CREOKS Insight e-news March 2024

Spring River Recovery Homes -

Crawley House Dedication

The Crawley house, a newly renovated, fully furnished, all-female recovery home in Okemah, Oklahoma provides a safe and supportive transitional housing arrangement to help women with substance use disorders sustain long-term recovery.

On March 7, the home was dedicated to Theo Crawley in recognition of her decades of hard work and commitment to CREOKS Health Services. CREOKS CEO, Brent Black led the dedication and presented Theo Crawley with a crystal dedication keepsake. In attendance were CREOKS Board of Directors, the family of Theo Crawley, community partners, city officials, CREOKS staff, and members of the community.

Additional photos

Christie Crews, CREOKS Regional Director of School-Based Services, and Amber DeVilbiss, CREOKS Director of Recruitment attended the Oral Roberts University Career Fair today to connect with students and share information about the career opportunities available at CREOKS.

Amber Gutierrez, CREOKS Chief Communications Officer, attended the first-ever Bristow City Hall Health Fair, organized by Mayor Kris Wyatt. Amber connected with the Bristow community and shared information about the services that will be available at the Bristow clinic.

The Community Storeroom has accepted over $503,000.00 in donated products from Feed the Children since February 2023.

Pictured: Dan Ziriax

CREOKS Madison Thompson, Molly Ziriax, and Jessi Groetken heard from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt at the annual State of the State luncheon with Broken Arrow Chamber.

CREOKS Atoka participated in the Atoka Public Schools Family Engagement event focusing on internet safety.

Pictured: Stacy Williams, Brittany Ham, Garon Hignight, Kara Broome and Aundrea Hull.

CREOKS Tara Rury, Moss Ragusin, and Katy McDaniel recently attended Broken Arrow's Shamrock the Rose District event. Our team connecting with the Broken Arrow community while sharing additional information about our Broken Arrow Certified Community Behavioral Health Center. (CCBHC).

Spring Cleaning Your Mental Health

Springtime offers an ideal opportunity to practice "spring cleaning" for your mental health, using this season of renewal and growth to declutter your mental and physical space to make room for new habits & routines that support your well-being. Support your mental health this spring by implementing the following routines:

Declutter your mind. Try documenting all your thoughts, goals, and pending tasks, transitioning the mental clutter into an organized list that prioritizes both short-term and long-term goals & tasks. Identifying and scheduling overdue tasks for completion effectively clears your mind of lingering obligations and can help reduce feelings of stress or overwhelm.
Declutter your physical environment. Reducing clutter not only frees up physical space but also alleviates mental stress by minimizing the mental load associated with maintenance and organization. Try decluttering and organizing one space at a time, involving household members in the process, and addressing seasonal tasks. Doing so can create a more calming environment conducive to relaxation and focused attention on priorities beyond tidying.
Practice mental health self-care. Spring, a season of renewal, is the perfect time to schedule time with a mental health professional, embracing the opportunity for personal growth and emotional healing. This period of fresh beginnings can inspire you to address mental health challenges, setting the stage for a healthier, more vibrant year ahead.

CREOKS Health Services was recently certified as an autism-friendly workplace by the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma.

Pictured: Molly Ziriax & Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, Kyle Britt.

CREOKS staff joined The BeHeard Movement at their drop-in center to provide mental health resources and case management to members of the unhoused community.

Pictured: Brooke Baker

Join Our Team

A new opportunity is just a click away. The button below will take you to our ZipRecruiter page which lists all of our current openings. Today may be the perfect day for a change.

Opportunity Awaits

CREOKS Diversity Council

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2024

acl.gov

Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). The annual campaign highlights how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities. DDAM raises awareness of the inclusion and contributions of people with developmental disabilities (DD) in all aspects of community life and serves as a time to explore the work still needed to remove barriers.

Women's History Month

National Women's History Museum

womenshistory.org

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.

Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week . . .

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978.

Okmulgee Housing Team, Specialist Robert McDonald, and Recovery Housing Coordinator, Ami Danker, distributed backpacks to the homeless community in Okmulgee alongside Okmulgee First Freewill Baptist Church pastor, Chet Cottom. The backpacks included an all-weather sleeping bag, medical kit, Bombas socks, and waterless bathing cloths. We collaborated with Deep Fork Community Action who also offered fresh fruit and a blanket for the event.

CREOKS Directors Amanda Hammack & Holly Trunk, partnered with Jenks PD Captain Aaron McNulty & MPO Andrew Arnold, to present an interactive training on Narcan & overdose education at Northeastern State University Broken Arrow. In addition to the training, 72 Narcan kits and 135 Fentanyl test strips were provided to attendees.

National Nutrition Month

March, recognized as National Nutrition Month, serves as a reminder of the connection between our diet and mental health, highlighting the importance of a mindful approach to eating that prioritizes nourishment over rigid dietary restrictions. Steering clear of the pervasive diet culture not only supports a healthier relationship with food but also contributes to overall well-being, emphasizing the value of balance and self-compassion in our nutritional choices.

Mix up your meals. Incorporating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and flaxseeds, and those high in antioxidants, such as berries and leafy greens, can support brain health and improve mood. Consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods supports mental health by nourishing the body, reducing inflammation, and helping to regulate emotions and stress levels.
Have fun with food. Visiting a new restaurant or experimenting with new recipes can transform nutrition into an enjoyable activity that strengthens bonds and sparks joy, serving as a nurturing mental health exercise. Embracing this flexible and explorative approach to food fosters a positive relationship with eating, emphasizing pleasure and connection over strict dietary limitations.
Listen to your body. Listening to your body's cues, such as hunger and fullness, is key in aligning nutrition with mental health, as it encourages a harmonious relationship with food and self-awareness. This intuitive approach not only supports physical and mental well-being.

Share A Success

Good things are happening throughout our organization and it's time we start celebrating these successes.

Do you have a success story with a client or family? Have you had an inspirational moment working with a school or partner organization? We want to highlight success stories in the monthly newsletter and that could mean a cool $50 for you.

Email your success story to amber.gutierrez@creoks.org

Jacqueline Kirsch

CREOKS Tahlequah

I have worked with many homeless individuals who have struggled with substance abuse and PTSD due to feeling unsafe on the streets along with family or youth trauma. I have had the opportunity to work with this client for over two years.

When I first met this client, he was very cautious about who was trustworthy, including our facility. He was quick to take offense and get angry, exploding during sessions, leaving early in anger and shutting down talking to me.

Support For Our Future

CREOKS provides comprehensive school-based behavioral health and substance abuse services that help resolve issues that are creating difficulties in a student's life. Our services are geared toward promoting the student's emotional well-being and behavior, leading to enhanced school performance.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us provide these important services to our communities youth! Contributions through the link below will go to our front-line services in an effort to take positive steps in the lives of those we serve. Thank you.

Donate Today

CREOKS Health Services is a Non Profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations

Spring Creek Recovery Center is a free community resource for individuals in need of urgent care related to mental health or substance use.

Offering support, assessment, and stabilization, the multidisciplinary team provides hope when you need it most.

24/7 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT - (918) 216-4999

Sapulpa

27 E. Ross Ave.

Tahlequah

711 S. Muskogee Ave, Ste.2

Click here for the ODMHSAS Bed Availability Website

CREOKS is certified, and partially funded by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and is accredited by CARF International.