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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2012)
Vocational Rehabilitation Program can help disabled in several ways Staff helps nearly 60 Tribal members so far work and is happy with the new work he is doing. By Angie Butler, Coordinator-Counselor Melissa (Tribal Elder) is non-hearing and had been working at a local non profit for about nine years when she came to STVRP. She wasn't happy with her working environment and wanted new employment. STVRP was able to provide guidance, counseling and ASL services to mediate the situation with the employer and Melissa. She received job coaching from another non-hearing ASL interpreter, which provided Melissa with tools she needed to be successful in her current employment. STVRP also was able to bridge some existing health ser vices by providing interpreting services during meetings so Melissa could express her needs. The Siletz Tribal Vocational Rehabili tation Program (STVRP) will approach the end of its second year of funding in September. We have been busy develop ing a new program and building partner ships locally and nationally. offices, one in Salem and one in Siletz. We have developed working relationships with the state Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Programs and Employment Departments so we can better serve our 11-county service area and provide the maximum services available to our participants. In August 2011, the STVRP program manual officially was approved through the Tribal Council and we began seeing participants shortly thereafter. STVRP staff has seen nearly 60 Tribal members this year who believe they can benefit from this program. We are thankful to all the individuals and organizations that have contributed to the program’s development and helped us accomplish a great deal in the past few years. The following are three success stories; because of confidentiality, the names have been changed: Sam had been receiving TANF/GA services for about 67 months and obtained a job as an “independent contractor cou rier." Given his ongoing mental health circumstances, he is unable to work in a standard environment. With the help of STVRP, Sam was able to obtain and maintain employment beyond 90 days and is still in employment status. STVRP assisted Sam with the referral to a peer support agency where he is able to talk with others who share the same types of disabilities and circumstances. Ben was badly injured on the job and was unable to return to work because of his injuries. STVRP assisted his transi tion into a new trade as a commercial truck driver. With the support of STVRP, Ben was able to stabilize in a new line of STVRP is a program that serves as an employment resource for Tribal members with disabilities who have a strong desire to be employed. Some of the services provided to STVRP participants include a combination of résumé writing, career profiling, motivational counseling, interviewing techniques, adaptive equip ment, transportation, referral to services, assistance with applications, advocacy, job coaching, on-the-job training, job development, access to cultural resources, and educational/physical and mental health assessments. Eligibility for this program is as follows: Be an enrolled Siletz Tribal member Live with the 11 -county service area Bio from Jackie Welch I was bom and raised in a suburb of Chicago, right next to O’Hare Airport. I attended Northern Illinois University briefly before moving to Carson City, Nev. While living in Nevada, I got mar ried and had four kids. I spent most of my time there being a stay-at-home mom and riding my palomino, Oha Nieve, which is Shoshone for Yellow Lady. In the winter of 1998, my chil dren and I moved to Lincoln City, Ore., to be closer to family. After arriving in Oregon, I decided to pursue my education, beginning at Oregon Coast Community College. Initially, I wanted to be an elementary ed teacher. I soon discovered I really enjoyed the psychology and sociology courses, so I changed my major to social work. After receiving my AA degree, I went on to Western Baptist College in Salem (now known as Corban Univer sity). I was enrolled in the accelerated Adult Studies Degree Program and received my BS in family studies. My volunteer jobs have included Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, 4-H assistant leader, Lincoln County Commission on Children & Families board member and I initiated a scholarship program for the Lincoln City Swim Team, to name a few. Professionally, I have been a spe cial ed aide for the Lincoln County School District, crisis advocate for the women’s shelter, family advocate for Photo by Natasha Kavanaugh Jackie Welch Lincoln County/Community Services Consortium Head Start, clinical coun selor for Lincoln County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (and lead person for the Self-Directed Sup port Program) and an adoption clinician with Boys & Girls Aid. I currently reside in Lincoln City with my husband and no children (at this moment). Between us, we have seven children and 13 grandchildren. We both agree that we love our grand children more! Our kids and grandkids live as close as two miles away to as far as Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif. I enjoy writing, reading, spending time with my grandkids (on my terms) and hope to enjoy scrapbooking if I could ever find the time (have tons of pictures and supplies). Have a documented physical, mental or learning disability • Have a disability that causes a sub stantial barrier to employment STVRP can assist with documenta tion for eligibility if you think you may qualify for our program. We would enjoy hearing from you! Please contact us at the numbers at right. We also would like to introduce the newest member of our staff, Jackie Welch. She joined us Aug. 6 as the new job developer/counselor in the Siletz office. STVRP Staff Portland/Salem Area: Angie Butler, Voc Rehab Counselor/Coordinator 503-390-9494, or 800-922-1399, ext. 1872; or angieb@ctsi.nsn.us Carlotta Lane, Voc Rehab Program Aide 503-390-9494 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1862 Siletz Area: Jackie Welch, Voc Rehab Counselor/Job Developer 541-444-8385 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1385 Selene Rilatos, Voc Rehab Program Aide 541-444-8297 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1297 Recruitment for new STVRP Advisory Committee members Members of this committee will consist of Siletz Tribal members with a disability/disabilities or someone with a background in disability programs and/or vocational rehabilitation. You need to have a willingness to express and present ideas to STVRP staff and be willing to participate in outreach to the membership for the STVRP pro gram and its services. If interested in serving on this committee, please submit the completed form to STVRP, Attn: Angie Butler, Salem Area Office, 3160 Blossom Drive NE, Suite 105, Salem, OR 97305. Name:.______________________ _ __________________ ____ ________________ Address:_______________________ _______________________________________ Photo by Morgan Crawford City: State:_______________ ZIP: Phone: Day ( )Evening ( ) Kai Skidmore, David Greenawald and Sharia Robinson, Healthy Traditions project coordinator, work in the Siletz Tribal Community Garden. Skidmore and Greenawald participated in the Tribal Youth Education and Employment (TYEE) program this summer. See more TYEE photos on pages 8-9. September 2012 • Siletz News • 5
