(Years of Service: 31 years and 5 months)
(The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is proud to highlight Connie Thompson as this month’s long-term employee for our series, “Meet the Tribe.” It is our pleasure to share profiles of our mentors and all the exceptional work they are doing on behalf of the Akwesasne community.)
Connie Thompson’s first position with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe was in 1985 as the Secretary/Data Coordinator for the Alcohol Program under the Human Services Division.It has since moved to the Health Services Division where, in 1992, she was promoted to Outpatient Coordinator before becoming Clinical Director of the Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Program (A/CDP) after 11 years.
Connie has been an integral part of A/CDP’s outpatient and prevention services development and feels honored to have contributed towards it success, saying “I am very proud that we are the only Native American addiction program in New York State to be licensed by their Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).I am also very proud that the services we offer in both the outpatient and prevention components not only meet the federal Indian Health Services standards, but also the state requirements.”
During the process of helping to develop the tribal program, she achieved personal accomplishments along the way; including her New York State Credentials in 1996 as an Alcoholism Chemical Dependency Counselor and a Compulsive Gambling Certification in 2007.
Connie believes that what has contributed most to the success of A/CDP is their unique approach in having multiple services come together to treat the whole person, stating “Addiction affects us in many ways, and if we do not treat people wholistically, we are leaving out important areas of a person’s life that need healing.”
She is quick to offer appreciation to Health Services and Tribal Council for being supportive over the years; which has allowed A/CDP to blossom into a thriving, productive, well-known program within our community and, especially, in our school systems.Their program’s goal with youth is to prevent the onset of addiction by providing education through drug and alcohol-free activities that promote healthy lifestyles.
Connie says the most important part of her job is the people she works with and those that she meets on their path to recovery. She is honored for the opportunity to be a part of their journey in some small way — offering them help and hope for the future.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of the many people I have worked with over the years,” said Connie. “One in particular is my former-supervisor Dan Jacobs, whose mentorship has been invaluable to me.”
Family is also very important to her, as they have been supportive of the work she has done, and continues to do. She will soon be celebrating 40-years of marriage with husband Jerry; surrounded by family members that include son Christopher and wife Shannon, Jordan and wife Diana, daughter Kelly and husband Tyson Back, and three grandchildren; Liam and Adrian Thompson, and Kenna Maple Back.
Niawen:kówa for your years of dedication Connie and for helping A/CDP provide consistent, quality services to the community of Akwesasne.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.