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Major Cities in Iowa with Drug Rehab and Treatment Centers:
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866-407-4380
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Drug Rehab Iowa
is here to help people with drug and/or alcohol abuse problems in Iowa. find treatment options. Due to our diverse networking system we can find a treatment option tailored to each individuals specific situation and needs. We are able to provide all phases of recovery included but not limited to, alcohol and/or drug intervention, drug and/or alcohol detox, in-patient treatment, out-patient treatment, short term treatment (30 days or less), long term treatment (90 days or longer).
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We design personalized treatment programs to provide each abuser with the greatest chance of a successful recovery outcome. Our comprehensive networking system works hand in hand with all of the drug treatment centers in Iowa. At Drug Rehab Iowa we know that each individual is unique and are treated as such. Deciding upon a treatment option in Iowa, or anywhere can be a daunting task for any individual or family, we will guide you through each step of a comprehensive treatment plan for you or your loved one. We are determined in our mission, that every drug and/or alcohol abuser in Iowa. that has a desire to change their life will be given a chance to recover from their addiction and we are dedicated to ensuring that they are given the opportunity to do so.
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We realize that each individual in Iowa. is in a different financial situation and we will find treatment options for each individual regardless of their financial situation. No matter what your financial situation everyone will receive the treatment help they are looking for.
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866-407-4380
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Iowa school fights for dignitySchool and city officials in West Liberty, Iowa have been spending considerable time over the past week trying to recapture the town's dignity after an article in the state's major news source delivered what community leaders say is a false picture of the Iowa town.
The Sunday, October 12, edition of The Des Moines Register included a series of articles about organized gang activity in Iowa. One of those articles included a mention of West Liberty, Iowa and quotes from two teens who said they were members of the Latin Kings who had just moved to town from Chicago, Iowa over the summer. Editions of the paper in some regions contained a photo of the two boys. The article stated that neither boy was registered in the West Liberty School District under the names they provided the reporter.
When that photo made its way to West Liberty School Superintendent Becky Rodocker, it was discovered that the boys, who were not identified by name, were actually students who have been in West Liberty and in the school system for several years. That finding also negated other information printed in the article, such as the living arrangements of the two boys.
Now, Rodocker and other school officials are left with the task of informing the community and the state that West Liberty does not have a huge problem with organized gang activity.
" I believe this was a real setback and it offended me because I believe we've got good kids," Rodocker said. "It's unfortunate that people will remember this because they already believe it."
She is quick to add that school officials are not naïve about the potential for gang activity.
" Could it ever happen here? Absolutely. But do we have it now? No," she said. "We don't have our heads in the sand. We do have discipline issues and naughty kids, but as far as gang activity, I have not seen anything at school functions that would indicate that as a problem here."
Rodocker said the Iowa school has, on occasion, caught students wearing "gang colors" and doodling graffiti associated with gangs. When those things occur, Iowa school officials handle reprimands on an individual basis. But so far, they have not taken up much time. She added the normal indications-such as graffiti inside the school marking territory or threats made against rival gangs-have not been seen.
She added she believes the main problem here are students who might have family members, such as cousins, involved in gangs in larger cities. The West Liberty students may look up to gang members they know and try to emulate their behavior to get attention.
" It's not as much that they're gang members as it is a way to get noticed," she said. "They look at it as, 'Look at me, I'm important.'"
West Liberty High School Principal Jim Hamilton added that though school officials have seen some of the colors, clothing, jewelry, hand gestures and graffiti associated with gangs, it has not been widespread and has been "pretty harmless."
" We monitor as closely as we can. If we have concerns about clothing, for instance, we make them change," he said. "A lot of these kids are just looking for an affiliation with something they perceive as being cool."
Gangs are notorious, he added, for having heavy drug activity, certain violence and preoccupation with turf. There has been no evidence of any of those things in the schools.
As for the boys in the photo, Hamilton points out that true gang members would likely not want to be photographed or identified in any way for their activities.
" I'm not saying some little things don't exist, but this is something that I think has been blown out of proportion," he said. "I do have some concerns about kids and their casual attitudes about staying in school and curfews and things. But as far as true gang-like activity, there's been no evidence of aligning with gangs."
Though there may be a few who think gangs are cool, Rodocker feels organized activity would not thrive in such a small Iowa town.
" The way this community is, it's just not going to allow it," she said.
So far, the community has not allowed it. West Liberty Police Sergeant Hank Priest said it's important for the community to know that the department has never had any gang-affiliated arrest.
