Cherokee Nation’s Bradshaw Receives Prevention Counselor Award

TAHLEQUAH, OK — A Cherokee Nation employee has received the Preventionist Service of the Year Award from the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Association (ODAPCA).

Sam Bradshaw, a counselor with Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services, was presented with the award during the ODAPCA conference held recently in Oklahoma City.

“It is a great honor for Sam to receive this award,” said Dr. B.J. Boyd, Deputy Director for Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services.  “He is a vital member of our prevention team and does a lot of great work in our communities.”

The ODAPCA administers the certification for drug and alcohol abuse counselors in Oklahoma, and this award recognizes a counselor’s dedication and distinguished activities in support of schools, civic and community groups, parent-teacher organizations, treatment and prevention providers and individuals involved in comprehensive alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention services.

The Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services program is recognized across the United States as being on the cutting edge of community prevention efforts and is often called upon to provide groups with advice and technical assistance from a tribal perspective to many other groups nationwide.  Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services offers many programs to individuals and communities, including a Community Anti-Drug Network program, mental health services, substance abuse prevention programs and outpatient treatment programs.  Special presentations are available for youth including the Too Good for Drugs and Violence and the Date But Wait presentations, and the “I Believe” motivational program.   Outpatient services include individual and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, relapse prevention, parenting education, disorders of childhood, domestic violence intervention, relaxation training, psychological testing and crisis intervention.

Bradshaw is joined by Levi Keehler and Barbara Williams as certified prevention specialists employed by the Cherokee Nation.

“This is not only an honor for Sam, but for all of us here at the Cherokee Nation,” Boyd said.