NOTICES
Smith Advocates Education at
Native American Forum
WASHINGTON - Sen. Gordon
Smith (R-OR) recently praised current
initiatives and offered his own ideas on
Indian education policy during a speech
to approximately 50 Native American
leaders from across the country at the
first annual Congressional Forum for
Native American and Alaska Native
Tribal Leaders and Tribal College
Presidents in Washington, D.C.
“Innovative, sophisticated, and
well-funded tribal education is an
integral part of self-determination, self-
sufficiency, and cultural preservation,”
said Smith, a member of the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs. “Now is
the time to begin making substantial
improvements in Native American
education and schools.”
The forum brought tribal leaders
and government officials together to
examine issues affecting the Native
American community. Smith used the
forum to discuss his ideas for improving
tribal secondary and higher education,
as well as propose the creation of a tribal
college preparatory school for Amer
ica’s most talented Indian students.
“Bringing the best and brightest
Indian students together at one premier
prep school would create a wealth of
new opportunities for Native Americans,”
said Smith. “The objective would not
only be gaining admittance to America’s
most prestigious universities, but also
to have a place where the most promising
Native American minds can exchange
new ideas.”
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
schools are responsible for educating
approximately 50,000 Native American
youths. President Bush’s budget includes
provisions for extensive upgrades to
deteriorating BIA school facilities.
Chemawa Indian School in Salem,
Ore., is the oldest continuously
operating BIA boarding school in the
U.S. In his speech, Smith vowed to take
a lead in trying to secure federal
appropriations for BIA schools.
Editor's note: Sen. Smith can be
reached at 404 Russell Building, Wash
ington, DC20510-3704; 202-224-3753;
202-228-3997 (fax); Web form: http://
gsmith.senate, gov/webform.htm.
OHSU Offers MedStars Program
High school students can explore
medical careers through the MedStars
Health Careers Honor Program at
Oregon Health Sciences University.
The program runs July 14-17,2004.
Application deadline is April 14,2004.
The program costs $200, but scholar-
Health Conference Seeks Students
The Association of American
Indian Physicians is having a National
Native American Youth Initiative Con
ference to motivate Native American
students to remain in the academic
pipeline and pursue a career in the health
professions or biomedical research.
Native American high school
students between the ages of 16 and 18
who plan to enter the health professions
are eligible to apply. Students must have
National Initiative
“Covering Kids & Families is a
national initiative, spearheaded by the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with
the primary goal of ensuring that
eligible, uninsured children and
14
».
□
r.
Siletz News
• 4 •
□
».
families are enrolled in Oregon’s public
health care programs,” said Lori Ann
Sheridan, State CKF director. “We have
an office in Newport and Helpline
volunteers throughout the country who
can assist individuals who need help
with completing their applications and
understand eligibility requirements.”
Basic conditions for SCHIP
coverage for children include a cap of
$5,000 in liquid assets (cash in the
bank), a six-month un-insurance period,
and family income is averaged over a
four-month period. Enrollment is for six
months at a time and re-enrollment is
necessary to continue coverage.
The Family Health Insurance Assis
tance Program (FHIAP) also is available
for workers (and their dependents) of
employers who offer group insurance.
Premium subsidies are available for
working adults and their families with
incomes less than 185 percent FPL.
Assistance can range up to 95 percent
coverage of employee premiums.
April 2004
* H» »•' </«
a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. The
deadline for submission is May 14.
Students chosen for the conference
will receive an all-expense-paid trip to
Washington, D.C., on June 19-27,2004.
For more details, contact DeAnna
Pearl at 1-800-648-0449, ext. 1659, or
541 -444-9659; or Veneza Tena, Oregon
Pacific AHEC, at 541-737-8603 or on
line at www.aaip.com/student/nnayi.
Legal Aid Services Grant Helps
Rural Oregonians
Legal Aid Services received a two-
year Civil Legal Assistance to Rural
Oregon grant to help survivors of sexual
More Kids Qualify for Free Health Coverage
In February, the 2004 Federal Poverty
Guidelines were released by the federal
government, increasing the amount a
family can earn and still qualify for
essential public services. Such services
include free or reduced lunches for
school children, food stamps, and
public health care, among others.
Under the new guidelines, children
in a family of four with a gross monthly
income of $2,906 (185 percent federal
poverty level [FPL]), qualify for the
State Children’s Health Insurance Pro
gram (SCHIP). This is a comprehensive
public health care program with no
premiums or co-pays. In 2003, the income
level for a family of four was $2,837.
ships are available for Native and
Hispanic students.
Applications for the nine open
spots can be obtained from DeAnna
Pearl at 1-800-648-0449, ext. 1659, or
541-444-9659 or Veneza Tena at
541-737-8603 or Veneza.tena@
oregonstate.edu.
FHIAP has a liquid asset cap of
$10,000, however, a six-month un
insurance waiting period applies.
Enrollment is for one year at a time.
To request an application for the
Oregon Health Plan or the State
Children’s Health Insurance Program,
call toll-free 1-800-359-9517.
Workers with dependents with access
to employer group health coverage who
wish to enroll in FHIAP can call toll-
free 1-888-564-9669 for an application.
For assistance with completing the
application or answers to questions, call
the Oregon Health Helpline toll-free at
1-866-458-4457.
Check It Out
The federal government has
launched a single, comprehensive
Web site that contains information
about finding and applying for all fed
eral grant programs - www.grants.gov.
assault, domestic violence, and stalking.
It covers rural service areas of the tribe:
Clackamas, Linn, Benton, Washington,
Yamhill, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties.
We can help survivors with a variety
of civil legal needs, not just protective
orders. For instance, we can help with
housing issues, divorce, custody, child
support, public benefits, etc.
Definitions used by the grantor are
very broad. For instance, domestic
violence can include emotional abuse
and intimidation. Some folks who can’t
get a restraining order under Oregon or
tribal law may still be able to get our help.
Call 1-800-222-3884 for more
information. Even tribal members who
live in a county not listed above are
welcome to call for information about
nearby resources that may be able to help.
Questions? Call Linda Gast at the
Lincoln County office of Legal Aid
Services of Oregon at 1-800-222-3884.
Services will be provided by Lincoln
County and other Legal Aid Services
located by survivors.
The Lincoln County office will take
the initial calls to get information,
determine any deadlines, provide emer
gency safety planning, and then for
further services from other offices.