" I don't believe there is the presence of gangs per-se," he said. "I think we have kids who emulate gang activity, just like kids emulate movies."
Though he says many kids in town do exhibit discipline problems through vandalism and graffiti, it has not been shown to be gang related.
Rodocker believes West Liberty was unfairly pinpointed because it has a large Hispanic population. Many Hispanic families were drawn to the area by the turkey-processing plant. Though she does not see gang activity as an issue, the diversity in West Liberty has created tensions at times.
" This community is trying its best to deal with all the issues it has-things like how do we overcome the language barrier, how do we get kids interested in the things we're trying to offer, the misperception that because they're hanging out on the streets they're automatically bad kids," Rodocker said. "Then when something like this comes out, it's picking away at all those layers of hard work we've done."
School officials are quick to say that the district has been plagued by discipline issues in the past, although a strongly emphasized character-education program coupled with a new middle-school principal, have helped cut down on those problems this year.
" We're not seeing the harassment and bullying at the middle school this year," Rodocker said.
And even more than that, she adds, discipline issues that have been seen are not specific to one ethnic group and are not due to prejudices against ethnic groups.
" Discipline issues cross genders and races. Middle-school kids are just a different group. We have naughty kids who are defiant to teachers and kids fighting with each other," she said.
Many of the discipline issues the school has dealt with involve "catty" behavior and "typical mad reactions." While those behaviors go on in any school, it can be perceived as a racial issue when the parties involved come from diverse backgrounds. In those instances, Rodocker cautions parents to look at "the real issues, which are personality conflicts."
There are occasionally racial tensions which must be dealt with, she added, but many of the problems faced by West Liberty students come from those in other schools. At athletic contests, she said, fans of opposing teams have "spit on our kids, called them names on the floor." She points to this year's West Liberty High School homecoming court as evidence that students here don't seem to be divided racially. The court featured an even mix of students representing diverse cultures.
Rodocker said while she was upset at both the author of the article and the boys who gave false information, there was not much the school could do since the interview did not happen on the school grounds or while school was in session. The biggest concern she has now is how people will perceive West Liberty.
" I don't see myself as just the superintendent here. I'm a parent and a community member, and I'm very proud of our diversity," she said. "We're working so hard to make sure we are equitable. Then when something like this comes up, you have somebody coming in and making hasty judgments."
Hamilton echoed those concerns, saying pointing to small communities like West Liberty only furthers bad perceptions. And though the boys mentioned in the article may have had fun embellishing a story, it's unfortunate that readers got an inaccurate picture of the town.
" We already have a problem with open enrolling out of this district. This is going to exacerbate this problem of white flight," he said. "This was something that was embellished and a gross exaggeration of what's going on in this town."
Members of the Iowa West Liberty Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were also taken aback by the insinuation of a gang problem in town and submitted a letter to the Register for publication.
Iowa Chamber President Mallory Smith said that while community members can have differing opinions on whether West Liberty has a gang problem, those opinions should not be based on false information. Smith feels West Liberty does not have a problem with gang activity, and that opinion is mirrored by many fellow business owners.
" The talk of the downtown business and building owners has been that this was the best summer ever. We were extremely concerned with the construction going on that we had an uncontrolled environment and a lot of things handy for vandals to throw, kick and break things with," she said.
It was ironic, Smith added, that problems in the downtown area were at a minimum this summer. She attributes some of that to better police visibility and "community policing" in the area. Though she believes gang members might occasionally pass through town, that doesn't necessarily lead to a group establishing itself here.
" We may have Kiwanis pass through the town and we don't have a Kiwanis Club here," she noted. "We might have admirers of gang members here. But to have full-fledged organization, I wouldn't be invested here and doing business here if I thought that was the case."
In a letter to the Register's editor, chamber board members pointed out that they "regard our young people, our immigrants and our turkey plant as major assets."
" Unlike many small towns in Iowa, we have a growing population, a young energetic base and an active downtown with new businesses opening. In our efforts to improve quality of life, we've developed a strong Chamber of Commerce that maintains a partnership with both schools and industry and that sponsors activities designed to involve residents of all ages," the letter continued. "Knowing that idle, bored teenagers of any ethnicity can spell trouble, we've taken a proactive approach with the goal of preventing rather than having to solve problems."
The letter noted the many positive things West Liberty has to offer.
" As chamber president, my job is to monitor the attitude and image of West Liberty," Smith said. "I think both of those have been on an upward trend before this."
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