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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1994)
May 1994 Page 8 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Smoke Signals Tribe awarded self-governance grant By Cheryle Kennedy The Tribe was notified April 15 that it has been awarded a Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation grant Self-Governance is a demonstration project, involving of 30 tribes nationwide. It was authorized by Congress in 1988, and allows Indian tribes to enter into an annual funding agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Interior. These agreements allow the tribes to plan, consolidate, and administer programs and services currently controlled by Indian Health Services. It also allows tribes the flexibility to meet their own needs. Self governance will provide the flexibility and opportunity for the Tribe to reorganize its services into a consolidated, integrated, comprehensive health and human services delivery program. The Tribe's three major goals under the agreement are: to achieve self-governance and self sufficiency; to improve the accessibility of health care for all tribal members in Grand Ronde and outlying areas and; to develop comprehensive direct service capability for those residing near the homelands area. ' The Tribe will assume all of the IHS programs that apply to direct program operations and will sign a self-governance compact by January 1, 1995. Entering into a self-governance compact will allow the Tribe more creativity to expand its health care delivery system to meet the needs of more tribal members. By June, a survey will be sent out to all tribal members asking for their input concerning the range of services to be delivered. To implement this agreement, the Tribal Council has chosen a team approach to formulate our plan. Members of the team are Executive Officer Jim Willis, Administrative Officer Greg Archuleta, Financial Officer Pat Mercier; Andy Jenness, Tribal Council member; Merle Leno, Chairman of the Human Services Committee, and two other experts who will assist in this process. The team will identify deficiencies, design solutions, consider options, maximize use of funds and provide recommendation to Tribal Council so that the best possible delivery system can be established. The Health and Human Services Division wants to keep tribal members informed of these exciting changes. Look for more information about this grant in the future, or call Human Services with questions regarding self-governance. 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. Mental Health Component receives new associate By Tracy Olson The Mental Health Component of the Tribe's Human Services Division has hired Bryan Langley to serveas Mental Health Associate. He and Tomoko Gersch, Mental Health Coordinator, will provide orientation, intake, referrals and counseling to tribal members. Bryan previously worked in the Tribal Family Action Program as the Children and Family Services caseworker. "One of my goals is to help tribal members become more aware of the services we provide here," he said. "I would like Mental Health to be more involved with other tribal programs like Prevention and Education." Bryan said that in working with children, common occurrences are anger and behavioral problems. Many activities, coordinated with other tribal programs, can educate families about signs to look for in their children's behavior. Bryan and Tomoko are also available to help with marriage and family issues, stress, financial difficulties, emotional difficulties, and other concerns in the lives of tribal members. Clients must be either an enrolled member of the Grand Ronde Tribe, oranenrolledmemberofafederally recognized tribe. They must also reside within the six-county service area. Bryan said that the Mental Health position appealed to him because it involves working with tribal families and helping them become healthy. "Helping families is what I enjoyed most about working in Family Action," he said. "This job requires a more in-depth approach to helping." Bryan also said he would like to change the stereotype of mental health professionals and clients. "Too many people associate seeingacounselorwithbeingcrazy. It's not true. It's not what you see in the movies. It's helping people." If you would like to make an appointment with Bryan or Tomoko, please call the tribal offices and ask for extension 2046 or 2067. Privacy is paramount. All clients names are kept confidential. pill S.::,V 1 1 Ml )'' Tomoko Gersch and Bryan Langley are now working together in Mental Health. s - : : Chemical Dependency honored with Healing Spirit drum Shantee Klootchman Turn Turn drum were the first to drum and sing on the new drum in the Chemical Dependency program. It was named "Healing Spirit" and was made by Darrell Kipp. Nora Kimsey blessed the drum in Chinook Jargon, and everyone took a turns playing it, and visitors from Linfield College participated in a round dance. The drum will be used for cultural education and spiritual gatherings in the Chemical Dependency program.
