HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Social Services Has Changed
Much More Than Its Name
Foster Parents Needed
Indian Homes For Indian Children
The Tribal Foster Care Program is accepting applications
for Foster Parents to provide a warm, loving, stable
environment for displaced tribal children. If you are
interested, please contact John Fraser, Foster Care
Coordinator, at the Tribal family Action Program,
extension 2039.
Help protect our generations.
.-3 J
, I
: rfrf P1 - K I-
ii iiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiinnn-miir i niiWWWIillWWirMTIWWl "
Participants of the first Life Skills Seminar celebrate their achievement
with their instructors.
By Tracy Olson
The Tribal Family Action Program, (formally Social Services) has changed some of its
policies and procedures with the five different programs it houses.
Mychal Childers, IntakeReferral Specialist, provides assessments to specific clients and
helps direct them to the caseworker or program available to assist them in their situation.
The programs are: Indian Child Welfare, Domestic Violence, Foster Care, JOBS, and Intake
Referral.
"Explained Mychal, "Many of my referrals come from tribal members who are involved with
other tribal programs such as Education, Mental Health, or Tribal Court. They might have connections
in many of the Tribe's departments."
MychalChilders, IntakeReferral Specialist, infrontofthe TribalFamily
Action Program building.
to addition, Mychal has established working relationships with many of the state and county
agencies set up to assist people in crisis situations. The Tribe's programs are limited to the Six County
Service Area, so she might refer someone out of the area to a local agency which can help.
Theron Ruiz, who was recently hired as the Human Services Treatment Coordinator, says
the department name change is a small aspect of how the programs are changing. He said, "We want
our focus to be on problem-solving and life changes. There are things that are more important than
money. Our main goal as a division is to educate and eive our clients hone so thev dont reoeat the same :
mistakes over again."
In the past, the Social Services Program has experienced some understandably upset people
who have found themselves in a crisis situatioa Although if s sometimes frustrating to deal with large
organizations in emergency-situations, part of the Tribal Family Action Program's new policy is not
to tolerate verbal abuse or threats. Said Theron, "I want clients to understand we are working with
them in solving their problems. We have limited services here, but we will work with you."
Mychal receives about 25 referrals per month, most of which remain permanent clients she .
has to follow-up on. All clients are different, and have different backgrounds as well as different needs.
Each one has to be handled separately, and that takes time. ShesaysthateveryoneintheFamily Action
Program works together to resolve the client's problem. She said, "This is a very emotional job. I see
a lot of people in crisis. But when I see a person who has changed his or her life for the better by getting
out of an abusive situation or getting an education, thafs where a lot of rewards come from."
Participants Endorse Life Skills
The first Life Skills For Independence Seminar is currently taking place in Grand Ronde for
many tribal members and JOBS participants. The four week seminar covers a variety of topics
including career planning and job search, personal development, and support services. Coordinated
through a program at Chemeketa Community College, all participants receive college credit for
attending this seminar.
But it isnt a normal classroom. The participants talk about the things they want to
accomplish in life, the barriers they have faced, and work together to find solutions. Part of the class
in developing the skills we all need in our job search or applying for college, and part of the class
focuses on strength and inner confidence we need to accomplish our goals.
Said Jeremiah Foster, a Life Skills participant, "In my past I wanted a career in medicine,
but was talked out of it by people in my life. Now I know I can go for it."
Another Life Skills member, Ed Ashman said, "Tm being treated like a human being, not a
statistic. I know I can turn my dream into a reality now."
As a whole, the group highly recommended the class to anyone who is in need of the skills
being offered. In fact, they thought the seminar should be available to everyone.