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
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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