suicide deaths increased in 2022, rising from 48,183 deaths
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in 2021 to an estimated 49,449 deaths in 2022, an increase of about 2.6 percent. Although males make up 50 percent of the population, they account for nearly 80 percent of all suicides. According to the CDC, people who are age 85 years or older have the highest suicide rates. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-34. “Children and youth often struggle with how to cope with stress. Youth can be particularly overwhelmed when their stress is connected to a traumatic event — like a natural disaster, family loss, school shootings or community violence,” said Thompson, who specializes in family wellbeing. Parents, caregivers and educators can take steps to provide stability and support that help young people feel better. Adults can try to maintain as much of a normal routine as possible.
“Listen to what your child is telling you about their stress and/or fears and watch and listen for changes in behavior. Reassure your child of their safety and know the resources in your community to reach out to,” Thompson said. “Suicide is a preventable kind of death, and one person has the ability to step up and help save a life. Evidence shows that providing support services, reducing access to means of self-harm, talking with the individual about suicidal thoughts, feelings or plans, and following up with the individual we are concerned about can help save a life,” Thompson said.
Five steps Pledge to learn more and do more to help support family members, friends or colleagues who may be thinking about suicide. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline suggest five steps to help safeguard people from the risk of suicide and support them when in crisis: • Ask: Asking and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicide ideation. • Help keep them safe: Reducing a person’s access to lethal means is an important part of suicide prevention. • Be there: Increasing someone’s connectedness to others and limiting their isolation has shown to be a protective factor against suicide. • Help them connect: Individuals that called the 988 Lifeline were significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by the end of calls. • Follow up: After you have connected a person experiencing thoughts of suicide with the immediate support systems that
they need, following-up with them to see how they are doing can help increase their feelings of connectedness and support. There’s evidence that even a simple form of reaching out can potentially reduce that person’s risk of suicide. Resources Locally, contact an ISU Extension and Outreach county office to sign up for a Mental Health First Aid training or a Question, Persuade, Refer, (QPR) suicide prevention training. These trainings can inform of some of the suicide warning signs such as talking about wanting to die or having no reason to live, fear of being a burden to others, giving away possessions, withdrawing from others, increased use of alcohol
Suicide Awareness
continued on page 4
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