Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2015)
S moke S ignals AUGUST 15, 2015 9 477/VR Program looking forward to future By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor A Chxi-san – new day – dawned earlier in August when several re- lated departments moved into the new Employment Services building on the Tribal campus. Perhaps no employ- ees are more enthusi- astic about the move than the six members of the Vocational Reha- bilitation and 477 Em- ployment and Training staff. Because staff mem- bers partner and coor- dinate with so many other Tribal depart- ments and organiza- tions to serve Grand Ronde Tribal members (Vocational Rehabilitation) and Native Amer- ican and Alaskan Natives (477 Employment) seeking help in ob- taining employment or retraining for a new career, the move is looked upon as a great opportunity. “I’ve already seen an increase in open lines of communication,” says VR/477 Program Supervisor Michael Herrin inside a confer- ence room at the new Employment Services building. “HR hasn’t been here but two days and they are al- ready calling down saying, ‘Hey, we need people to work the powwow.’ ” Herrin was joined by his staff – Vocational Rehabilitation case worker Dodie McKenzie, 477 Em- ployment and Training specialists Pearl Rife and Khani Schultz, 477/ VR assistant Barbara Gibbons and 477/VR trainee Chris Martin. In 2014, 304 Native Americans and Alaska Natives applied for help through the 477 Employ- ment program with 281 applications accepted. Of those accepted, 177 were placed in plans and 93 clients were successful. For 2015, current numbers project that 80 Grand Ronde Tribal mem- bers with a disability will be placed on an individualized plan for em- ployment training with Vocational Rehabilitation. To date, 45 percent of those placed have been successful. Rife says the new structure, designed to be a one-stop shop for Tribal members and other Native Americans seeking employment, al- Position Opening Notice College Librarian/Library Director Position July 1 – June 30. Leave in accordance with current TBCC Policy 312 and corresponding regulations. A listing of responsibilities and qualification specific to this po- sition may be reviewed at www.tbcc.cc.or.us/images/documents/ press/PON_College_Librarian_Library_Director.pdf Position Opening Notice Tourism Sales and Marketing Programs Coordinator Position July 1 – June 30. Leave in accordance with current TBCC Policy 312 and corresponding regulations. A listing of responsibilities and qualifications may be reviewed at www.tbcc.cc.or.us/images/documents/press/PON_EDC_Tour- ism_Sales_and_Marketing_Programs_Coordinator.pdf DO YOU WORK IN the dairy industry, or forestry/wildlife/natu- ral resources field? Do you have special training/education in these fields? Have you ever thought about teaching? Local students who are interested in working in these fields can reach their goals with your expertise! For questions or additional information please contact Pat Ryan 503-842-8222, ext. 1020, Ann Hovey 503-842-8222, ext. 1030 or Emily Henry 503-842-8222 ext. 1870. Complete application packets will have first consideration. The submission of all required application materials is the responsi- bility of the applicant. Please respond via email with cover letter, resume and appli- cation indicating proof of your abilities to achieve the above job description and a minimum of three references to: patryan@tilla- mookbaycc.edu Tillamook Bay Community College Attn. Human Resources 4301 Third Street Tillamook, OR, 97141 To print application go to www.tbcc.cc.or.us/index.php/about-tb- cc-learn-more-about-us/discover-tbcc/employment and choose the staff application packet. Application cannot be filled out on-line. Candidate selected for hire must provide official academic tran- scripts. Applicants must be prepared to interview at their own expense. Photo by Michelle Alaimo The Tribe’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program/477 staff is, front row, Vocational Rehabilitation case worker Dodie McKenzie, left, and Administrative Assistant Kalene Contreras; second row, 477 Employment and Training specialists Pearl Rife, left, and Khani Schultz, right, and back row, VR/477 Program Supervisor Michael Herrin, 477/VR trainee Chris Martin and 477/VR assistant Barbara Gibbons. lows a Native job-seeker to sign up for help from the 477 Employment or Vocational Rehabilitation pro- grams, as well as contact the Tribal Employment Rights Office about possible construction jobs avail- able within a 60-mile radius of the Reservation and then walk over to the Human Resources Department for both the Tribal government and Spirit Mountain Casino to find out about job openings and also sign up for the temporary worker pool. “We try to meet each individual where they are when they come in and apply for services” Gibbons says. “The most important key as- pect is to make sure that each indi- vidual Tribal member, whether they be a Grand Ronde Tribal member or from other Tribes that can access services under federal grant dollars, that they have to have easy access to all of the services and we are here as the specialists to make sure we steer them in the right direction.” “I do want to emphasize that we are a Native program for Natives,” Herrin says. “We provide services to Indian Country. There is a dif- ferent feel to Native services than if you were to walk into a state employment office. … We’re just one family member helping anoth- er. We try to honor their integrity.” McKenzie says that even Tribal members who successfully obtain a new job through Vocational Reha- bilitation – their case is closed after 90 days of employment – still stop in to talk and seek advice. “We have an open-door policy and it’s Tribally oriented,” Herrin says. Herrin says the new arrangement will eventually make for a fluid, smooth process for Native Ameri- cans seeking employment services from the Grand Ronde Tribe. Gibbons says the advantages of convergence will enhance the inter-departmental cooperation necessary to create 477/Vocational Rehabilitation success stories. “This is a real positive step for the Tribe and Tribal members,” Martin says. “To be a part of this new step is amazing. Having HR above us, it’s amazing to have that communication open.” “We’re definitely on the cusp of positive movement in the employ- ment fields,” Herrin says. “And we all sense that.” All six staff members said they are thankful that the Tribal leadership is supportive of the effort to improve employment services to the local Native community, ranging from creating the Tribal Employment Rights Office to building the new Employment Services structure. Schultz cites attendance at a July 22 open house held at the Tribe’s Portland area office on Barbur Boulevard as further proof of lead- ership support. Tribal Council members Jon A. George, a former Vocational Reha- bilitation counselor with the Tribe, and Denise Harvey, who previously ran the mentorship program at the Tribe, attended. Also, Tribal Coun- cil member Cheryle A. Kennedy, who wrote the original Vocational Rehabilitation grant for the Tribe, attended. “The people who are in leadership positions are behind employment in the Grand Ronde area. They are really behind providing services to get Tribal members employed. It’s not just smoke; they are backing it up with action,” Herrin says. “Tribal members do appreciate it,” Rife adds. Rife, who remembers some of her current clients from when they were children at the former Grand Ronde Grade School, says that the 477 Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Program is a sup- port system for Tribal members and Native Americans in the sev- en-county service area (Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Tillamook, Clacka- mas, Multnomah and Washington). And, like any good supportive relative, staff members also will occasionally give a client encour- agement to keep them on a positive path toward self-sufficiency and long-term employment. “It’s not a handout, but a hand up,” Rife says. “I like to bring them back to reality because I’ve known them all their lives.” n