i OH. COLL. E 75 .68 v. 21 no. 7 March 28, 1996 7 Mar.28,lwT7 VoL21No.7 Spilyay Tymoo P.O. Box 870 Warm Springs, OR 97761 Address Correction Requested U.S. Postage Bulk Rate Permit No. 2 Warm Springs, OR 97761 (Coyote News) m mm A University of Oreijon Library Received on: 04-03-9G Spilyay tymoo. "iLr 1'.. f i . J " ir , .,, , -V ... .. M- JSrT j jfafllrt. 'l' tl-1 f itv.W-'....... . mm. '.'."'I'., 'v.i.'i.v.TrJi !;.Vli7W,V.J'-'Vl!w?','i Coyote News In Brief On Patrol returns The Warm Springs Police Department once again offers information relating to safety, department activities and other interesting news. Smith visits Africa JoAnn Smith recently took a 20-day trek to South Africa through a trip sponsored by the Worldwide Ministries Divisions of the Presbyterian Church. Managed Care describes services The tribal Managed Care office explains that all available funding resources must be utilized to help pay for outside medical care. Support group available Local women are encouraged to participate in a support group designed to bring women together to help each other face important issues. Students create murals Warm Springs Elementary students, with the help of Sue Wilhelm, put imagination into high gear creating colorful murals. 3 Special events on tap The Museum at Warm Springs is offering several events over the next few months. 5 Buffs lose After a great season, the Buffs lost their bid at the AAA state championsihp. 6 Play safely Playground safety is detailed by the OSU Extension office. Little League Trvouts Boys 8-12 April 1 and 2 Girls 8-12 April 3 and 4 4 p.m. Community Center Fields Deadline for the next Spilyay Tymoo is Friday, April 5, 1996 Housing Message: It's time to get things in order- The Warm Springs Housing department staff is now at full capacity for the first time since June 1995. Carroll Dick was hired to fill the HUD secretary position. With a full staff, it is the department's intention to improve delivery of services and meet the needs of the community. TENANT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE According to the Warm Springs Tribal Code Chapter 400, "The Housing program developed in accordance with this Housing Code shall operate on a self-sustaining basis wherein the sale and rental income of the program shall cover the costs incurred in operating the program." In other words, the Housing department was intented to be completely self-supporting. Therefore, the Housing department will be requesting a visit with those tenants that are more than three months behind on their rent payments. Housing will be asking the tenants to come in and make a t Ik I, on"-" ... ; VT ';'! ,, f. ' repayment schedule that will work toward erasing their balance that is due. Housing also asks those tenants that are one to three months behind to talk with the Housing counselors regarding payments on their balances. The Housing department has experienced financial trouble and will continue to unless all tenants start paying in a timely manner. VACATED TRIBALHUD ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE The Warm Springs Housing department has a large number of accounts (in excess of 100) that are "vacated". These vacated accounts are those accounts that people left behind after moving out. In the Warm Springs Tribal Code 400.350, the Warm Springs Housing department is authorized to use the Tribal Court system to collect delinquent rents due to the Housing department. Housing, in the near future, will be trying to notify those people who owe the Tribes for past due housing bills. If those with vacated accounts take no action, the Housing department will file Civil Complaints in Tribal Court requesting payment. ABANDONEDBROKEN DOWN VEHICLES According to the Warm springs Tribal Code Chapter 400, "The Housing program shall provide safe and sanitary housing..." and Tribal code Chapter 311 Motor Vehicles Equipment; Abandoned Vehicles; Accidents 3 1 1 .030 "...A person shall not abandon a vehicle upon public or private property without the expressed or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property." The Housing staff has met with representatives of the Warm Springs Tribal Police department and Tribal Court regarding removal of the abandoned and broken down vehicles that are near tribal rental units. Housing is currently waiting for the Police department so that they can "tag" all those vehicles that Housing has determined to be "non operating". The Housing staff, with the assistance of the Police, will identify the owner of the vehicles. The Housing department will try to notify in person or by mail the registered owner of each vehicle. Once these vehicles have been tagged the owner will have 30 days to repair and remove their vehicle. At the end of 30 days, if the owner has taken no action, the Housing staff will have the vehicle removed and crushed, parted out or otherwise disposed of. If the tenant has a vehicle that they are just tired of looking at or have no intention or repairing, the Housing department has a form letter that can be filled out that voluntarily releases interest to the Tribes. The Warm springs Housing Department has targeted the first week of May for removal of these vehicles. ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP The Housing Staff would like to remind everyone (tribal rentals, HUD rentals and Trailer Park) that it is Spring Clean-Up time. Fritz Miller will be heading up the annual project. The Housing staff will provide each tenant with five garbage bags to get the ball rolling. HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (HIP) The Housing department has set April 15, 1996 as the deadline for turning in HIP applications. All completed applications will then be prioritized using a point system developed by the BIA Housing Program, the HIP grant is for home repair to bring personal homes up to safe and decent standards. Applications are available at the Housing department. F m m H."n. w , ,,.11111 ii iesiy- jj. sjiss m ' '.. --Ko--? Of. ... . . J -.rfi.. Abandoned cars such as these pose a threat to community health and safety, say housing officials. Abandoned vehicles and other unsightly items will be removed during spring clean-up. An abandoned vehicle on Bray Street in West Hills has been used as a trash bin for a long period of time. General Assistance funds reduced; services cut Because the funding for the General Assistance Program for FY '96 has been drastically reduced, it is necessary to institute a number of measures to reduce costs and stretch the funds through September 30, 1996. The Warm Springs GA program serves between 1 25 and 1 80 people a year. According to Bob Jackson, who is with the BIA social services program, the 20-percent reduction equates to not being able to serve 135 to 140 people during the last two months of the program, thus necessitating changes in services. The program would be "out of money by July 1 if current use continues," says Jackson, The changes are: A. Effective April 1, 1996, all applicants who are considered able bodied and who meet the criteria for EAP restructured The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has ceased to exist as it has been known since its inception in 1989. The contract, which provides operating money for the program, was not renewed at the end of 1995 with the expectation of bringing the EAP functions "in-house", says social services director Gayle Rodgers. EAP has been the "enforcer" concerning the Tribe's Drug-Free Workplace Policy. In previous years, EAP employees Floyd Gibson and Barbara Yaw were responsible for testing all reservation worksite employees plus counsel troubled employees when necessary. The two functions don't work well together, says Rodgers, and "should be separate." EAP will be restructured to include counseling those employees who are having difficulties in the workplace. Rodgers also expects the enforcement of the Drug-Free Workplace policy to be handled like any other personnel matter by department heads and supervisors. The white house on the corner of Paiute and Wasco sits empty now as Gibson and Yaw are no longer under contract with the Tribes. Those requiring pre-employment drug testing must go to the Commodities Building in the Industrial Park to pick up the necessary paperwork. Actual specimen collection is conducted at Mt. View Hospital. Specimens are sent to Oregon Medical Labs (OML). Mt. View charges $14.15 per collection. OML charges $14.35 per test. (Continued on page 8) eligibility for General Assistance grants funds will be approved for only 30 days of funding. This will provide temporary financial assistance for applicants while they seek employment. Funding will cease after 30 days. Applicants will not be able to re-apply for further assistance for a period of six months. B. Current recipients of General Assistance who are able to work will have their General Assistance grants terminated effective April 30, 1996 and will not be able to re-apply for further assistance for a period of six months. C. Individuals who are not able to work will be required to provide documentation from an appropriate source such as a physician or rehabilitation program in which the recipient is enrolled. If accepted the recipient will be expected to do whatever possible to resolve those conditions preventing himher from going to work. Each case will be reviewed monthly. D. Families with children who apply for or are already receiving General Assistance funds and who are considered able bodied will be eligible for 60 days effective April 1, 1996. This additional 30 days is a safety net for the children. Those individuals who are not able bodied will be required to provide documentation that they are not able to work. The same conditions apply as for single adults without children. E. Also starting May 3 1 . 1 996, all Genera Assistance grants will be terminated for the summer months for individuals considered able to work. Those individual not able to work must meet the criteria outlined in C above. Applications will be accepted October 1, 1996, provided there are funds appropriated. Healthy Nations funds 15 reservation projects Warm Springs Healthy Nations received $661,203 for four years to fund the following programs: 1 ) A Culture Camp 2) A Youth Rodeo 3) A Youth After-School Gymnastics Program 4) Annual Healthy Nations Activities including the 4th of July Bear Feast 5) A Softball Clinic for Youth 6) Summer Recreation Healthy Activities 7) Salmon Camp Activities 8) A Veteran's Gathering 9) Honor Elders Day and Elders Walk 10) A Community Garden I l)AStudentLeadership Program 12) Mens Wellness Activities 13) Blackwolf Basketball Tournament for Prevention 14) A Midnight Basketball Program 15) A KWSO Youth Leadership Program Representing community members, including elders, youth, parents, spiritual leaders, and representatives of Tribal departments, community members came together and publicly presented 33 separate program plans to reduce substance use in Warm Springs. From the quality ideas and according to the Warm Springs community needs assessment, the Council on Alcohol and Drug members independently voted, their votes were tallied, and 15 groups were chosen. While not every group could be funded, this, strong response to address the goal of reducing substance abuse illustrates the positive direction we're headed in. Warm Springs Healthy Nations, and 13 other "Healthy Nations" groups, from the Col ville Reservation to the Eastern Band of Cherokees, went out to our communities and listened to ways we could make differences. Each community is different, and in Warm Springs, our way of tackling substance abuse is unique. Together, we'll be taking an active approach to address the need for prevention, particularly among Warm Springs youth. This will take form of positive gatherings, cultural activities, and opportunities for parents, elders and youth to come together. Natural Resources Public Meeting Thusday, March 28 Agency Longhouse 7 to 10 p.m. Open Agenda