Tribal Life
New parents get help from Healthy Start
By Frank King, special writer
Healthy Start is an in-home family
support service that helps new
parents develop parenting skills.
The Marion-Polk county
program, thatmodeledafterahighly
successful experiment in Hawaii,
began last September.
"Our main mission is wellness in
children," program director Ginger
Bensman said.
Designers of the Healthy Start
program believe that good parenting
will enhance stability in families.
The Hawaii program showed asharp
rise in the number of children with
better emotional, mental, and
physical health, and a decline in the
number of kids being maltreated.
Grand Ronde tribal member
Margaret Provost, a Healthy Start
family support worker, has been
with the program since it started.
To date, eight Grand Ronde families
are clients in the program.
Provost loves her job.
What's the main thing she likes
about it?
"Seeing all the new babies and
visiting them," she said. "It is a
good feeling being able to assist
first-time parents with information
to help them maintain a healthier
life-style. I just wish there was
more time and resources to serve all
parents of newborns."
Tribal members wanted in sheriffs reserve
By Frank King, special writer
Polk County Sheriff Tom Steele
told the Tribal Council at its meeting
Nov. 30, that good community
police work is being done in Grand
Ronde, and the record for the past
three months is proof of the success.
At the meeting the Council dealt
with law enforcement contract
issues, the strategic futures plan
and routine administrative matters.
On Aug. 1, the Tribe and Polk
County reached an agreement on
law enforcement service. The Tribe
provided about $45,000 for the
services of Deputy Sheriff Tom
O'Brien who is stationed in Grand
Ronde.
Steele was accompanied by
O'Brien; Barbara Runyon, under
Seventy-eight families are being
served under Healthy Start in the
two-county area, and the goal is to
have 300 families as clients this
fiscal year.
"Our volunteers also visit another
1,400 families," Bensman said.
Bensman said that many new
parents, including single parents,
do not have models from which to
learn basic parenting skills. Under
Healthy Start the clients learn what
to expect as a baby develops and
grows, how to comfort a crying
baby, how and how to locate health
care and take advantage of
community resources.
"We are in a supportive role. We
visit an expectant mother, help her
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Ginger Bensman and Margaret
program.
sheriff; and Bob Wolfe, operations
supervisor.
Steele said that in August,
September and October there were
282 calls for service in the Grand
Ronde area: 165 cases were handled
by O'Brien and 117 by other
deputies.
"Tom isn't the only deputy we
have working in the area," Steele
said. Others fill in when O'Brien
isn't in the district.
There were 226 cases assigned to
deputies in the Grand Ronde
District; 178 to O'Brien and 48 to
others.
Steele said that he would like to
see tribal members participate in
the sheriffs reserve program.
with necessary arrangements and
in some cases provide transportation
to the hospital," she said. "After
the baby is born, we coach mothers
on feeding, care, and
immunizations.
Bensman said that Healthy Start
is for everyone, regardless of
household income.
Healthy Start workers also serve
Russian and Hispanic communities,
and have workers who are
conversant in the languages.
Supporters maintain that Healthy
Start can't solve current gang
problems in the area, but other
community service agencies can
work with them for change.
Provost of the Healthy
Start
"The reserves promote an interest
in law enforcement and can lead to
a career program for some
participants," he said. Steele said
he would like to see tribal members
apply for the reserves.
Applicants must be 21 years old,
have no major arrest record, have a
high school diploma or GED
certificate and be in good health.
Deputy O'Brien thanked the
Council for its help with the baseball
card program. The baseball cards,
with the deputies' photos, personal
information and phone numbers,
are given to people whom they
serve.
O'Brien also submitted a colorful
shoulder patch that the Council
Elder's Spotlight
For Harold Mercier, Grand
Ronde is the best place to live
Harold Mercier with his great,
Tribal elder Harold Mercier was
born February 12, 1909 and has
lived most of his 85 years in Grand
Ronde with his wife, Velma. Velma
and Harold are known as solid,
stable Grand Ronde citizens and
have been married for 66 years.
Harold spent his work life as most
men did in this part of Oregon... in
the woods. He was a logger by
trade, and also likes to camp and
hunt.
Harold and Velma have one son,
Dean, and a daughter, Beverly,
who has passed away. There are
approved. The deputies serving
Grand Ronde will wear the patch
on their uniforms. ,
After the lengthy discussion on
law enforcement, the Council
delayed approving the strategic
futures planning guide.
"It is the same document that was
in the October newsletter," Jim
Willis, chief executive officer, said.
"The planning guide should be
approved by resolution."
Andy Jenness suggested, and the
Council concurred, that the action
be delayed until the next Council
meeting. The plan was subsequently
adopted at a December meeting,
Other actions at the Council
meeting included:
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great grandaughter, Justine.
three grandchildren, eight great
grandchildren, and six great-great
grandchildren.
Harold's parents were Grand
Ronde tribal members Arthur
Mercier and Agnes Leno Mercier.
His brothers include Joe, Hubert,
and Marion, who is deceased.
Harold's sister, Geraldine "Toots"
passed away a few years ago.
Harold and Velma live near the
reservation and are surrounded by
lots of friends and family members.
They are active in the community
and in tribal functions.
Kathryn Harrison will look into a
request by Oregon State University
seeking artifacts for a display.
Referred to the Pow-wow
Committee a bill from Jim Butler
for smoked fish for the Christmas
party.
Approved moving investment
funds from one category to another
to take advantage of interest rates.
Approved letter of thanks to the
Forest Service for the Windows of
the Past exhibit.
Denied a request by Scott
Watkins for an endorsement of his
production on the Columbia River
Tribes.