Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
September 28, 2016
Tribal Council okays health survey
Health surveys are a criti-
cal part in planning for com-
munity health services.
Community Health Edu-
cation Team member Judy
Charley gives this example:
A Warm Springs health
sur vey in the late 1980s
found that the leading cause
of death among the member-
ship was chronic illness, such
as heart disease, cancer, or
stroke.
A survey ten years later
found the leading causes of
death were behavioral or so-
cial, involving alcohol and
drug addiction.
Health providers used this
information to give more
emphasis in these growing
areas of concern. The infor-
mation can help in determin-
ing focus areas of health
care funding.
Another example: An
earlier health survey found
a high incidence of domes-
tic violence in the commu-
nity. This information led to
the establishment of the
Warm Springs Victims of
Crime Services.
A community health team
met last week with Tribal
Council, requesting approval
to go ahead with a new com-
munity health survey. This
will be the first one in over
a decade; so accurate results
will be especially helpful in
health service planning.
Tribal Council approved
the request, and the team is
now gearing up for the sur-
vey, said Shana Radford,
tribal health liaison, Health
and Human Ser vices
Branch.
Preparation will involve
training for the survey tak-
ers, and possibly the hiring
of limited duration workers
to help with the survey, Ms.
Radford said.
The survey may happen
during the early part of next
year, she said, and will likely
be conducted door-to-door.
The tribes are working
with the Northwest Area In-
dian Health Board on this
project. The health board will
provide support and training.
With Judy Charley and
Shana Radford, making the
presentation to Tribal Coun-
cil last week were Misty
Kopplin, director of Family
Preservation; Anita Davis,
Community Health Educa-
tion Team member; and
Katie Russell, Community
Health director.
Passion Award, new spokesperson at VOCS
V ictims of Crime Ser-
vices has two employees
with great accomplish-
ments.
Candace Lillie was
awarded the PASSION
Award, presented by the
Oregon Coalition Against
Domestic and Sexual Vio-
lence.
The Coalition confer-
ence this year was held in
Sunriver in June. Each
candidate for the Passion
Award was nominated by
his or her respective pro-
gram supervisor.
The Coalition then re-
viewed the nominees, se-
lecting six recipients for
the award.
Passion means Perse-
verance Advocacy Sensi-
tivity Strength Integrity
ing the self-determination
of survivors, and provid-
ing leadership for advo-
cacy efforts.
New spokesperson
Courtesy VOCS
Michele Gonzales and Candace Lillie of VOCS.
Optimism Nurturance. The
award is for outstanding ser-
vice to survivors of domes-
tic and sexual violence.
The Oregon Coalition
Against Domestic and
Sexual Violence was
founded in 1978, and pro-
motes equity and social
change in order to end vio-
lence for all communities.
The Coalition seeks to
transform society by engag-
ing diverse voices, support-
Meanwhile, Michele
Gonzales has transitioned
from Victims of Crime
Services volunteer to a
Victims of Crime Ser-
vices spokesperson.
She passed her VOCS
Bar Exam in July, and was
sworn in by acting Chief
Judge Lola Sohappy on
July 29.
VOCS is proud of
these two young ladies for
their accomplishments.
“We congratulate you
both,” said Dorothy
Kalama, VOCS advocate
supervisor.
Page 3
Employee Benefits Fair,
Annual Open Enrollment
The Employee Ben-
efits Fair is coming up on
Thursday, Oct. 6, from 9
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the
community center.
The event offers the
opportunity for all per-
manent full-time employ-
ees to learn more about
benefit options, meet
vendors face to face, and
listen to benefits presen-
tations.
This is also the start
of the open enrollment
period, meaning that all
permanent full-time em-
ployees who qualify for
benefits effective January
1, 2017, can sign up for
coverage if they missed
their opportunity during
the new hire season.
If you already have
coverage, this is also your
opportunity to make any
changes or renew your
flexible spending pledge
for 2017.
All changes and new
enrollments will be effec-
tive January 1, 2017.
