upcomingevents - the NookSack Indian Tribe
Transcription
upcomingevents - the NookSack Indian Tribe
Snee-Nee-Chum P.O. Box 157 Deming, WA 98244 • • • U P C O M I N G Volume 1, Number 11 December, 2011 E V E N T S • • • December Tribal Council Meeting……………………………… Tuesday, December 6, 5:30pm Community Building Arts & Crafts Fair……………………………………………… December 9 & 10, 10am-4pm Community Building Community Breakfast & Christmas Checks…………………………… December 10, 9-11am, Community Building Christmas Toy & Food Drive……………………………………… December 17, 6-10:30pm, Ferndale Event Center 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale January Tribal Council Meeting…………………………………… Tuesday, January 3, 5:30pm, Community Building 1 Table of Contents Nooksack Arts and Crafts Fair…………………………… 1 Upcoming Events…………… 1 “Holiday Hero” Toy & Food Drive……………… 2 Community Breakfast & Christmas Checks…………… 2 Human Resources News……… 2 “Holiday Hero” Flier………… 3 A Note from the Chairman: Nooksack Community Health Clinic Update………………… 4 How to submit News to the Snee-Nee-Chum Newsletter…… 4 Nooksack Community Health Clinic…………………………… 4 Nutrition Nuggets…………… 4 Tribal Members Guide to Help the Medical Billing Process…… 5 Social Services Department…………………… 6 Education Department……… 6 Financial and Business Planning Workshop…………………… 7 This holiday season, both Nooksack Casinos are teaming up to help families in need within our community. On December 17, from 6-10:30pm, the casinos are hosting a toy and food drive called “Holiday Hero” at the Ferndale Event Center, 5715 Barrett Rd., Ferndale. The family-friendly show includes live entertainment and dancing in a festive atmosphere, with performances from well-known musical acts such as SpaceBand and DJ B-Mello from KUBE 93.3FM. If you would like to join our effort or would like to donate, please email your contact information to Roy Nicol at [email protected]. All proceeds from this event will be distributed through the Nooksack TANF Department. Entry fee is $10 donation or $5 with a bag of non-perishable food items and un-opened toy. For complete event information, please visit the “Holiday Hero” event page at http://facebook.com/royboyentertainment. n Community Breakfast & Christmas Checks Please join us for a Community Breakfast on December 10, 9-11am, in the Community Building. All Tribal Members will receive a $100 Christmas Check, which will be distributed at the Community Breakfast from 10am-2:30pm. Please bring I.D. with you to pick up your check. Those checks that are not picked up will be mailed out on December 12 to the address on file with Enrollment. If you have a new mailing address, please update with Enrollment immediately. If you have any questions about the Christmas Check Distribution, please contact the Council Office at (360) 592-5164. n Human Resources News Emergency & Risk Management………………… 8 Director: Suzanne Brownrigg: (360) 592-5176 ext. 3231 Main Office: (360) 592-5176 Steven Jimmy and Jesse Madera Receive Certificates………… 9 Welcome New Hires Nooksack Victims of Crime…… 9 A Message form Jovie Joven on this Veteran’s Day — “Freedom is not Free”………………… 10 Nooksack Tribal Veteran’s Program……………………… 11 Administrative Contacts……… 11 Holiday Calendar……………… 12 2 “Holiday Hero” Toy & Food Drive Nooksack Casinos Give Back Trevor Adams ………………… Narcisco Cunanan…………… Lesley Cauldron ……………… Destry Miller ………………… Kathleen Puderbaugh………… Jean Snyder …………………… Tiffani Zamudio ……………… Police Officer Janitor Mental Health Professional Clinical Applications Coordinator Nurse Practitioner Water Resources Specialist Office Assistant/Intake Coordinator Job Opportunities To find out about our current job opportunities, log on to our website at www.nooksack-tribe.org. Applications are also available on-line. Postings also can be found on bulletin boards located in the lobbies of our offices. n 3 A Note from the Chairman: Nooksack Community Health Clinic Update Providing quality services to our Nooksack tribal members is the primary goal of the current Council. These services include providing excellent health and dental care. One of the Council’s issues of concern is the clinic’s history of being out of compliance with Federal guidelines. For Robert Kelly example, the 2009 and 2010 Indian Health Service Audit found the clinic was out of compliance with patient registration and contract health services. In March 2011, it was determined that out of some 2,043 patient records; only 152 records met Indian Health Service and Federal Compliance guidelines. Because patient records were