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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2012)
8 NOVEMBER 15, 2012 Smoke Signals CDtamlbeirDaDin) wwfciirag) tio'opeiro dews' By Ron Karten Smtike Sitnuli tttif u ntrr New Community Health man ager Dee Anna Chamberlain comes to Grand Rondo from a life in nurs ing. Chamberlain, a registered nurse, started at the Community Health Program in October. She said in an interview in her desk-sized office at the back of the Health & Wellness Clinic that "for the last three weeks I've been on a dead run." She brings a career to Grand Rondo that hus included work in the operating room, the classroom and the community. Schooled at Oregon Health & Science Uni versity and the Oregon Institute of Technology, Chamberlain has developed and operated a home health care business that educated nurses about how to care for high risk babies. She worked for 10 years as a clini cal nurse specialist in home care at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Fresno, Calif., and then worked for eight more years as the nurs ing coordinatordirector for the Li censed Vocational Nurse program at Madera Community College. She taught fundamentals of nursing, chronic illness and gerontology in that program. That was the job that stole her heart. "Madera was ethnically diverse," she said. She taught 30 students with seven different first languag es. "That was so wonderful. We had big food days," she said, "and it was awesome to taste all of the foods." Among her challenges was "nego- ' ' ' " : -" Photo by Michelle Alaimo Dt Anna Chamberlain is the Triba's new Community Health manager. tiating to make the system work," but "working with the underserved is so much more than just negotiat ing systems. It is listening to people and what their needs are; it is work ing in the system to open doors for them to change their own life. "At the VA, that meant educat ing and facilitating the veteran to a healthier lifestyle, which meant they were able to stay at home and not go to a nursing home. "In Madera, it was opening doors by developing a program that al lowed the underserved to succeed at becoming a nurse. That is so empowering for a group of minority people who were told they couldn't be a nurse. When they graduated, they saw they were smart enough, if' IMP Er.7 FHJcanc::s Invitation To Tribal Members, r Spouses of Tribal Members , Parent Of A Tribal Member And Legal Guardians Of Grand Ronde Tribal Member Children To Apply For The Temporary Staffing Pool The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Temporary Staffing Pool is accepting applications. Tribal members, descendants, spouses of Tribal members, parents of a Tribal member, and legal guardians of Grand Ronde Tribal member children interested in assisting with filling temporary vacancies on an "on-call" or an "extended duration" basis are encouraged to contact the CTGR Human Resources office. Employment applications are available at the Human Resources office located in the Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. Applicants must pass the following background checks: Criminal background Work history References Tribal membership Drug screen Temporary employees will be subject to the CTGR's Employee Handbook. This is an excellent opportunity for our membership to sup V plement their income and gain experience while aiding us in f X continuing a smooth delivery of services. f IJp?- Ml and could now earn money to care for their family, and they did it themselves. That is truly life chang ing. Her plans for the Community Health Program are already taking advantage of these skills. Chamberlain arrived at the Com munity Health Program, designed to help educate Tribal members on their health and instill a method for creating healthy lifestyles. The department also focuses on trans portation and planning food for Powwow, Restoration, Meals on Wheels and the annual Christmas party. Chamberlain said she plans to add educational components to the program and open up other new possibilities. "I would like to see more coor dination of the Education Depart ment with Head Start, in-home visits with high-risk moms, edu cation on disease prevention and disease management for all ages," she said. On the morning of the interview, Chamberlain came out of a staff meeting with new plans to use a Tribal bus for monthly shopping trips for Elders. Also in the works, Chamberlain is setting up a new education pro gram at the pre-school level that will deal with prevalent health is sues in the community, including diet and information about safe relationships. Also for the parents of Head Start students, Chamberlain is working on a new baby program. When up and running, parents will receive a nursing visit when a baby first comes home. The nurse will answer questions, give the new mother in formation about all the things she and the baby may need, and the things she may need to know. "Education is key," she said. The education efforts also will include, for example, how to help an Elder safely in and out of a car. Also when it comes to cars, the program is preparing and passing out car kits with gloves and handy wipes and other conveniences for good health and well being. In the hopper are plans to update policies and procedures that will bring the program into the Tribe's electronic medical records, so doc tors will know what services the Community Health program has been providing. Chamberlain said she aims to expand the role of Community Health representative and certi fied nursing assistant positions to include an educational component. For Elders who receive the one noon meal from the Elders' meal site, that education might involve helping coordinate and plan other meals during the day, whether that involves cooking or ordering in. On shopping trips, education might touch on reading labels. "There are all kinds of preven tion work that we can be doing," she said. Born in Vancouver, Wash., and raised in Vale, Ore., Chamber lain is a Northwesterner through and through. Her father's family homesteaded Umatilla County and over the years, she said, her father always thought he was Indian. She has 30 first cousins scattered across Oregon and Washington. Her own return from California a few years ago was like "coming home," she said. One of her passions is travel, and at least one of her grown children has followed suit. In August, she returned from a trip to the Czech Republic where her oldest son, Drew, is teaching English. Her son, Chris, special izes in genetics and psychology. Her daughter, Stephanie, with a degree in human development, has recently married and put career plans on hold, Chamberlain said. Not so with Chamberlain's ca reer. In addition to her work at the Tribe, she continues to teach two courses in gerontology one af ternoon a week at Western Oregon University. For a year, she also taught nursing at Oregon Health and Science University. On the first and fourth Saturdays of the month in Dallas, where she lives now, Chamberlain volunteers at the Polk County Free Clinic helping provide a multitude of free and low-cost services to the com munity. "We're always looking for volun teers," she hints. Here in Grand Ronde, "We're just beginning," she said. "All these pro grams will have to evolve." In this effort, Chamberlain said that she wants to hear from the community about things people want and need, but, she cautions, "We don't do windows." D Ad created by George Valdez Recycle Center moved The Recycle Center has been moved to 9675 Grand Ronde Road. For more information, contact the Tribal Facilities Manager at 503-879-2407.