Some other features of
the Benefits Fair:
Meet the new prescrip-
tion benefits manager.
Pick up your new 2017
HealthComp insurance
card.
Ask providers ques-
tions about your em-
ployee benefits, and enroll
in 2017 benefits.
Presentations will be
made at 9:30 and 11 a.m.,
and at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Contact the Compen-
sation and Benefits de-
partment with any ques-
tions about the fair at
541-553-3391.
Out of Darkness walk
The Out of the Darkness
Walk is coming up this Sat-
urday, October 1 in Portland.
Community Counseling will
provide transportation, leav-
ing by bus from Counseling
at 7 a.m. and returning by 4
p.m.
The Out of the Darkness
Walk is a hosted by the
American Foundation of Sui-
cide Prevention.
This is the biggest suicide
prevention walk in Oregon.
If you want to create a
sign to carry during the walk
in memory of a loved one
lost by suicide, Community
Counseling can help.
Come by the Counseling
Center from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
this Thursday, Sept. 29.
If you are interested in
this event, call Rosanna Jack-
son or Leighton Pennington
at 541-553-3205.
You can sign up by calling.
Space will be limited in the
Counseling bus.
9 a.m. - Secretary-Trea-
surer update with Glendon
Smith.
10 - November agenda
discussion/travel delega-
tions/review minutes with
Glendon Smith.
11 - Draft resolutions
with the S-T.
1:30 p.m. - Legislative
update calls, federal and
state.
3 - Enrollments with
Lucille Suppach-Sampson/
Vital Stats.
Future of Our Salmon.
On the Tribal Council agenda in October
The following are some
of the items on the Tribal
Council October agenda
(subject to change at
Council discretion).
discussion with Chris
Watson.
10 - Miss Warm
Springs update with
Keeyana Yellowman.
Monday, October 3
9 a.m. - Bureau of In-
dian Affairs update with
the acting superintendent.
10 - Office of Special
Trustee update with
Charles Jackson.
10:30 - Realty items
with Urbana Ross.
1:30 p.m.
- Legisla-
tive update conference
calls, federal and state.
2:30 - Tribal attorney
update.
Draft resolutions.
Wednesday, October 5
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. -
Children’s Protective Ser-
vices discussion with
Health and Human Ser-
vices director Caroline
Cruz.
Tuesday, October 4
9 a.m. - Warm Springs
Community Action Team
Thursday, October 6 -
Columbia River vessel traf-
fic and safety, and risk
assessment workshop
with Attorney General.
Wednesday through
Friday, Inter-tribal Timber
Council-SAF conference.
Saturday, October 8 -
District meetings
Monday, October 24 - Seekseequa District
meeting on the 2017 tribal budget. Seekseequa
Fire Hall, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting.
Tuesday, October 25 - Agency Distirct meet-
ing on 2017 budget. Agency Longhouse, 6 p.m.
dinner, 7 p.m. meeting.
Wednesday, October 26 - Simnasho District
meeting on 2017 budget. Simnasho Longhouse,
6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting.
Burns Paiute Restora-
tion.
October 8-14 - National
Congress of American In-
dians conference.
9 a.m. - Review min-
utes and resolutions with
Glendon Smith, S-T.
Wednesday, October 12
- Health andHuman Ser-
vices cluster meeting.
Monday, October 10
Monday, October 17
Tuesday, October 18
9 a.m.-12 p.m. - Fi-
nance update and discus-
sion with Alfred Estimo and
Dennis Johnson.
Tuesday-Thursday, Octo-
ber 18-20 - Meeting on
Thursday-Friday, Octo-
ber 27-28 - Columbia River
Inter-tribal Fish Commis-
sion meeting.
All draft resolutions and
ordinances, including any
attachments or exhibits,
are due by the first Friday
of each month by 5 p.m.,
either hard copy or email
(Word form) for review. No
exceptions. Send to:
ldavis@wstribes.org
glendon.smith@wstribes.org
cr.begay@wstribes.org
Additional item for con-
sideration:
Warm Springs Housing
budget call back.