C om m itted to C u ltu ra l D iversity
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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.