Nome Eskimo Community, Alaska

Nome Eskimo Community
P.O. Box 1090
Nome, Alaska 99762
NEC Tribal Council
Janice Doherty, President
Tiffany Martinson, Vice President
Shane Smithhisler, Secretary / Treasurer
Jason Omedelina Member
Matthew Michels, Member
Nome Eskimo Community
Sharon Sparks, Member
Alfred Sahlin, Member
NEC Staff
Administration
Denise Barengo, Executive Director
Emma Pate, Deputy Director
Family Services Program
Promoting stability, security and wellness
within Tribal member families.
Cathy Lyon, Human Resource Manager
Daisy Chiskok, Executive Assistant
Edward Omedelina, Custodian
Accounting
Stephanie Vacek, Accountant
Nina Hanebuth, Accounting Specialist
“THE FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM ADVOCATES FOR TRIBAL MEMBER CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THEY ENSURE FAMILIES
Tribal Resources
DO NOT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SYSTEM. WE ARE BESIDE THEM, ADVOCATING FOR THEM THROUGH EVERY
Michael Sloan, Tribal Resources Specialist
STEP OF THE PROCESS.”
Tribal Services
The NEC Family Services program staff provides traditional
abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence or sexual
Dawn “Birdie” Warnke, Tribal Services Director
approaches to case management, family support and advocacy
assault), Traumatic Stress and the Psychobiology of Trauma
Elsie Sampson Vaden, Tribal Services Specialist
through collaborative efforts with the Office of Children’s
(Trauma 101) and ARC (Attachment, Self-Regulation and
Services (OCS) and other partner agencies. Our office is
Competency Development; a framework for working with
located in the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) building located
traumatized youth). The training was well received and
at 3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508.
appreciated by everyone who attended.
In 2014, through a BIA special projects grant, the NEC Family
Richard Hawkins, Office Assistant
Issue 02 { Spring 2015 }
A PUBLICATION FOR
NEC TRIBAL MEMBERS
Youth Services
Marsha Sloan, Youth Services Director
Niaomi Brunette, Youth Services Specialist
compliments of:
Toni Smith, Youth Services Coordinator
ISSUE FEATURES NEC TRIBAL YOUTH SERVICES: PAGE 2
Vanessa Tahbone, Youth Services Coordinator
NEC HOUSING PROGRAM: PAGE 2 NEC TRIBAL RESOURCES: PAGE 3
Tonya Olanna Hanson, Youth Services Assistant
NEC TRIBAL SERVICES PROGRAM: PAGE 3 SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES: PAGE 3
Lis Leeper, Instructor
NEC FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM: PAGE 4
Services program provided an opportunity for NEC staff,
Family Services (Anchorage)
OCS staff and regional partner agencies to become a trauma
Lola Stepetin, Family Service Director
informed child welfare system, in part, to learn how to recognize
Delores Hunter, ICWA Specialist
Genevieve Nakarak, ICWA Specialist
and respond to the varying impact of traumatic stress on
children, caregivers and those who have contact with the child
Housing
Bivers Gologergen, Housing Director
protective services system. As a trauma-informed organization,
Ashla Weston, Housing Coordinator
our case management systems can infuse and sustain trauma
Paul Hukill, Foreman
Ronald Jones, Carpenter
awareness, knowledge and skills into our organizational culture,
practices and policies. As a trauma informed child welfare
system, the collaborative efforts by all parties will facilitate and
Senator Dan Sullivan and NEC President
Janice Doherty at the Tribal Nations Summit.
Harrison Miklahook, Jr., Laborer
support the recovery and resiliency of our tribal children and
families.
The NEC Family Services program now has a toll-free number
for members to speak with any of our ICWA staff regarding
The training was conducted by an instructor from the
OCS involvement with their family, keeping their family together
Anchorage Community Mental Health Services Alaska Child
(family preservation), child protection and safety, cultural
N ome E ski mo Com m unit y
Trauma Center and was held in Nome August 21 -22, 2014.
adoptions or any other child protective services/ICWA concerns
P O B ox 1090
or questions. The toll-free number is 1-855-793-3142.
N ome, A l aska 99762
Over 34 regional staff from Kawerak, Inc., Norton Sound
Behavioral Health Services, OCS and the Nome Community
Center attended the 2-day training on complex trauma (child
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
P hone: 907.443. 2246
Fax: 907.443. 3539
W ebsi te: w ww. necalaska. or g
NEC Robotics: Saturdays
March 16-20: Iditarod Basketball Clinic
March 30: Sewards Day (NEC office closed)
April 21: NEC Tribal Council Meeting (2nd Qtr.)
