(All area codes 509 unless otherwise noted)
Alcohol/narcotics
     • Alcohol/drug abuse 24-hour crisis line. Information: Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare, 826-5600.
     • Al-Anon. Part of world-wide organization offering self-help recovery program for families and friends of alcoholics regardless of whether the alcoholic seeks help or recognizes the existence of a drinking problem. Information: Nancy Wells, 486-2093.
     • •Okanogan, meets 7 p.m. Fridays, United Methodist Church, 231 S. Third Ave., Okanogan; 826-6437.
     • •Omak, meets 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 327 Edmonds; Nancy 486-2093 or Kim at 485-3753.
     • •Spanish-speaking, meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 219 W. Gypsum, Inchelium. Information: 687-5006 or 687-9709.
     • •Tonasket, meets 8 p.m. Mondays at Hillside Park Apartments community room. Information: Deana Visser, 486-2687.
     • Alcoholics Anonymous. Confidential support group for people with alcoholic substance problems.
     • •Okanogan, meets at 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at United Methodist Church, 231 Third Ave., Okanogan; 7 p.m. Mondays (women only); 10-11:30 a.m. Sundays for breakfast at Cariboo Restaurant, Okanogan. Information: 826-6299.
     • •Omak, meets at noon Mondays and Thursdays, First Presbyterian Church, 9 S. Birch, Omak; 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 530 Jackson St., Omak. Information: 826-6299.
     • •Tonasket, meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 416A S. Whitcomb, Tonasket. Information: 429-1904.
     • •Wauconda Candlelight Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Wauconda Community Church. Information: 486-4974.
     • Manfisher Ministries. Located in downtown Omak. Christian-based help for those overcoming drugs and alcohol. Information: David and Dawn Hellyer, 826-5699.
     • Narcotics Anonymous. Help and information: 826-6371.
     • Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare. Information: 826-6191.

Alzheimer's
     • Alzheimer's caregiver support group. Meets 8:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at Apple Meadows, Omak. Jim Tinsman, leader, 826-6917, or Apple Meadows, 826-1196.

Cancer
     • American Cancer Society. Information: 1 (800) 537-7710; mailing American Cancer Society, 103 Palouse No. 28, Wenatchee 98801.
     • American Cancer Society's Okanogan County memorial chairs: Donations can be mailed to Okanogan County Memorial Chairs, P.O. Box 1569, Omak. Donations may be submitted by credit card at 1 (800) 537-7710. Information: Linda Clayton, 664-6728.
     • Okanogan County Relay for Life Committee. Plans the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Okanogan County the Friday and Saturday following Mother's Day. Team members raise money for cancer research and education. Information: Linda Clayton, executive director for area, 664-6728; Charleen Groomes, chair of relay steering committee, 422-4006.

Child abuse prevention
     • Adult/child domestic violence and sexual assault help line, 24 hours a day at the Support Center: 1 (888) 826-3221 or 826-3221. Support Center provides assistance for victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.
     • Family Empowerment Project. Offers family advocacy support groups and education. County-wide project operated through Okanogan School District. Address is 516 Tyee St., Okanogan. Information: 422-5414, fax 826-9674.

Deaf services
     • Deaf Washington State Department of Social and Health Services text telephone device (TTY). Upgraded TTY accessibility makes it easier for people with hearing loss or speech disabilities to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult. 1 (800) 624-6186 or 1 (866) EndHarm (363-4276), or www.washingtonrelay.com/.

Domestic violence, rape crisis, sexual assault
     • The Support Center. Assistance for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, date rape and sexual assault. Runs domestic violence support group, child and adult sexual assault support groups, survivors of sexual abuse group. Information and assistance, 24 hours: 826-3221 or 1 (888) 826-3221.

