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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2021)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Lush chxi kHul january 15, 2021 Tribe doubles COVID-19 testing capacity By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor H ealth Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe said the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde recently received a second COVID-19 virus test analyzer that will allow the clinic to double its testing capacity from 28 to 56 tests a day during a Wednesday, Jan. 6, Facebook Live event. “This gives us the ability to react quickly when Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Schools weighing options to re-open By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer A fter Oregon Gov. Kate Brown lessened stringent statewide restrictions for in-person learning in an effort to have more students return to the classroom by Feb. 15, local school districts that educate Grand Ronde Tribal students are weighing their re-opening options. Beginning on Jan. 1, the gov- ernor’s instructions for returning to school became “advisory rather than mandatory,” according to a let- ter sent to the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority on Dec. 23. “Moving forward, the decision to resume in-person instruction must be made locally, district by district, school by school,” Brown said. “In addition to schools continuing to adhere to required health and safe- ty protocols and working in close consultation with their local public health authority in understand- ing and considering the metrics, teachers, school staff, parents and students should be engaged in this decision-making process to allow schools to make the best choice for their community and their students.” However, schools in areas with high COVID-19 case counts, such as Yamhill, Marion and Polk coun- ties, are still essentially required to follow all of the same rules in the “Ready Schools, Safe Learners,” guidance set by ODE and OHA, and work with local public health officials to ensure guidelines are followed. The guidance is expected to be updated on Tuesday, Jan. 19. “We will be working on our plan See SCHOOLS continued on page 9 someone is sick,” Rowe said. Rowe gave an overview of the Tribal Health & Wellness Center’s continuing efforts to deal with the virus. She said that as of Tuesday, Jan. 5, the clinic has conducted 1,625 tests with 1,502 of them being negative, 50 positive and 73 being retests. At the time, there were 17 active cases See COVID-19 continued on page 7 Health & Wellness Lab Assistant Kateri Marrufo prepares a test sample to be run through the second COVID-19 virus test analyzer received by the Tribe on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The unit will allow the clinic to double its COVID testing capacity. Grand Ronde Tribe preparing to open two medication-assisted treatment clinics By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer T he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is pre- paring to open two med- ication-assisted treatment facilities this year, the first Tribally owned and operated programs in the state to combat opioid addiction. In December, Portland resi- dent Jennifer Worth was hired as the Operations Director for both clinics. “I’m really excited just to be able to be of service to the com- munity and helping others,” Worth says. “What is really exciting about these clinics is that we will also be able to offer spiritual and cultural aspects as well as medication-assisted therapy.” Worth earned a master’s de- gree in social work from Port- land State University and has several years of experience working as a health care con- sultant across Oregon, includ- ing assisting with opening a medication-assisted treatment facility in Seaside. “What spurred me to accept this job with the Tribe was the sense of community and connec- tion I feel here,” she says. Health Services Executive Di- rector Kelly Rowe says Worth’s priorities will be effective opera- tions management and services. “(She will) ensure the MAT program services are responsive to Tribal and community needs, are the highest quality of care, and in compliance with all state, Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Medication-Assisted Treatment Clinic Operations Director Jennifer Worth was onsite at the new clinic in Salem on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Tribally operated clinic, along with one in Portland, will help people dealing with opioid addiction. local and federal regulations, and that they contribute to the Tribe’s holistic health and wellness objec- tives for patients and families.” The Tribe began looking into offering medication-assisted treat- ment in the wake of the opioid cri- sis that swept through the United States beginning in the early 2000s. The crisis led to millions of people with addiction problems, some of whom were not helped by tradi- tional abstinence-based, 12-step programs. A recent project update on the Tribe’s website describes why it is pursuing these efforts. “Medication-assisted treat- ment is one of the most effective forms of treatment for substance abuse because it combines be- havioral therapy with carefully managed medications,” it states. “For the past year, the Tribe has been exploring ways to expand its current health services to include medication-assisted See CLINICS continued on page 8