out of date, our tribal members ended up in collections. Our tribal members should not be in collections. Maintaining patient registration and medical records is critical for the clinic to provide better services, receive funding, and be properly reimbursed. Lack of compliance in patient registration and medical record keeping is just one example of the history of the lack of compliance, but it’s an important one. The Council is working to bring the clinic into compliance in other areas as well. It is a process of change that will take time, but it is a priority for us. Maintaining compliance leads to better health services for the community, and we want our members to have the best services we can provide. I ask for your support and patience as we continue to address and remedy the various areas of compliance. Please note: Members can help the clinic by providing current information, including proof of address, tribal enrollment verification, and a copy of your insurance card. If you haven’t updated your information recently, please contact the clinic to make sure your information is correct. n How to Submit News to the Snee-Nee-Chum Newsletter If you have a news item or an update from your department, the community would like to hear about it. You can submit news items to Lona Johnson at [email protected]. To include news in an upcoming newsletter, it must be submitted during the first two weeks of the previous month (for example, for January’s newsletter please submit during December 1-15). The newsletter comes out on a monthly basis. Questions? Call Lona at 360-966-7704. n 4 Nooksack Community Health Clinic 6760 Mission Road, Everson, WA 98247 Phone: (360) 966-2106 Monthly Diabetes Clinic The Nooksack Health Clinic will be offering its next monthly diabetes clinic on Wednesday morning, December 14. Patients will arrive around 8:45 for fasting blood work. A diabetes-friendly breakfast will be offered, followed by a group education class on a diabetes related topic. Patients will be pulled out of the class to meet with their medical provider for an exam and update. Call Annette Smith at 966-2106 to schedule an appointment for the diabetes clinic. NUTRITION NUGGETS Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season The Holiday season need not set off snowballing weight gain or roller-coaster blood sugars. Try these strategies during the season to stay healthy: Calories—We often eat more calories when offered a wide variety of foods such as a holiday buffet. Manage calories and carbs by enjoying one must-have item per category, such as one appetizer, one main dish, one dessert and one beverage. Tip: Use Small Plates. Whenever possible, choose a smaller plate. It helps you keep portion sizes reasonable so you can enjoy a sensible amount without veering off track. Water—Before a meal or party, make it a habit to drink two glasses of water. Hydration is needed during the dry, cooler months, and sometime what feels like hunger may actually be thirst. Tip: Choose Water-Rich Foods When Possible. Fruits and vegetables are about 90 percent water by weight, so they keep us hydrated and feeling full. And they take longer to eat. Slowing down eating can help reduce how much we consume. Exercise—Daily exercise during the holidays helps us stick with a routine, manages stress, and gives a subconscious reminder to maintain healthful choices. Tip: Be Realistic. It takes about 6 miles of walking to burn the amount of calories in a slice of pecan pie. Relying on getting more exercise than normal to burn up highcalorie foods may leave you battling extra pounds. —Provided by Barb Himes, Dietitian, Diabetes Program Coordinator. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine. n Tribal Members’ Guide to Help the Medical Billing Process When you go to the doctor, or are seen at the hospital, or are referred to a specialist, the information you give them can affect your medical bill. This guide will tell you what to tell them, depending on the type of coverage you have. Here is a rule that applies to all Nooksack Tribal Members: Your primary care provider is the doctor or nurse practitioner from the Nooksack Clinic. For those who have Direct Care ONLY: “Direct Care” status means you are not eligible for assistance through Contract Health Services, and claims incurred while listed as “Direct Care” cannot be considered for payment. Claims include medical claims, dental claims, co-pays, deductibles and prescriptions. For those who are Contract Health eligible: The following items need to be on file: 