New direction in life points to positive changes for Jenkins, her daughter
Interest in working with youth may carry Nicole Jenkins to college; Tribal programs help with needs
By Diane Rodriquez
“You have to be willing to step out
and ask for help.”
This statement at the end of an inter
view with Nicole Jenkins stands out as the
statement that began the current series of
changes in her life.
Following time in the drug court in
Lincoln County (from which she gradu
ated in February) and time in a treatment
facility, Jenkins is bursting with goals for
her life and that of her 2-year-old daugh
ter, Nevaeh.
The first goal is to complete her GED
tests by June 1. She’s already beginning
the application process for higher educa
tion funding from the Tribe, even though
she’s not sure what she wants to study.
“There are so many things I want to
do,” said Jenkins in the same breath as
recognizing that as a single parent, she has
the responsibility of making life comfort
able for herself and Nevaeh.
“I like working with people, espe
cially kids and youth. There’s some
thing about youth that gets me fired up.
They’re amazing people,” said this life
long Lincoln County resident who is
interested in being a Tribal Prevention
Program volunteer.
Jenkins credits the Tribal Transitional
Living Center (TLC) with being the big
gest block on which she is building her
new life.
“The TLC is the foundation of the
beginning of the rest of my life. They’ve
done a lot for me and given me the abil
ity to take care of my responsibilities,”
she said. “They opened my eyes to being
open-minded, to be willing to live in a
different way. The TLC is a safe place for
me and my daughter.”
She also credits the Tribal TANF
(Temporary Assistance for Needy Fami
lies) program for helping to get her life
in order because it covers such things as
child care expenses.
“They never looked down on me,”
Jenkins said of the Tribal staff people who
have helped her. “They have hope, they
have faith. I got lucky.”
Although luck may have something
to do with it, Jenkins’ enthusiasm for the
new direction of her life and the assistance
of Tribal programs should carry her and
Nevaeh into a positive future.
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
Nicole Jenkins (right) talks with Becky Bennett, Human Resources generalist at
Chinook Winds Casino Resort, about the casino’s Mentor/Protege Program during a
job fair at the Siletz Tribal Community Center on April 13.
Tribe hosts job fair; suggestions sought for another one planned for June
By Diane Rodriquez
In an effort to reach more Tribal
members and others in the community,
the Siletz Tribal Self-Sufficiency Program
held a job fair at the Tribal Community
Center on April 13.
Participating employers included
Chinook Winds Casino Resort, Siletz
Technologies and a roofer’s apprentice
ship program from Grand Ronde. Tribal
programs participating included Educa
tion, Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP)
and the new Vocational Rehabilitation
Program. The Oregon Department of
Transportation also was there as it’s a
partner with SSP in the Workforce Devel
opment Program.
According to Sharmon Cook-Wright,
SSP director, job fairs are a good way
to partner with more Tribes in Oregon
and connect with other groups that have
apprenticeship programs. These other
groups could include universities and*
unions, which have apprenticeship pro
grams for such careers as pipe fitters,
electricians and HVAC installers.
The next job fair should be in Salem
in June, Cook-Wright said. She is inter
ested in receiving suggestions from the
community on employers, programs and
organizations to invite. Contact her at
541 -444-2532 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1213
or 1858; or at sharmonc@ctsi.nsn.us to
share your ideas.
Tribe, Red Cross team up for blood May 8-14 is Women’s Health Week
drive; time to share some of yours National Checkup Day is time for annual exams
The Siletz Tribe will host a blood
drive at the Siletz Community Health
Clinic on May 26.
The American Red Cross blood
mobile bus will be here and will have
scheduled appointment times for those
interested in donating blood.
The blood donation process takes
less than an hour. If you have never given
blood before, we will be able to answer
all of your questions prior to donating
and walk you through the entire process.
In general, you must be in good
health, age 17, weigh at least 110 pounds
and have a valid ID to give blood.
Youth age 16 can donate with parental
permission.
If you have concerns about your
medical history, call the Red Cross blood
donation eligibility line at 800-737-0902.
Every two seconds, someone in the
United States needs blood. We do not have
the ability to make blood in a lab and must
rely on donations from other people.
Giving blood is safe and easy
The entire process takes less than an
hour (10 minutes for the actual donation)
and you can return to your normal activity
following donation. Healthy people have
plenty of blood to share and your blood
may save someone’s life.
For more information or to sign up to
donate, please call Lindy Taylor at 503-
390-9494 or e-mail lindyt@ctsi.nsn.us.
At least 30 people must sign up in
order to have the Red Cross come to
Siletz, so please get involved.
Be someone’s anonymous hero.
This year, Women’s Health Week
starts off on Mother’s Day. This week-
long observance is sponsored by the
Department of Health and Human Ser
vices, Office on Women’s Health.
With a theme of “It’s Your Time,” this
national initiative encourages women to
take simple steps toward a happier, longer,
healthier life. The following five areas of
women’s health are the focus:
•
•
•
•
•
Exercise
Diet
Preventative screenings
Risky behavior avoidance
Mental health
May 9 is Women’s National Checkup
Day, so if you have been putting off your
annual doctor’s appointment, now is the
time to schedule it. Call the Siletz Clinic
at 541-444-1030 or 800-648-0449 to
schedule your yearly physical and any
needed testing, such as EKGs, labs, pap
smears and mammograms.
In observance of Women’s Health
Week, we will hold healthy cooking
classes at the Tillicum Fitness Center in
Siletz. Times and cooking topics will be
posted at the center.
In addition, Tribal area offices also
will hold healthy cooking demonstrations.
Call the community health advocate in
your area office for more information.
For women who are interested in
taking part in the President’s Activity
Challenge, please join the Siletz women’s
group at www.womenshealth.gov/whw.
Please contact Lindy Taylor with
any questions, 503-390-9494 or lindyt@
ctsi.nsn.us.
Film premiere, con’t from page 1
Newport: Logan Cummings, Scott
Cusick, Benjamin Donovan, Mollie Dorna,
Kassidy Edgington, Jerry Flores, Morgan
Folkers, Domenica Gavin, Odessa Goudy,
Reychal Henriksen, Mylz Hernandez,
Austin Ligon, Tinta Lio, Conar Mac-
coone, Mackenzie Miller, Aaron Norwood,
TaylorRae Petrick, Robert Pratt III, Tyler
Teich, Bruce Vandyke, Austin Versteeg,
Michelle Vinjamuri, Kevyn Wallace and
Zach Wood. Teacher - Ollie Richardson
Siletz: Kylie Childs, Aislyn Cox,
Richard Deanda, Nevin Gilkes, Bo
Johnson, Tyler Putman, James Stuart,
Sierra Warren, Chayson Metcalf,
Jake Westbrook, San Poll Whitehead,
Joseph Williams and Savannah Worman.
Teacher - Lorrie Syms
Taft: John Beck, AJ Mason, Seth
Siedling, Brady Wagonar and Dakota
Wood. Teacher - Ben Hensley
Toledo: Kaitlyn Butcher and Breana
Hinkel. Teachers - Trent Edwards and
Peter Vince
Filmmaker-in-residence: Andy
Blubaugh. Program coordinators: Rob
Bovett, district attorney; Ben Hensley,
Taft High School; Kristin Konsterlie,
NW Film Center; and Peter Vince. Com
munity organizers: Barbara Dougherty,
Lincoln County Commission on Children
& Families; and Debra Spoelstra, PA ADA
May 2011
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Siletz News
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