February 1991
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CLEAN KITCHEN EARNS HIGH SCORES - Nanitch Sahallie food services coordinator Kathy Aicher, a
Grand Rondc Tribal member, looks over the serving bar at the treatment center's kitchen facility.
Treatment Center's Kitchen
Gets High Rating
The kitchen facility at Nanitch Sahallie recently scored
a 98 out of 100 on their first Indian Health Services
Inspection. According to Food Services Coordinator
Kathy Aicher, inspector Michael Rasmussen was
impressed with what he saw at Nanitch Sahallie.
"He said that our kitchen was the most professionally
operated facility that he had seen in the IHS system,"
explained Aicher. She was also pleased that Rasmussen
asked if he could use the kitchen as a model program for
others to follow.
The Department of Education for the State of Oregon
also recently gave the Center's kitchen facility its annual
AIMS review. The AIMS review is short for Assess
ment, Improvement and Monitoring Systems. The site
inspection was done by Beverly Hassell of the School
Nutrition Program. According to Aicher, Hassell
thought the kitchen was a 'beautiful facility and that the
program was in total compliance with regulations.
1
Nanitch Sahallie Program Director Jo Anna Rogers is
proud of the job that is being done by her kitchen staff
at the treatment center. "We're striving to be the best."
Ring is New Clinical Manager
By Brent Merrill
Grand Ronde Tribal member, Monte Ring has taken
on the duties of Clinical Manager at Nanitch Sahallie
with a renewed sense of pride and determination.
"This has been a refreshing change for me coming to
the treatment center. I feel that this is where I belong,"
said Ring.
Ring worked for the Tribe as an alcohol and drug
rehabilitation counselor before taking the position at
Nanitch Sahallie as Clinical Manager. Ring's responsi
bilities include overseeing all of the program's Counsel
ors and monitoring their activities in relation to the
client. Ring also implements new program's and
coordinated activities throughout the staff and client
population. "Monte has vast experience with clinical
dependency and he is also acutely aware of the impor
tance of integrating cultural traditions into the treatment
, process," explained JoAnna Rogers.
'The desire comes from wanting to help
people. I get alot of gratification from working
with these kids who come in here with a blank
stare on their face and then comes the day when
you see that light come on again. "
Monte Ring
The staff at the treatment center has experienced a
change for the better since Ring assumed his responsi
bilities. "He holds himself totally accountable and he
expects his staff to be professional and insists that they
also be accountable. This is a necessary ingredient for
successful treatment," said Rogers.
Both Rogers and Ring believe that the fact that they
work so well together has had a positive effect on the
staff. "It really made us feel good when we were
described by Indian Health Services as a superior
management team," said Rogers. "Teamwork is
something we stress around here," explained Ring.
Ring's philosophy for treatment comes from experi
ence. Life experience. "Most of us are recovering
people. We've walked in their shoes (the client's). We
know what it's like to be lost and what it's like to be
found again." Ring explained that it's the little things
that make'his job worth while. "The desire comes from
wanting to help people. I get alot of gratification from
working with these kids who come in here with a blank
stare on their face and then comes the day when you see
that light come on again."
Monte Ring can best be described as a man who has
found his niche in life. Helping Native youth find life in
a world that can often lead to death. According to Ring
there isn't a more serious business in the world.