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
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