1. Assignment of Benefits 2. Privacy Practices Acknowledgement Form 3. Social Security Card 4. Verification of Tribal Enrollment or Proof of Decendency 5. Proof of Address 6. Birth Certificate 7. Medicare Card (if applicable) 8. Provider One Card (if applicable) 9. Medicaid approval/denial 10.Private Insurance Card (if applicable) 11.Photo I.D. (not required for minors) 12. Child Authorization Form Inform all healthcare providers that Nooksack is your primary insurance. If you receive a medical bill in the mail, call the provider and tell them to mail the bill to Nooksack or bring the bill with you to your next clinic visit. For those with Medicare/Medigap: For those with insurance (e.g., Shasta, or AARP - a Medicare Advantage plan): • In order for your co-pays, coinsurances, and deductibles to be paid, your Primary Care Provider needs to be a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner from the NOOKSACK CLINIC. • You will need a referral from the clinic before receiving healthcare services outside of the Nooksack Clinic. • Inform all healthcare providers that your insurance is your primary coverage, and Nooksack is your secondary. • If you receive a medical bill in the mail, make sure your insurance has been billed, and if not, call the provider to remind them. • If you receive a medical bill in the mail, and your insurance has been billed, make sure the provider knows to mail the bill for the remaining amount to Nooksack Clinic. ***NOTE: IF YOU’VE RECEIVED A BILL IN THE MAIL, WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT AT THE CLINIC. BILLS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CLINIC UPON RECEIPT*** Medigap will pay the co-pays, coinsurances, and deductible for “Medicare Covered Services”. If the service is not a Medicare-covered service, the bill needs to be paid by Nooksack. Inform all healthcare providers that Medicare is your primary, Medigap is your secondary, and Nooksack is the payer of last resort. For those with Medicaid coverage only: Not all services will be covered by Medicaid. So, tell the provider Medicaid is your primary coverage, and Nooksack is the payer of last resort. For those with Medicaid & Medicare coverage: Show the healthcare provider your Medicare Card and your Medicaid card called “Provider One.” Tell the healthcare provider that Nooksack is payer of last resort. Elders with Part D coverage: Tell the pharmacy that you have Part D coverage and show them your card (e.g., Advantra Rx, or First Health, Humana). Tell them Nooksack is the payer of last resort. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your medical bills please contact our Contract Health Specialists at the clinic 360-966-2106 Staci James (Ext 127) & Jeff Bailey (Ext 102). n 5 Social Services Department Director: Katherine Canete (360) 592-5176 Main Office: (360) 592-5176 SOCIAL SERVICES SCHEDULE Food Vouchers: Thursday, December 1, first-come, first-served basis. Food Bank: Friday, December 2, open at noon until supplies run out. Commodities: Available for pick-up on Tuesday, December 6. The Social Services Department is sponsoring the First Annual Arts and Crafts Fair (see flyer on front page). The deadline for Vendors’ and Food Vendors’ applications is nearly upon us. It is December 1. If interested in participating with a craft booth or food booth, please contact Katherine Canete or Nadeen Jimmy at (360) 592-5176 x5112 (Katherine) or (360) 592-5176 x5122 (Nadeen), or via email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Limited availability! Elders Program The Elders luncheon was a huge success, with approximately 400 elders & volunteer staff. The raffle was a SMASH hit. NIT department staff came together and donated Themed Baskets for the Elders raffle! We gathered approximately 40 wonderful baskets and the Elders gathered and saved for the event. With all their items and the donated baskets, we had well over 60 raffle items!! Our hands go out to each and every one of you that helped in any way. Workshops Social Services and Education are teaming up to offer Financial and Business Planning Workshops. Workshops are held at the Social Services conference room. If you’d like to sign up, please contact Social Services at (360) 592-5176. Revitalizing Fatherhood Program The Revitalizing Fatherhood Program says good-bye to Serrano Cueva and wishes him well in his new adventure with housing. Eugene Aldredge is here to assist our current clients and any new clients interested in the RFP program. For more information, contact Eugene at (360) 592-5176. Emergency