March 2015

NEWSLETTER DATE: MARCH 2015
VOC REHAB NEWS
COLVILLE CONFEDERATED TRIBES
Mission: To provide culturally appropriate Vocational Rehabilitative services to Native Americans with disabilities who have a
functional limitation and need assistance maintaining, obtaining, and regaining employment.
Consumer story: I am a consumer
who started out with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. My
previous employment was high stress
and took a toll on my health. I could
not return to previous employment
and after VR assisted with health and
employment assessments that fit with
my current conditions I was able to
find part-time employment that suits
my needs. I feel less stress and have a
better quality of life working at something I enjoy and does not do further
damage to my health. I am now a cultural / language instructor. My counselor was a pain, but encouraged me
to make my doctor appointments and
take my medication. She also referred
me to diabetes exercise program with
Shell Martinez. Shelli assisted me with
medication management too. I could
not have done this without Vocational
Rehabilitation.
Consumer story : I am a VR consumer who has depression and diabetes that has affected my eyesight
and hearing. I was unemployed and
after a long period of time of working on my heath with the assistance
of VR. I had to get updated assessments on what damage has been
done to my eyes and hearing. I was
fitted with what I need. I also am
happy to report I am just starting my
new job. I am working to live on my
own in my own home and I also have
my own vehicle now. Things are
looking a lot better. Vocational
Rehabilitation has helped by providing me support both emotionally
and financially when I needed gas
and some minor car repairs. Thanks
so much!!
Budgeting Class Dates
• April 25, 2015 - Nespelem, WA at the NNDF Office.
• May 16, 2015 - Omak, WA (Location TBD)
• August 22, 2015 - Inchelium, WA at Housing Authority
Building at Buttercup Lane
• September 19, 2015 – Wellpinit at the Housing
Authority Building
Budgeting Class will be from 10:00 am to 2:00pm
Inside this issue:
Consumer Stories
1
Budgeting
1
Who is VR?
1
Survey Results
2
Training Opportunities
3
Tax Incentives
3
Job Fair
3
Veterans
3
Employment opportunities
3
Employment skill building
4
College News
4
WHO IS CCT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
Randy
Adolph,
CCT tribal
member
lives in
Coulee
Dam, WA.
He has
lived in the
Nespelem area his whole
life. Voc. Rehab has been
his employment from 1994
to 2007 then again from
2010 to present. He received his BA degree in
Indian Studies from the
Evergreen State College in
March 1979. His motto
“GO HAWKS”
Diana
Socula,
CCT
Tribal
member
lives in
Coulee Dam, WA. Diana has
been employed with Voc
Rahab for over 5 years. BA
degree in Psychology and
vast personal life employment related experiences to
assist participants of Voc
Rehab. Motto: TVR is looking forward to you becoming successfully employed!
And You can do it! Yah-hoo!
Laurae
MacClain,
CCT
tribal
member
lives in
Omak, WA. She grew up
in Spokane and Alaska.
Has been employed since
2013 at Voc. Rehab. Received a BA in Psychology and MSW from University of Alaska Anchorage.
Has 5 children and many
dogs. motto “be the
change you wish to see in
the world”
New Omak hire Wilma
Bob. 14 years experience in VR counseling.
Picture next newsletter.
509-634-2725
VOC REHAB NEWS
CCTVR Public Survey Results
Page 2
THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING TO HELP IN OUR
EFFORTS FOR CONTINUING TO IMPROVE CCTVR
Who Can Utilize: Do you Know?
Purpose of VR
Yes
NO
18
16
14
15
19
30
Yes
NO
Yes
9
25
25
20
15
NO
10
5
0
YES
Locations: Do you know where we are?
Omak
Nespelem
YES
NO
7
27
NO
Inchelium
YES
NO
17
17
Keller
Yes
No
30
30
25
25
3
31
Yes
No
1
33
35
20
20
15
0
10
0
YES
20
15
10
5
NO
5
0
0
Yes
NO
Orientation: attendance
Yes
NO
25
15
10
YES
5
30
20
Informative
30
25
20
1
1.2
10
1
0.8
0
Yes
NO
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
YES
NO
VR Staff in the community
Receive Monthly Newsletter
YES
NO
YES
NO
8
26
30
25
20
16
17
20
15
0
10
5
0
YES
NO
No
Give out business cards
of all staff and an introduction
of who they are at
orientation.
15
5
Yes
Recommendations
YES
NO
35
1
33
No
YES
Comments:
*Assist clients with DDA and SSI. A program computer can be set up in each community and assist clients with applications.
Offer an incentive to attend. (sorry can't offer incentives)
*Voc rehab is a vital program because there are a lot of people who have become qualified at an older age and really do
benefit by training opportunities they would not had otherwise.
*I have noticed positive efforts to develop a more improved VRP that works well with other programs and is responsive to
ideas and comments. I really enjoyed the newsletter
*Did not like the experience with working in partnership with Colville VR even when partnered with the tribe VR.
*don’t need the newsletter, just more info on what you do and who can utilize program.
*I don’t know who the VR counselors are. Maybe you could do bois in your newsletter.
* VR counselors should help clients more not expect the clients to do all the legwork for them its like doing your job. Some
clients need help with paperwork due to not being able to read or understand. Some clients have short term memory.
NO
Page 3
Training Opportunities
Omak WVC– Flagger Training—
March 6th -$55 due
at time of registration 422.7800
Indianpreneurship
– business courseApril 15-June17 6Pm
-9Pm.Wednesday
nights 10 weeks.
Location: Omak Career Path Services.
$150 –contact Matthew Pleasants
