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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2004)
C om m itted to C u ltu ra l D iversity w w w portlandohserx er.eom J u h 117. 2004 M e ®>' $ îo rtla u b ( C o ni ni u n i t y a l e n tl a r Two Wheelin' Learn Portland’s bikeway net work with rides throughout the city with tours every Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 25. For information about a full schedule o f rides, call 503-823- 5266 You’re Right The next volunteer training for the Renter’s Rights Hotline is Tuesday, July 20 from 9a.m . to 1 p.m. For information, call 503- 460-9702. Of the People The Alpha and Omega M inis tries presents "The People’s C onference” about Renewing YourM indat7p.m .,July 16-18 at Matt Dishman Community Cen ter, 77 N.E. Knott. For more infor mation, call 503-823-3186. Writing Frees Free your writing spirit with a free writing workshop by Write Around Portland through Aug. 12 at locations in and around north Portland. To register or contribute, call 503-796-9224. Interest in Adoption? A free information meeting for prospective adoptive parents is held the third W ednesday of every month from 7 to 8:30p.m . at Belmont Public Library, 1038 S.E. 39th Ave. For more informa tion, call 503-226-4870 or visit www.openadopt.com. A Healing Song Sankofaa Health Institute offers a free diabetes support group from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every third Thursday at Alberta Simmons Plaza, 6707 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more informa tion, call 503-285-2484. Work For Change Com munity Advocates invites those interested in protecting children from abuse to become an event volunteer, event out re a c h , te c h n o lo g y e x p e rt, graphic arti:.ts or office support team member. For more informa tion, call 503-280-1388. Home Improvement The Community Energy Project holds free workshops on water conservation and w eatheriza tion. For more information, call 503-284-4962. Government Powers Reviewed An open discussion about free dom and the Patriot Act pul on by Radical Women will be held W ednesday, July 14 at 7 p.m. w itha$6buffet at6:30p.m . at the Bread and Roses Center, 8 19 N. K illingsw orth. For questions regarding childcare or rides, call 5O3-24(M462. photo by M ark Roosevelt is Governor announces insurance plan fo r kids uv J ohanna S. K ing T he P ortland O bserver Gov. Ted Kulongoski paid a visit to Roosevelt High School in north Portland to advance his health care agenda for children, arguing that regardless of a hard-hit economy and tight state budgets, health care for the young is a top priority. As part o f a two-fold strategy to expand D R ( health care for kids and decrease the number o f uninsured children in Oregon, the gover nor announced a new employer-sponsored, ChiIdren’s Health Insurance Group Plan that will begin in January. Offered by O regon's Insurance Pool Gov erning Board, the goal is to boost the num ber of medically insured children by provid ing an incentive to employers w hocurrently do not provide health coverage for their employees. The plan will encourage employers to offer a low cost healthcare plan forem ploy- Ya Gotta Regatta You gotta go to the 10,h annual Columbia Slough Regatta small crafts show and paddling event from 9a.m .to I p.m.Sunday, July 26at the lowcrColumbia Slough in northeast Portland. NAACP Meetings The Portland Branch o f the NAACP holds two monthly ex ecutive committee meetings, on the second Thursday o f the month and the Thursday before the fourth Saturday of the month. General membership meetings are held on the fourth Saturday of each month. For more infor mation, call 503-284-7722. for Health Initiative ees to purchase for themselves and their families. Low-income working families with incomes of up to 85 percent above the federal poverty level may also be eligible for a subsidy to purchase the Children’s Group Plan through their employer. It’sestimated that the public-private part nership would benefit 8(),(XX) children un der 18. Kulongoski said he has directed the Dept. o f Human Services to also develop a pro gram aimed at improving and enhancing public outreach efforts so parents and guardians who are eligible for the health benefits know about them. “One of my utmost priorities as governor is for all children in Oregon to have access to basic physical and mental health care. The health of O regon’s young people is vital to their success in life and our success as a state,” said Kulongoski. He spoke confidently o f the steps that Oregon is taking to maximize health care coverage for currently uninsured children by continued on page A5 County Health Clinic Shuts Its Doors Closure to impact 8,000 residents An estimated 8,500 public health clinic patients will have to transfer their medical care to alternative sites when Multnomah County closes it Southeast Health Center at 3653 S.E. 34“' Ave. The county health departm ent an nounced last week that medical services at the clinic will close July 29, leaving only dental and optometry services continu ing at that location. Medical records of affected clients wi II be transferred to one o f the following other county health care clinics: East County Health Center in Gresham, 600 N.E. S“1 Ave.; M id County Health Center, 12710 S.E. Di vi sion; North Portland Health Center, 9000 N. Lombard St.; and Westside Health Center, 426 S.W. Stark. Officials said they are committed to pro viding quality health care within current budget constraints. “We understand this may create chal lenges for the clients who are currently getting care in their neighborhood. We are doing everything we can to make the transi tion as smooth as possible,” said Vanetta Abdellatif, a health department adm inistra tor. The changes are expected to put more demands on the community social service system and immigrant advocates. A pproxim ately 60 percent o f the visits a, S outheast H ealth C enter require a translator, with clients representing many co u n tries and speaking o v er 30 lan g uages. The burden is in addition to changes in the Oregon Health Plan Standard Package that included mandatory premiums and co pays that led to increasing numbers o f low- income individuals losing their insurance coverage. U ninsured m edical visits have in creased 7 percent in the last year at M ultnom ah C ounty clinics, and only 5 to 7 percent o f costs are reim bursed for these self-pay visits. A t the sam e tim e, M edicaid visits have decreased 10 per cent, also due to decreasing budgets. “This represents a marked increase in uncompensated care that cannot be sus tained given current funding levels,” said Abdellatif. “We have to make a rapid change in our health care delivery model to meet the growing need.” Students Build Bridges to Muslim Countries A home away from home for students from overseas, Portland had t unique opportunity of hosting girls from Egypt and Turkey and a b< from Indonesia this past school year. Eat Right, Stay Healthy Join a Heart Wise Living Class of Exercise and Nutrition, where expertsgiveexerciseand healthy eating tips to people battling heart disease. Class will be of fered at Providence Portland Medical Center from I:30to3:30 p.m. on July 7. For more informa tion, call 503-215-8039. W ashington AT he P ortland O bserver Gov. Ted Kulongoski shares his goals regarding health care for children with Jefferson graduates Jerald White (left) and Jantaé Grace, along with Julie Jacobs at Roosevelt High School's Student Health Clinic. ^ tr Created by the U.S. State Department in response to the terrori attacks o f Sept. 11, 2001 the YES program (Youth Exchange at Study) brings high school students from predominant Muslim countries to live and study in the U.S. for a yet The program’ s goal is to promote mutual unde standing by building on the personal and cultur values held in common between both American at Muslim societies. Gerry Simson, host mother to Sarah El-Bakatousl from Egypt, gives the program high praise. “ When you haven't had the experience o f knov ing someone from another culture, you don’ t rea ize how narrow your opinions and knowledge are Simson said. “ Shaking things up once in a while a good thing. Barriers are definitely breakir down because o f this program.” Because o f the success o f this year initiative, the YES program is planning I expand next year. Exchange students Meiza Suratin (from left), Nevin Oztop and Sarah El-Bakatousky win roaring applause after their performances at Arts and Communications Magnet Academy. Anyone interested in p ro m o tin international understanding by hosting YES scholar should contat Maranee Sanders at 503-293-6195 c www.pax.org.