Emergency assistance
     • Emergencies (police, fire, ambulance, etc.): Dial 911.
     • North Cascades chapter of the American Red Cross. Provides emergency and disaster assistance, first aid classes, help in contacting military service people, other services. Meets 6:30 p.m. second Wednesday of month. Sponsors youth group. Sheron Sheldon, executive director, 422-3440 days.
     • Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare. Offers 24-hour crisis line, 826-6191; counseling available throughout Okanogan County, call 826-6191 (collect calls OK) or 1 (866) 826-6191.
     • Okanogan County Community Action Council. Provides a variety of assistance to the poor. Located at 424 S. Second Ave., Okanogan; phone 422-4041.
     • Poison Control Center. Toll-free: 1 (800) 732-6985.
     • The Support Center. Assistance for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, date rape and sexual assault. Information and assistance, 24 hours: 826-3221 or 1 (888) 826-3221.
     • Runaway Hotline. Toll-free, 1 (800) RUNAWAY (786-2929).
     • Suicide prevention. Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare, 826-6191, 1 (866) 826-6191.

Food and clothing banks, emergency food
     • Brewster Clothing Bank, 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays, 515 W. Indian Ave., St. James Episcopal Church basement.
     • Brewster commodities, 9-11 a.m. every third Wednesday of the month, 17 N.E. Hospital Way, Seventh-day Adventist Church community service building. Information: 689-3537.
     • Brewster Food Bank, 9-10:30 a.m. Thursdays, 515 W. Indian Ave., St. James Episcopal Church basement.
     • Colville Tribal Food Distribution, Nespelem. For Colville Indian Reservation residents only, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in old HRD building at Colville tribal agency, 634-2767.
     • Conconully commodities, 1:30-3 p.m. first and third Wednesdays of the month, Conconully Town Hall. Information: Kay Adams, 826-3645.
     • Inchelium Community Center. For Colville Indian Reservation residents only, food distribution 10 a.m. third Thursday of the month. Information: 722-7031.
     • Keller Senior Meal Site. Food distribution is at 10 a.m. third Tuesday. Information: 634-8206.
     • Okanogan County Community Action. Offers various emergency services. Closed Fridays. Information: 422-4041.
     • Okanogan Food Bank and commodities. Distribution 9-11 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Community Action office, 424 S. Second, Okanogan, 422-4041. Also emergency food assistance.
     • Omak food distribution •Fresh Harvest. For Colville Indian Reservation residents only, food distribution 10 a.m. third Wednesday of the month at Omak senior building in east Omak. Information: 422-7449 or 634-2767.
     • Omak Food Bank and commodities. Distribution 9-11 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 101 W. Fourth, Omak. Information: Jo Schweikert, 826-1717 or 826-0384.
     • Oroville Food Bank and commodities. Distribution 9:30-11:30 a.m. every Thursday (in weeks with Thursday holidays, distribution is Tuesday) in the basement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Oroville. Information: Nella and Jeff Austin, 476-3978.
     • The Cove. Food bank and commodities for Methow Valley, 1-4 p.m. Thursdays, 128 Glover St., Twisp. Non-profit outreach program provides emergency food service. Information: 689-2994.
     • Tonasket Food Bank and commodities, 9-11 a.m. Thursdays at 300 S. Whitcomb Ave. Information: Jack Gavin, 486-2480.

Health services
     • Care Net Pregnancy Center of Okanogan County. Free pregnancy tests, pregnancy education; "Earn while you learn" clothing boutique. Information: 422-5506; 24-hour hotline, 1 (800) 395-HELP (4357).
     • Greater Okanogan Health and Safety Network. Meets monthly; call for location and time. Grants for youth projects available. Information: Rochelle Riling, 422-1223.
     • Healing Gathering. Alternative healing workshop held in the spring. Information: Michael "Buffalo" Mazzetti, 485-3912.
     • Okanogan Family Planning. Located at 127 N. Juniper, Omak. Information: 422-6593 or 1 (800) 660-1624.
     • Okanogan County Public Health. Offers open clinics, immunizations, international travel shots, HIV testing, food handler permits, other services. Information: 422-7140.
     • Okanogan Regional Home Health and Hospice. In-home nursing care, nurses' aides, therapy, counseling, hospice, medical equipment for loan. Information: 422-6721, 486-2876, 997-8981, 633-1751 or 1 (800) 442-0779.
     • Room One Health Education and Human Resource Center. An education and human resource center to promote health and well-being for people of all ages. Many services offered. Information: 997-2050.
     • Twisp Family Planning. Located at Room One Health Education and Human Resource Center, 110 W. Third Ave, Twisp. Information: 1 (800) 660-1624.