May 25: Memorial Day (NEC office closed)
June 2 - 4: Kawerak Rural Providers/Regional Conference
June 22-26: X-treme Math X-peditions
June 28-July 2: ANE Science Camp
July 3: Independence Day (NEC office closed)
July 21: NEC Tribal Council Meeting (3rd Qtr)
Sept. 7: Labor Day (NEC office closed)
Oct. 13: NEC Tribal Council Meeting (4th Qtr)
Oct. 15 - 17: AFN Conference (Anchorage)
Oct. 19: Alaska Day (NEC office closed)
Nov. 5: NEC Annual Meeting
Nov. 11: Veterans Day (NEC office closed)
Nov. 26 - 27: Thanksgiving Holiday (NEC office closed)
Dec. 25: Christmas Holiday (NEC office closed)
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day (NEC office closed)
Executive Director’s Message | Denise Barengo
Happy New Year! Looking back on 2014, it has been a year of
Another highlight of 2014 is the award of a Tribal Transit Grant
growth and many exciting activities at NEC. Our membership
from the Department of Transportation. The funding will be
continues to grow from 2,754 in November 2013 to 2,900 in
utilized in 2015 to purchase a shuttle to provide transportation
November 2014. This increase in membership can be attributed
services for children attending Nome Preschool, after school
to the Affordable Care Act and requirements to qualify for a
and summer activities. The bus is scheduled to arrive on the
health care tax exemption, as well as NEC staff attendance
first barge and transport services will begin fall 2015. The Safe
at the AFN Elders and Youth Conference and Sitnasuak
Routes to School Safety Plan was also completed in 2014 and
shareholders reception in Anchorage to provide enrollment
traffic patterns have been changed to address the safety of our
services to those who live outside Nome.
school children. We will utilize a Tribal Transportation Safety
Planning grant to continue expanding our efforts throughout the
Many of you have seen the television commercial featuring
community.
local Nome Beltz High School graduate and state basketball
star, Tyler Eide. The multi-media campaign was developed
As we look ahead to 2015, the Tribal Council has updated the
by NEC to address the growing problem of juvenile alcohol
NEC Strategic Plan, setting new goals to guide our organization
and substance abuse in our region. The campaign, funded
over the coming year. Our priorities for 2015 will be education,
through a Department of Justice grant award, utilizes social
community engagement, cultural programs, substance
media components such as the hashtag #MyChoiceMyFuture
abuse prevention, family services, tribal resources, housing,
as the campaign and program name to engage youth in the
transportation and a new tribal office. Our mission remains to
messaging and gain awareness about the program. This
improve the quality of life for our members and it is through
campaign has been a major success for the Tribe and is
these goals, the work of our staff and the leadership of our
something we can all take pride in as we work to build a
Tribal Council that success is possible. Thank you.
stronger community.
Tribal Resources Program
Tribal Youth Services
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE TRIBAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS TO EDUCATE
TRIBAL MEMBERS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT THOSE
Increasing and enhancing activities that promote education, culture and
healthy lifestyles for Alaska Native and tribally-enrolled school-aged youth.
LIVING IN THE NOME SERVICE AREA.
NEC’s Tribal Resources Program has been very active this past
summer and fall. Ms. Raechel Stiles was hired as the Tribal
monitored sites from three to nine.
•
Resources summer intern, and she assisted with program
NEC continues to provide tutoring/homework help services at
Most notably in 2014, NEC launched its #MyChoiceMyFuture
Nome Beltz Jr. High School as well as Lego Robotics Club.
media campaign on October 1. The campaign features Tribal
Additionally, NEC offers an Alaska Native Education Program
member, Tyler Eide and draws a direct correlation between the
through a grant from the Department of Education and a
decisions adolescents make, and the impact those decisions
partnership with Nome Public Schools and UAF-Northwest
have on their future. With a goal of preventing alcohol and
Campus. The program has been extremely successful,
substance abuse, the message engages youth by utilizing a
adding both technology and cultural relevant activities to
hashtag and a social media call to action. The Public Service
the classroom. Through this funding, NEC held a Science
Announcement (PSA) was aired on five stations in Nome in
Xploration summer camp for 12 students at Bear Creek Fishing
the fall as well as on KNOM and KICY and will continue to air
Camp, offering a variety of academic and personal skill building
in the spring.
For additional information on programs
activities, including the newly-formed Reindeer Club. Tribal
and opportunities offered by Youth
Resources staff collected water quality data from area streams
Services, visit the NEC website at
Assisting the City of Nome and Kawerak with Electronic
Waste (E-waste) collection during the City’s annual
Spring Cleanup.
•
Participating in meetings related to Arctic development,
and waterways, and staff also worked with high school students
climate change, mining issues, and increased shipping
through our Water Quality Xplorers activities. The Tribal
through the Bering Strait.
Resources Program collaborated with NEC’s Youth Services
www.necalaska.org.
Department to bring water quality activities out to NEC’s
Science Camp this summer.
