Spilyqy Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
-j-4-
. November Al", 2005
Pqge5
Victims program has greatly expanded services
By Marie Calica
(Tribal Court Associate Jmfae
Slant Calica was managtr of Vic
tims of Crime Services for amost
nine years. Her article below con
cludes a three-part series on the
early jtars of the VQCS pro
gram.) Domestic violence is not a
Native tradition, nor is assault
and battery, sexual abuse and
child molestation.
I was hired as the Victims of
Crime Services manager in
April 1997, and at that time there
were three staff members: a
manager, a women and
children's service coordinator,
and a 7-hour daily advocate, and
three volunteers.
The next year the staff in
creased and was able to provide
more services and had over 200
clients. Last year there were 514
crimes and 3,977 types of ser
vices provided.
The additional staff was
funded by grants that were sub
mitted to the Department of
Justice, and completing the job
descriptions for the clarity as to
what position(s) would be doing
once hired.
After the approval of the
grants applied for, the VOCS
program was able to focus upon
the many needs of the victims:
crisis intervention, victim assis
tance, court advocacy, investi
gation, prosecution, staff and
volunteer training, community
education, community confer
ences, support groups, and vic
tim compensation.
The program now offers 24
hour safe shelter for the victims
of crime, and has developed
strong professional working re
lationships. This is vital for the
success of the program in meet
ing the needs of victims, clients
and the community. Honesty,
respect and trust are the basic
foundation for team building.
I expected to help provide
positive and confidential ser
vices that respond to the needs
of the victims of crime regard
less of economic or social cir
cumstances, or kinship, because
these are our people and to
some degree our families.
The VOCS main goal is to
strengthen the services that are
currently needed to help the
community of the Warm
Springs Reservation to be safer
and healthier, and provide con
sequences for the offenders.
The VOCS program docs
enhance a more intensive case
coordination and case manage
ment by working closer with law
enforcement immediately after
contact, regarding the crime, and
then providing the services
needed for the victim(s).
Goals of program
The following are the VOCS
goals that arc followed and have
strengthened the services to vic
tims: Professionally strengthen the
teamwork and relationships with
the VOCS staff.
Increase awareness and edu
cational activities to help pre
ventreduce crimes against
women and children.
Enhance working relation
ships with courts and law en
forcement to better serve vic
tims of crime.
Propose tribal policy regard
ing victims of crime.
Improve and monitor victim
needs by case management, and
staff follow-up.
Improve offender account
ability. Conduct thorough aggres
sive investigations.
Increase advocacy and sup
port services for victims and
their secondaries.
Enhance the safe shelter and
protection for victims and their
secondaries.
Offer more education and
awareness regarding the VOCS
program.
Offer more education to the
community regarding domestic
violence.
Increase access to medical
services for victims of crime.
Increase access to other pro
grams and services for victims
of crime.
Importance of funding
I enjoyed working as the
VOCS manager, increasing the
amount of staff by writing
grants for the funding and get
ting approval from the Depart
ment of Justice and the state
grant, the amount received
from the tribal budget is very
low, so the grants for funding
are very much needed. The grant
submitted to I lousing and Ur
ban Development for the tran
sitional housing was approved
and to be built this coming year,
to be completed in 2006. The
timeline was to be sooner, how
ever, three time-extensions were
requested and endorsed by the
Department of Housing and
Urban Development. This hous
ing is a real need for the ser
vices of victims.
I will always continue to sup
port the valuable Victims of
Crime Services program, and I
miss the VOCS staff, but I'm
doing the best I can presently in
the position of Tribal Associate
Judge. Keep up the good work,
VOCS staff, in providing the
services to the victims.
Thank you all for your support.
Huckleberry thicket could
get forest service protection
MEDI ORD. Ore. (AP) - The US. Forest Service has pro
posed a plan to protect 9,500-acrcs of a huckleberry thicket in
Southern Oregon considered sacred to generations of American
Indian tribes.
The administrative designation would recognize the cultural and
historical significance of the area, dubbed the I luckleberry Patch
by locals, and would require a management strategy to protect the
shrubs.
"I luckleberry production is low compared to historic levels,"
said Amy Amoroso, director of natural resources for the Cow
Creek Hand of Umpqua Indians, who helped the Forest Service
develop the project's environmental assessment. "We would like to
increase huckleberry production in this area."
The thicket was once vital for amassing a winter fcxd supply,
including deer meat, hazelnuts, roots, huckleberries and other ber
ries, said tribal chairwoman Sue Shaffer.
The huckleberry, a cousin to blueberries, is unique to the high
mountains of the Pacific Northwest. They usually ripen in early
fall.
About 4,700 acres of the protected area are in the Rogue River
Siskiyou National Forest. The other 4,800 acres lie in the Umpqua
National Forest, officials said.
The supervisors of both forests are expected to decide on the
proposal in December or January followed by a 45-day appeal
period.
Fathers' group hosts dinner
A fathers' group for men who want to learn how to be
closer to their children has scheduled a spaghetti feed for all
fathers, grandfathers, uncles and others who are guardians
of children. The gathering will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tues
day, Dec. 7, at the Warm Springs Early Childhood Center.
Child care is provided, snacks will be available, and spa
ghetti will be served.
Births
Nellie Kayreen Badroad
Vena Badroad and Ted Umtuch are pleased to announce
the birth of their daughter Nellie Kayreen Badroad, born
November 7, 2005.
She joins her three sisters Amy Jo Umtuch, Marlene and
; Lilli Tias, and her brother Tom Tias.
a.,.: );- ' Kyree Langley -
Aaron W. Langley and Danni Alise Lawrence are pleased
to announce the birth of their son Kyree Langley, born No
vember 11, 2005.
Father's parents are Larry and Stella Langley of Warm
Springs. Mother's parents are Stacy Logan and Lowell Th
ompson of Warm Springs.
David Ruiz
Sergio Ruiz and Veronica Ruiz are pleased to announce
the birth of their son David Ruiz, born November 4, 2005.
David joins sisters Ivette, Jennifer and Azucena. The father's
parents are Marias Ruiz and Nazaria Campos of Mexico.
The mother's parents are Gabriel Alvarado and Octavio
Gonzalez, of Mexico.
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