Housing
     • Housing information: Okanogan County Community Action, 422-4041.
     • North Okanogan Habitat for Humanity. Works to build housing for low-income persons. Information: Ivetta Howell, 486-2458, or Joan Smith, 486-2372.
     • Okanogan County Housing Authority. Meets 5:30 p.m. second Tuesday of
month in Room 203, Okanogan post office. Claudia Clausnitzer, executive
director; Bonita Duncan and Serena Holman, housing specialists; Bob Blank,
chairman. Mission is to assist in acquiring affordable, safe, sanitary and
decent housing for low-, very low•and moderate-income residents of Okanogan
County. Offers Section 8 and TBRA rental assistance and owns Caribou Trail
Apartments and Twisp Gardens Apartments. Information: Claudia Clausnitzer,
422-3721; e-mail claudia_ocha@communitynet.org.
     • Okanogan Country Dwellers. Non-profit organization providing low-income housing for people with developmental disabilities. Information: Linda Topping, 486-4706.

Legal
     • Okanogan County Bar Association. Jennifer Richardson, president, 422-7280.
     • Okanogan County Community Action Council, 424 S. Second, Okanogan. Offers referrals. Information: 422-4041.
     • Okanogan County Dispute Resolution Center. Provides mediation, a non-adversarial, inexpensive option for resolving a conflict, whether it be dissolution of marriage, neighbor/neighbor, merchant/consumer or employee/employer. Information: 826-1776.
     • Victim-Witness Program. Provides accompaniment to court, witness notification, victim advocacy, assistance in applying for crime victim compensation, information and referral, community education. Information: 422-7280 Ext. 4; fax 422-7290; 237 N. Fourth, Okanogan; mailing P.O. Box 1130, Okanogan 98840.

Mental illness
     • Family support group, sponsored by National Association for the Mentally Ill. Group meets the fourth Monday of the month to provide support and understanding for people affected by mental illness. Information: 997-0272 or 826-4845.

Parenting services/groups
     • Breastfeeding Coalition, Okanogan County. A group of nurses, midwives, physicians, lactation specialists, nutritionists and peer counselors who advocate the health and well being of women by promoting successful breastfeeding by education, information and support. Information: Joan Pfeiffer, lactation consultant, 422-3281 or 422-7393.
     • Family Empowerment Project. Offers family advocacy support groups and education. County-wide project operated through Okanogan School District. Information: 422-5414; fax 826-9674.
     • Los Ninos Bien Educados. Offers parenting classes. Information: 826-6191.
     • Okanogan County Dispute Resolution Center. Mediators are available to help clients develop their own parenting plans. Offers "Your Child and Divorce or Separation" classes. Information: 826-1776.
     • Okanogan County Public Health/Okanogan County Health District. Offers public health nurse visits during pregnancy and after delivery to help women have healthy babies, and to infants with health risks, teaches positive parenting skills. Helps families find special needs medical care or therapy. Information: 422-7140.
     • Room One Health Education and Human Resource Center. An education and human resource center to promote health and well being for people of all ages. Information: 997-2050.

Social services
     • Okanogan County Community Action Council. Offers a variety of food and emergency services, educational services, weatherization assistance, anti-poverty programs. Information: 422-4041.
     • Okanogan County Dispute Resolution Center. Information: 826-1776.
     • Okanogan County Interagency Consortium. Various social agencies meet quarterly to exchange information. Meetings are open to the public. Information: 422-5414, fax 826-9674.
     • Okanogan County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force. Services through Okanogan Family Planning, 422-6593.
     • Salvation Army, Omak and Okanogan area. Information: 422-4041.
     • Welfare Fraud Hot Line. Accepts anonymous calls 24 hours a day with tips on suspected welfare fraud: 1 (800) 562-6906.