Energy Assistance Emergency energy assistance is available through our LIHEAP or CSBG grants. These grants have financial-based eligibility guidelines. If you qualify for services, we can assist a client ONE time every 6 months. To find out if you qualify or for more information, contact Crystal Bailey @ (360) 592-5176. n 6 Education Department Director: Donia Edwards Assistant Director: Anthony Aure Main Office: (360) 966-9696 Nooksack Indian Tribe Library Awarded Prestigious Grant Thanks to a grant from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), we were able to purchase Native American influenced books, monitors, a printer, and the MS Office software for the homework-help computers located in our tribal library. The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge, enhance learning and innovation, and support professional development. The tribal library would like to offer activities to share with your children to promote reading. Our after school tutoring program provides tutoring, coaching, tips, books, and other materials. The program is made possible through the grant from the IMLS. For more information or questions about the after school tutoring program, contact Dean Ollinger or Cherise Wenzl, Tutor Coordinator at (360) 966-9696. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov. n 7 Emergency and Risk Management Program Manager: Glenn Yorks (360) 739-0114 Program Facilitator: Steven Jimmy (360) 303-3457 Community help line (NIT EOC): (360) 592-HELP Emergency Preparedness Fair A Great Success! The Emergency Preparedness and Safety Fair was a great success! Community members received lots of great preparedness information and prizes from the participating groups: NIT Emergency Management, Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council (NWTEMC), National Tribal Emergency Management Council (NTEMC), Whatcom County Health Dept., and the American Red Cross. Whatcom Unified Emergency Management, represented by David Dahl, signed more than 25 NIT community members to receive Whatcom County emergency alerts on their phones, and gave some great preparedness advice to many others! Fire Chief Gary Baar and his crew trained 37 Nooksack Tribe children on how to identify a fire and how to escape from a second-floor, smoke-filled room using the Fire Safety House that was brought to the Community Center by the Lynden Fire Department. Thank You! A long list of NIT volunteers made the event happen! The volunteers did everything from setting up, filling helium balloons for the kids, monitoring the ‘Bounce House,’ recruiting kids for the Fire Safety House, spinning tunes (DJ Raw C!), handing out preparedness information, signing in our guests and volunteers, and then closing down and cleaning up! To NIT CERT, the other volunteers, and the attendees who made this day so great, THANK YOU! n DJ Raw C (Ross Cline Jr.) NIT CERT, NWTEMC and NTEMC Fire Safety House The Nooksack Tribe Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) signed up close to 30 community members who are interested in joining the team and taking the training! Lynda Zambrano, Del Ostenberg (Colville Tribe) of the NWTEMC and NTEMC, and their crews traveled over the pass through snow to be there on Saturday and to support the NIT CERT and Emergency Preparedness efforts of the Nooksack Tribe. 8 Mavis, American Red Cross Steven Jimmy & Jesse Madera Receive Certificates The Nooksack Tribal Council and Emergency Management Department recognized Steven Jimmy and Jesse Madera during the Preparedness and Safety Fair on November 12 for successfully completing the National Emergency Medical Technicians Course. Flanked by members of the Nooksack Tribe CERT, Nooksack Councilman Rudy St. Germain and Rick G. George presented Steven and Jesse with certificates of appreciation, noting that their achievement was hard won with over 180 hours of classroom time, many exams, and the huge volume of homework that they had to do. Steven and Jesse were then covered with blankets and both expressed thanks to the Nooksack Tribe for the opportunities they have had, and encouraged others to step up, volunteer, and take the EMT training. Glenn Yorks, Emergency Manager for the Nooksack Tribe, said that Steven and Jesse’s dedication to the community’s health and safety was paving the way for better cultural communication and understanding with the Whatcom County Fire/EMS crews, and that their efforts may one day lead to a Nooksack Tribal Volunteer Fire/EMS Department. Glenn Yorks and the Emergency Management Department would like