[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 126 (Thursday, November 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF SANCTUARY, INCORPORATED

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 9, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of Sanctuary, Incorporated on the occasion of the organization's 35th 
Anniversary. Sanctuary is a community-based nonprofit organization in 
Guam dedicated to facilitating and supporting conflict resolution 
activities aimed to reconcile differences between family members and 
reunite estranged families.
  Sanctuary was incorporated under the law of Territory of Guam in 
1971. Originally the organization sought to provide counseling teenage 
runaways on the island. Sanctuary's primary purpose was to provide 
these youths with a temporary residential shelter while offering family 
counseling services. Sanctuary has grown over the last 35 years and it 
has expanded its services to accommodate the diverse needs and complex 
issues of today's youth.
  Sanctuary began expanding its mission in the late 1980s. For 
instance, the organization opened its Transitional Living Program, TLP, 
to assist older youth who were aging out of the foster care system but 
who were unable to return to their families. The TLP program helped 
prepare these youths for adulthood by teaching them the fundamentals of 
independent living. Sanctuary also established a community-based Drug 
Prevention program in the 1990s. What is more, the organization 
developed the parental assistance program Ayuda Para I Manaina, APIM. 
Lastly, it created programs to provide for the emotional and physical 
needs of teens and young adults victimized by domestic violence, child 
abuse, sexual assault or other crimes. These programs have made and 
continue to make important contributions to strengthening our community 
on Guam.
  Sanctuary has led other initiatives as well. The organization 
recently received federal funding to create theatrical productions to 
prevent teenage tobacco use in Guam. With those funds, the organization 
produced a music album and video in 2003 featuring young musicians and 
aspiring actors and actresses from Guam. The project advocated a 
tobacco-free lifestyle and was distributed to Guam's middle and high 
schools for use as a classroom instructional resource. Most recently, 
Sanctuary opened Guam's first and only substance abuse treatment 
program for adolescents, Sagan Na' Homlo (Para I Manhoben). Sagan Na' 
Homlo provides two cycles of services and counseling to youth between 
the ages of 12 and 17 who struggle with drugs and alcohol. This two 
cycle approach is taken to ensure these at-risk youths receive the 
maximum benefits of the service and counseling available to them 
through this program. Today, Sanctuary also operates a Co-Ed Emergency 
Shelter that has the capacity to care for 18 youths. The shelter is 
designed as a safe alternative for abused, runaway, homeless and 
troubled youth to turn to when they are experiencing challenges.

  For the 35 years, Sanctuary, Incorporated has been the leader in 
increasing public awareness of at-risk youth situations and providing 
those youths, their families, and the community of Guam with resources, 
counseling and support services. With the steadfast commitment, 
dedication, and leadership of Sanctuary's current Executive Director, 
Sarah Thomas-Nededog, and Sanctuary's staff, faculty, Board of 
Directors and volunteers, the organization has become a true force for 
good on Guam, helping countless youths coping with the physical and 
emotional abuse to become valuable, functional and contributing members 
of society.
  On behalf of all the people of Guam, I extend a most Dangkolo' Na Si 
Yu'os Ma'ase, Maraming Salamat Po, and Congratulations to Sanctuary, 
Incorporated on the occasion of its 35th Anniversary.

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