Special needs
     • Career Path Services. Provides employment counseling, job placement and community integration activities to developmentally disabled and handicapped adults. Information: Roni Holder-Diefenbach, 826-2417.
     • Early Childhood Program, affiliated with Omak School District. Serves infants, toddlers and preschoolers ages 3-5. Information: 826-4908.
     • Okanogan County Developmental Disabilities. Information: 826-6191.
     • Okanogan County Infant-Toddler Network. Information: 826-8497.
     • Okanogan Country Dwellers. Non-profit organization providing low-income housing for people with developmental disabilities. Information: Linda Topping, 486-4706.
     • Parent to Parent Support Program. Information: 826-8496.
     • Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Composed of representatives of community, education and parents. Meets quarterly. Collaboration between parents and schools, works with Omak School District regarding special education programs. Information: Brent Stark, 826-7684; Barb Orr, representative for family educator parent project for Okanogan County.
     • Special Olympics. Provides a variety of activities including track and field, bowling, gymnastics, basketball and swimming. Information: 826-7117.
     • Washington Department of Services for the Blind, 1 (800) 552-7103.
     • Washington Talking Books and Braille Library, 1 (800) 542-0866.

Veterans' groups/military support
     • American Legion Auxiliary, Omak-Okanogan. Aids and assists veterans and their families in need; gives aid where needed in veterans' hospitals. Information: Thelma Richards, 422-3622.
     • American Legion Auxiliary. Information: Dee Patterson, 476-3563.
     • American Legion Post No. 56, Okanogan. Meets 7 p.m. third Monday of the month. Information: Don Cate, 826-4849.
     • American Legion Post No. 97, Brewster. Located at 102 N. Third; phone 689-3307.
     • American Legion Post No. 114, Nespelem. Serves Colville Indian Reservation. Information: Veteran's Resource, 634-2755.
     • American Legion, Oroville. Information: Vicki Hart, 476-4633.
     • Blind Veterans Association. Provides assistance with claims for legally blind veterans. Information: 1 (800) 669-7079.
     • Colville Business Council Veterans Committee. Meets Wednesdays. Information: Ted Bessette, committee chairman, 634-2219
     • Soldiers and Sailors' Relief Fund Board (Veterans' Relief Board). Okanogan County commissioner-appointed board that administers tax-supported veterans' relief fund. Provides assistance for veterans needing clothing, food, assistance with utilities and rent, and other needs when other avenues of help have been exhausted. Apply through service representatives of veterans' groups. Meets 1 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at Community Action building, Okanogan. Information: Don Cate, 826-4849.
     • U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Benefits information and assistance: 1 (800) 827-1000.
     • Veterans of Foreign Wars, U.S.S. Okanogan Post No. 10440. Information: Don Cate, post commander and service officer, 826-4849.
     • Veterans' services, Colville Confederated Tribes. Phone: 634-2200.
     • Vietnam Veterans' Wives Inc. Information: 775-8893; headquarters P.O. Box 396, Republic 99166.
     • Visual Impairment Services. Programs for legally blind veterans, counseling for visually impaired. Information: VA Hospital in Spokane, 1 (800) 325-7940 Ext. 7670.

Weight loss
     • Overeaters Anonymous. Supports people with compulsive eating disorders. Open to anyone with a desire to stop eating compulsively. Meets 9-10 a.m. Monday mornings and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Okanogan. Information: 422-2951.
     • Take Off Pounds Sensibly. Local affiliates:
     • •TOPS No. 882, Winthrop. Meets 9 a.m. Tuesdays at the United Methodist Church; Barbara Beattie, 997-0121.
     • •TOPS of Omak No. 1193. Meets 6-7 p.m. for weigh in and 7-8 p.m. for a meeting every Thursday at Cornerstone Christian Church, Omak. Information: Barbara Scarborough, 422-3864.