Smoke signals., July 01, 2010, Page 13, Image 13

Smoke Signals 13
JULY 1,2010
Oregon) CueaDttlh) comniinniiitfttee
Dosttemis ft (Gcamdl Ronxrile
Youth CD Deer
Oct 2 -Nov. 7, 20 10
Name:
Address:
City:
Zip:
State:
Roll:
Phone: (
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Congrats Erik on your graduation!!!
Congratulations go out to Erik Estrada, son of Tribal
member Debbie Leno, grandson of Tribal members
Bud and Maxine Leno. Erik graduated this May with
a Business degree from Cat State Long Beach.
Erik we are so proud of you you have overcome
so much and have grown into such a wonderful
man. Along with being a proud Vet having served
in Iraq, you are now a college graduate.
Your family and Friends are so proud of you.
Love, the Estrada family.
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By Ron Karten
SmuJke Stuls fluff Writer
With legislation passed by the 2009 Leg
islature, Oregon re-organized the huge De
partment of Human Services into the Oregon
Health Authority to pursue better health care
. at lower costs.
Part of that effort is the Oregon Health
Improvement Plan Committee that came
to Grand Ronde on Thursday, June 24, as
the last stop on its statewide "listening ses
sions." Tribal member and Tribal Director of Pro
gram Operations John Merrier stood in for
Tribal Council Chairwoman and committee
member Cheryle A. Kennedy in welcoming the
group to the Tribal Community Center.
The top ranking concern of Tribal mem
bers in our first survey back in 198-1-85 was
health," Mercier said.
"What we know," said committee Vice Chair
Lila Wickham, "is that only 20 percent of
health issues are related to health care."
When the group broke into smaller groups
to tackle the positives, negatives and potential
solutions to local health care issues, greater
detail surfaced.
The food that's available in the community
is not very nutritious and these high calorie
foods without much nutrition also cost less.
"It fills them up and it's cheap," said Lee
Means, executive director of Yamhill Com
munity Action Partnership.
Even the casino's buffet encourages overeat
ing, said one participant.
But take a step back to the garden, where
good foods can be grown for very little cost,
and Means reported that the fruits of last
year's garden went to waste.
"Very low-income people have no clue how -to
cook it or use it," she said.
On the other hand, Means added, YCAP
built a community garden in WiUamina and
learned that when children work in the gar
den and grow their own vegetables, they also
eat them.
In some places, transportation and health
care costs keep people from using existing
health facilities.
Tribal health facilities are well-used, how
ever, according to Tribal Health Services Ex
ecutive Director Mark Johnston.
The Tribe offers a number of preventive
possibilities that aren't available elsewhere,
including walking, Biggest Loser contests and
gym facilities.
And Tribal Head Start programs have the
dual benefit of teaching children and their
parents about nutrition.
While the Tribe is "doing OK by teenagers,"
according to Deb Kroeker, Tribal Housing Ser
vices specialist, "we're having trouble holding
on to the 18-29 group."
"It's daunting to try to overcome peer pres
sures and popular media," said Dr. Curtis
Hesse, administrator of the Tillamook County
Central Health Center.
Agricultural policy provides some "perverse
incentives," said Means. Farmers mainly grow
food on contract to processors, and in good
years they plow under the excess. This is qual
ity food that could be competitive, price-wise,
with junk food.
One question: Is the Grand Ronde community
healthier since the clinic was built in 1997?
"Without a doubt the health status of the
Grand Ronde community, and Tribe specifi
cally, has improved since the clinic was estab
lished and the Tribe began providing health
coverage through plans like the Skookum
Health Plan," said Johnston.
"That being said, we still have a long way to
go as we focus more attention on prevention
and wellness to try and really get at the root
causes of the symptom and develop strategies
that reduce these issues."
The listening sessions will feed into "an
action plan for the state that will look at pre
venting chronic disease." It also will answer
the question: "What, as a state, should we be
doing to encourage local health prevention and
treatment efforts?" said Wickham.
To follow the discussion or to contribute, the
committee encourages the public to visit the
Web site www.oregon.govDHSphhpcdphip
index.shtml.
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Grand Ronde Community Resource Center's Garden House
(Next to Community Garden)
July 17 - Condiments (mustard, corn relish & j alapeno j elly)
July 24 - Bread (Artisan, Sourdough, Potato) :rr f
Aug. 14 - Pickles (dill pickles & jardiniere)
Sept 18 - Sausage (Chorizo, Italian, Breakfast, Portugese Linguiza)
Sept. 25 Apples (applesauce & pie filling)
Oct. 10 Pears (butter, canned & jam)
Will accept a maximum of 10 people per class
Everything is provided, however, feel free to bring any fruitberries, vegetables or jars that you would like to use
Lunch will be provided
Classes are limited to those individuals who meet USDA Commodity income eligibility Le. receive
Food Stamps or food boxes.
SIGN ME UP! Please contact GRCRC staff- Patrice or Angie at 503-879-5731 to sign up for i
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Ad created by George Valdez