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.
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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.