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JANUARY 1, 2021
15
Helping hands honored
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Spirit Mountain Community Fund Program Coordinator Angela Sears
presents the 2020 Helping Hand Management Staff Award to Willamette
Valley Hospice Clinical Manager Barb Farmer on Tuesday, Dec. 22, because of
her expertise in pediatric hospice care throughout the years. With 30 years of
experience, Farmer is also known as a hospice expert. During the COVID-19
pandemic, she immediately implemented safety measures to protect
patients, families and staff. She also assists with testing staff members for
COVID-19 so that they can safely provide care at facilities.
CASA of Linn County Volunteer Coordinator Robin Gardner displays the
Spirit Mountain Community Fund 2020 Helping Hand Non-Management
Staff Award on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Gardner promised her family that she would
retire by 2020. Once 2020 came, the executive director at the time resigned
and COVID-19 shut the office down. Therefore, Gardner displayed dedication
and commitment to her volunteers and the children they serve by staying on
with CASA until the end of 2020 to train new staff who have come onboard.
WHAT DOES A CASA DO?
Follow a CASA Volunteer's Journey to Help a Child Reach Permanency
THE CHILD IS PLACED IN
FOSTER  CARE OR
RELATIVE CARE
THE JUDGE REQUESTS THE CASA
PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM SELECTS
A VOLUNTEER, THE VOLUNTEER IS
APPOINTED TO THE CASE
THE CASA COMMUNICATES WITH
EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE CASE
foster family, biological family, Tribal Court,
Child & Family Services, caseworker, doctor,
teacher, counselor, etc.
American Legion Post 10 Albany, Ore., Commander David Solomon holds
the 2020 Helping Hand Volunteer Award on Monday, Dec. 14, given annually
by Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Solomon, an unpaid volunteer, works
numerous hours in the daily operation of American Legion Post 10. He is a
retired New York City Fire Department emergency medical services employee
who was one of the first responders to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11,
2001. In spite of his injuries and health issues stemming from working “the
pile,” he continues to give of himself.
THE CASA PREPARES A COURT
REPORT WITH THEIR FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS &
ADVOCATES FOR THE CHILD'S BEST
INTEREST IN COURT
THE CASA MEETS CHILD
AND GETS TO KNOW THEM
THE CASA VISITS THE CHILD AT
LEAST ONCE A MONTH
THE CASA CONTINUES TO
ADVOCATE UNTIL THE CHILD IS
RETURNED HOME OR PLACED IN
A SAFE, PERMANENT HOME
WWW.GRANDRONDE.ORG/GOVERNMENT/TRIBAL-COURT/COURT-PROGRAMS/
Environmental Assessment available
Tribal home ownership is nearing construction phase. As part of
the environmental review process, compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is complete. An Environmental
Assessment (EA) was drafted and submitted to the Bureau of Indi-
an Affairs (BIA). The BIA has reviewed the EA, and has concurred
with the Tribe’s finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in rela-
tion to environmental impacts. The FONSI document is available
for review by community members for 15 days from the time of this
notice. If you are interested in reviewing the FONSI, please contact
Torey Wakeland, Environmental Policy Analyst, at torey.wakeland@
grandronde.org. 