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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2010)
Chinook Winds Licensing Process is Detailed, In-Depth, Renewable By Shawna Gray, Executive Director, We provide an orientation twice State compact, National Indian Gaming Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission weekly to accommodate the applicants Commission and relevant laws. The Siletz Tribal Gaming Commis and CWCR. At orientation we show the The applicant must make an appoint sion (STGC) is responsible for regulating Skookum Tillicum video that provides a ment at STGC once they complete their Chinook Winds Casino Resort (CWCR) brief history of the Siletz Tribe. application. If the applicant makes an with all relevant laws. STGC has several Also at orientation we review the ap appointment for the day after their ori components, such as surveillance, compli plication with the applicants line by line to entation and their application is accurate ance and licensing. At this time I would ensure that they know why we are asking and complete, the background investiga like to explain the licensing process. such detailed questions about them and tor then completes a cursory check that STGC completes a comprehensive the importance of accuracy. Orientation involves a criminal history along with a background investigation depending on also is the time for applicants to ask ques credit check. whether the applicant is applying for a tions about the gaming license process The cursory check is reviewed by our high-security or low-security position at and any general questions they may have licensing agent and if there are no noted CWCR. The process is well-established about STGC. concerns, the applicant is issued a 90-day and the length of the process depends The application is known to be temporary gaming license and can start greatly upon the desire of the applicant lengthy, but it’s imperative that the STGC work the next day. to be employed. application is accurate and detailed. We During that time a more in-depth in Once an applicant has been hired and obtain information from the applicant to vestigation is conducted. When the back the proper paperwork has been received assure that we license qualified individu ground is completed, the licensing agent from CWCR. the applicant can start the als who have shown a high level of integ reviews the application and all relevant licensing process. rity necessary to comply with the Tribal/ information. If the applicant meets all ■■■■ the requirements, the commission issues a permanent gaming license. All gaming licenses have a duration of one year, at which time CWCR employ ees are required to complete the gaming license renewal process. STGC sends a re minder postcard to each employee a month in advance of their expiration date. If an applicant has background in formation that is found to be a problem, for example criminal history or criminal activity, the gaming license may be de nied. Once the proper denial paperwork is completed and sent to the applicant, he or she can then request a hearing/waiver to obtain a gaming license. The hearing/waiver process entails completing the appeal paperwork and sending it the office of Hearings and Ap peals. The Hearings and Appeals officers will then meet to determine if an appeal has merit and if a hearing is warranted. ■■ Young Artists Wanted for Problem Gambling Awareness Calendar All Oregon middle school students are invited to submit artwork that could be chosen to illustrate the 2011 Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) problem gambling awareness calendar. Last year, more than 1,000 entries were collected. Twelve designs will be selected, one for each month of the year. Entry deadline is March 19, 2010. This eighth annual art search is conducted in partnership with local problem gam bling prevention and outreach coordinators. Students are urged to express their feelings and perceptions about problem gambling through their art. These unique messages are shared with schools and partners statewide. “Gambling is everywhere and our kids are more exposed than ever before. Right now we estimate that up to 6.300 adolescents have severe gambling-related difficulties in Oregon.” said Paul D. Potter, DHS problem gambling services manager. “The cal endar will help raise awareness of a problem that affects Oregon teens and adults.” Artwork should illustrate one of 10 different messages (see problem gambling prevention Web site, below) and be entered on letter-size white paper with the name of the student artist, grade level, school and city on the back. DHS and its partners will judge the entries. Gift certificates will be awarded to 12 students. Submit entries to Greta Coe, Human Services Building, 500 Summer St NE, E86, Salem, OR 97301. Details about the art search, including suggested art themes, are available online at www.problemgamblingprevention.org/art-search.htm . Indian Health Service Scholarships American Indian and Alaska Native students are invited to apply for pre graduate scholarships from the Indian Health Service. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who can document that they meet Tribal membership requirements and are enrolled in courses leading to a bachelor’s degree in specific pre-professional areas as needed by Indian Health programs. Applications are due March 28, 2010. Complete details, including an online application, can be found at www. scholarship.ihs.gov/. Governor Announces Healthy Kids Plan Open to All Uninsured Children All Oregon children now have access to health care; goal is to enroll 80,000 by end of year SALEM. Ore. - Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced in February that all Oregon children now have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care under the state’s Healthy Kids plan, realizing one of his top priorities since taking office. Healthy Kids was passed by the Legislature during the 2009 session and has been implemented in phases over the last six months. The Oregon Department of Human Services provides coverage to families under Healthy KidsConnect, the final phase of Healthy Kids. “This is a proud day in Oregon’s his tory. As of this week (in early February), every child in Oregon now has access to health insurance under the Healthy Kids plan,” Kulongoski said. “This is the day I have been working toward since tak 16 • Siletz News • ing office as governor. Now, after years of work - and multiple efforts - we can proudly stand and say that together we have accomplished this very important goal for Oregon’s children.” Healthy Kids provides access to health care in three ways: 1) No-cost option through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP); 2) Low-cost options through cost share models; and 3) Full-cost options through newly created state-sponsored private insurance plans - depending on family income. , No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon Health Plan for children in families With incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four). March 2010 Low-Cost: The program offers a cost share model to assist Oregon’s middle class families earning between 200- 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($44,100 - $66,000 a year for a family of four). These families earn too much to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, but too little to purchase private insurance on their own. On a sliding scale, these families share the cost with the state or can receive a subsidy to help pay for their child’s coverage through an employer-spon sored insurance plan. Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $66,000 for a family of four), the program pro vides access to new state-sponsored private insurance plans collectively called Healthy KidsConnect. These families pay the full premium. The state has enrolled more than 30,000 children in Healthy Kids. The goal is to enroll 80.000 children by the end of this year. “The parents of these children now feel more secure knowing that their chil dren will get the health care they need, when they need it,” said Kulongoski. “But we are just getting started. We can’t stop until we have finished the job and reached our goal of enrolling 80.000 children by the end of the year. The health of our children and the future of our state depend on our success.” Parents can learn more and apply online at www.oregonhealthykids.gov or by calling 877-314-5678.