[email protected]
Unarmed Security
Training: Tero 634-2719.
Casino Table Games
Training
March 9-11 New students.
March 11-13 Recertification's.
Where: Casino Headquarters
30
Basic computer– classes FREE– Thursdays 10-
Thursday March 12th
2015 from 10:00 AM to
1:00 PM there will be a job fair at
the Omak Community Center. This
event is open to the public and veterans encouraged to attend. This is
your opportunity to meet the employers, apply for multiple jobs, submit
resumes, network, and find possible
“on the job training” opportunities.
Be prepared and present yourself interview ready
th
Time: 10am – 2pm
5pm – 9pm
12 Omak Worksource
Schedule may vary
Language Program—
If you are interested and
Open to anyone who wants would like to learn, please
to learn to speak our native contact Carla Spencer, Hulanguages. 634-2712
man Resources Analyst
TAX INCENTIVES
Okanogan County Job Fair –
March 9th -- April
(8 weeks)
730-400 Tribal Corrections. When:
509-422-7496
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Tax-Benefits-forBusinesses-Who-Have-Employees-with-Disabilities
Tax Benefits for Businesses Who Have Employees with Disabilities
Businesses accommodating people with disabilities may qualify for some of the following tax credits and deductions. More detailed information may be found in the IRS publications referenced.
Disabled Access Credit
Refer to Form 8826, Disabled Access Credit (PDF), for information about eligible expenditures.
Barrier Removal Tax Deduction The Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction encourages
businesses of any size to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the mobility of
persons with disabilities and the elderly
Work Opportunity Credit
Form 5884, Work Opportunity Credit (PDF).
Expanded Tax Credit for Hiring Unemployed Veterans
The work opportunity credit has been expanded to provide employers with new incentives to hire
certain unemployed veterans.
Employment Opportunities
Omak School District –Custodian closes March 6th and special education
teacher
Nespelem School District—ON call sub bus drivers, maintenance, paraprofessionals
Inchelium– Bus driver– Bus Mechanic—Maintenance and Grounds
Wilbur School District—Sub general maintenance/custodial, and sub– Bus drivers.
Okanogan county employment - Facilities and grounds manager. http://
www.okanogancounty.org/
Wenatchee Valley College -Electronic Services Librarian (Omak campus) (closes 3/9/15) https://www.wvc.edu
COLVILLE CONFEDERATED TRIBES– VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
“Trail To Independence”
Employment Skill Building Opportunities:
Colville Confederated Tribes
Vocational Rehabilitation
PO Box150
Nespelem WA 99155
Phone: 509-634-2733
Fax: 509-634-2297
E-mail:
[email protected]
Worksource Colville: Bridges to successful job search: Looking for work
and getting a job is not a one step process. This workshop explores the
steps and provides helpful tips, Learn about valuable resources and become engaged with Worksource!!! Tuesday March 24th 10AM—12PM 956 S
main Colville WA.
Worksource Omak:
Apply for USA JOBS workshop Wednesday March 11 5-8PM This workshop will walk
job seekers through the online process used to apply for jobs on the USA JOBS web-
VR
ORIENTATION- O PEN TO
ALL
site. Space is limited, contact the Okanogan County WorkSource Office to get registered.
TANF Training:
F RIDAYS N ESPELEM 1 0 AM
Job interviewing skills Nespelem TANF Tue 10th 10-12 & 1-3
W EDNESDAY O MAK 1 0A M
Conflict in the Workplace Omak TANF Thursday 19th 10-12&1-3
T HURSDAY I NCHELIUM 1 0A M
T UESDAY K ELLER 1 0A M
( PLEASE
Employment Applications Inchelium Longhouse Wednesday 25th 10-12&1-3
Resumes –Keller-CC-Monday 9 10-12&1-3
TAX season
CALL AND LET US KNOW IF YOU
NEED ACC OMODATIONS)
Contact NNDF 509-634-2626 for tax assistance
COLLEGE INFORMATION
FIRST TO COMPLETE fafsa.ed.gov
CTEAP Higher Education Scholarship
Program: Nespelem Agency Campus
Hours: 730-400 Monday—Friday
DEADLINE DATES:
CTEAP/ Fall Term August 1st Winter Term
December 1st Spring Term Feb 1st Summer
Term: May 1st
Cecelia Somday Education Fund Deadline
April 1st
MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE DUE IN THE
SPRING SO LOOK FOR THEM NOW AND
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONS
EVEN SMALL SCHOLARSHIPS HELP
OCSRA Unit 15 Scholarship (Limited to Okanogan County residents who are of
at least junior standing in a college/university
and who are working on initial certification in an educational field)
Application Postmark Deadline May 1 to:Jennie HedingtonOSCRA Scholarship ChairPO Box 97Okanogan, WA [email protected]
WVC at Omak Foundation Scholarship Winners
WVC at Omak Foundation awards spring-quarter scholarships (June 2014)
The Wenatchee Valley College at Omak Foundation awarded nine scholarships
totaling $5,000 to WVC at Omak students this spring. The scholarships range from
$500 to $1,000 each.
Julia Cousins of Okanogan received the $1,000 Winifred Voelckers Faculty Scholarship. Ten Omak faculty members provide sponsorship for this scholarship each year.
Cousins plans to earn a degree in economics and environmental studies.
The following students received $500 scholarships:

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



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Heidi Liebl, Winthrop (nursing)
Megan Kelly, Tonasket (nursing)
Tawnay Chapman, Omak (chemical dependency studies)
Rebekah Thomason, Okanogan (associate of arts and science-transfer degree)
Inna Oleynik, Omak (nursing)
Misty Glover, Oroville (nursing)
Colton Price, Omak (business transfer degree)