Tribal Resources staff had many other significant
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 3-5: Bering Strait Norton Sound Regional
Environmental Conference (NSHC)
accomplishments this year including:
•
Advocating for subsistence and fisheries issues,
including supporting salmon enhancement.
•
Helping organize the newly-formed Bering Strait/Norton
Sound Watershed Alliance which will help organize
activities.
March 4: Bering Strait Norton Sound Watershed
Alliance Annual Meeting
training, data collection and other watershed-related
May – City of Nome Spring Cleanup
activities around our region.
•
Completing a major revision to NEC’s Quality Assurance
The Youth Services Department has also developed a project
Project Plan (QAPP) that guides water quality monitoring
call Subsistence Science Xplorers (Reindeer Project). This
program. The new revision increases the number of
program is designed to introduce students and engage them
in possible careers in the natural resource field. The first
NEC Housing Program
17 students to participate learned about reindeer from Ann
and Bruce Davis at the Midnite Sun Reindeer Ranch. Other
NEC’s Housing Program (NEC Housing) utilizes Federal funding from
U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for Home Renovation
educational programs offered through NEC include Preschool
Services, and State funds from Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Scholarships and Guys Read.
(AHFC) for Weatherization Services. NEC Housing also offers
Water and Sewer Assistance through the Tribal Health Consortium’s
Scattered Sites and an Elder Access Program through Rural Alaska
In additional to educational programs, NEC provides
recreational afterschool activities and an Iditarod Basketball
Clinic. Summer programs provide a range of activities for Nome
youth including Outdoor Club, Reindeer Club, Summer Reading
Community Action Plan (RurALCAP).
This year, NEC Housing was able to provide Renovation Assistance to
two NEC tribal members’ homes.
Project #13-0411: After a thorough assessment, it was determined
Program, Summercise Traditional Living Class, Triple Threat
the house was too old and dilapidated to renovate, and it would be
Basketball Camp and Camp CRAVE.
less costly to simply construct a new house. Demolition was started
in July 2013. This two-story, three-bedroom home was completed in
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT
April 2014.
Project #13-0403: Major renovation of a 50+ year old,
two-story, two-bedroom home, which included updating
electrical and plumbing. Project started summer of
2014, estimated to be completed the second week of
November 2014.
Tribal Services Program
Developing self-sufficient
tribal members and families
Projected projects for the upcoming year: NEC
Housing is currently working on home assessments
and final eligibility for three tribal members. We
anticipate beginning work on these homes and estimate
Applications for these programs are
available on the NEC website at
www.necalaska.org and at the NEC
Housing office.
Scholarship
Deadlines
•
High School Seniors: April 15
•
Continuing Students: Fall
Semester/Autumn Quarter: July 1
•
Activities, Community Family Nights, Summercise Scholarships
and Bike Safety training.
opportunities, job training, and employment services including Higher Education, Welfare Assistance, Emergency Assistance, Direct
Employment Assistance, Burial Assistance, Vocational Training, and Career Development. For additional information on these services, visit
the NEC website at www.necalaska.org.
Area with Welfare Assistance. Below is an outline of services requested and services rendered to tribal members in 2014.
Providing family support is a priority for the NEC Youth
Services Department. Through this effort, we offer Family Fun
The Tribal Services Program assists NEC tribal members in becoming self-sufficient by providing temporary financial assistance, education
The Tribal Services Program also assists tribally enrolled members from outlined villages in our region that are living in the Nome Services
YOUTH. IN THE SUMMER, ACTIVITIES PROVIDED
YOUTH LEADERSHIP DAY CAMPS.
DENISE BARENGO – Nome Eskimo Community
completion in 2015.
THE YEAR TO INSTILL TRADITIONAL VALUES IN
RANGE FROM PICKING GREENS AND BERRIES TO
“THE #MYCHOICEMYFUTURE MEDIA
CAMPAIGN IS A MAJOR SUCCESS FOR
THE TRIBE AND IS SOMETHING WE CAN
ALL TAKE PRIDE IN AS WE WORK TO
BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY.”
Spring Semester/Winter Quarter:
December 1
•
Spring Quarter: February 15
•
Summer Term: May 1
•
Direct Employment Assistance: Four (4) applications received and four (4) approved for assistance.
•
Vocational Training Assistance: Two (2) applications received and two (2) approved for assistance.
•
Career Development Assistance: Three (3) applications received and three (3) approved for assistance.
•
Higher Education: Forty-seven (47) applicants for the spring semester, thirty-seven (37) funded. Eleven (11) for the summer term,
ten (10) funded. Fifty-three (53) for the fall semester, forty-eight (48) funded. Six (6) from all semesters/term determined not to attend
school or had an incomplete application and were not funded.
If you need assistance with tribal enrollment, updating your member information, member identifications, or
information on the tribal exemption to health care, please visit our NEC offices or visit our website at www.
necalaska.org.