to express appreciation to Vanessa Jimmy and Chasity Madera. Steven and Jesse have both commented that without their wives’ support, they would not have been able to complete the course. n Nooksack Victims of Crime We are here to help. If you or someone you know is a victim and/or survivor of sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking, then please don’t hesitate to contact NVOC for services. Our services are available to anyone who has been in a past or present domestic violence relationship, including intimate relationship, dating relationship, and/or childhood abuse. We can help with advocacy, crisis intervention, information and referral services, legal assistance, safety planning and more. Call our 24-Hour Helpline at: (360) 592-4164. We also have an email address if you’d like to send us an email with any questions. We can be reached at domestic.violence@ nooksack-nsn.gov. We are also on Facebook so look us up and add us as a friend. We are located at 5061 Deming Road. Our Staff Char Roberts…… Elders DV Advocate Tracy Douglas Teen DV Advocate/ Coordinator Work Cell: (360) 325-6923 Lisa Cooper………… DV Advocate/ Coordinator Work Cell: (360) 325-3114 Sharon DeGrave…… Legal Advocate Work Cell: (360) 389-0731 We have hired a New Youth Advocate …………………… Katie Delgado Promoting a Healthy Youth Program We will be offering the following services: Youth Support Group, Healing Circle, Workshops, Counseling, Protection Orders, Emergency Housing, Curriculum (Dating Violence, Teen Pregnancies), Teen Advisory Committee and Life Skills. n 9 A Message from Jovie Joven on this Veterans Day. “Freedom is not Free.” Hello and thank you for coming to honor our veterans on Veterans Day on November 11. On behalf of the Nooksack American Legion, Wendell H. Fidele, Post 83, we would like to thank all of you for the outstanding moral support and services you provided our Post during the event. Your individual participation and attendance was overwhelming. The settings and accommodations, the food and services at the Nooksack River Casino buffet were superb. I received many compliments from our guests for a job well done, among which are the American Legion Department Vice-Commander; American Legion District 2 Commander of the State of Washington; Officials and Dignitaries of Whatcom County; Mount Baker School District Officials; U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Officials of Bellingham; Distinguish Tribal and Non-Tribal Veterans; Gold Star Parents and families and Nooksack Indian Tribe council members and Tribal Elders. Once again, our nation paused for a moment to honor those who have served our country—those who have survived and those who have not. The young men and women who have died in defense of our country gave up not only the life they were living, but also the life they would have lived—their chance to be parents; their chance to grow old with their grandchildren. They have put their lives on the line so that we could live in a great nation like America. Too often when we speak of sacrifice, we speak in generalities about the larger sweep of history; and the sum total of our nation’s experience. But it is very important to remember that every single veteran’s life we honor is just that, a life just like yours and mine. A life with family and friends, and a love and hopes and dreams, and ups and downs; a life that should have been able to play its full course. 10 We must try to imagine the measure of all the lives that might have been, had they not been laid down in service to our nation. What about the more than 1 million men and women who have given their lives so that we could be free? What would have been the measure of their lives? What else would have been accomplished for their families and their country, if only they had had a chance? Of course we don’t have the answers. But because we have the question, we clearly have a responsibility to stand in the breach for them. We are not just beneficiaries of their bravery. We are the stewards of their sacrifices. Thanks to their valor, today, for the very first time in all human history, more than half of the nations of the world live under governments of their own choosing. Our prosperity and power are greater than they have ever been. It is therefore our solemn obligation to preserve the peace and to make the most of this moment for our children and the children of the world, so that those who sacrificed so much to bring us to this moment will be redeemed in the lives they could have lived by the lives that we do live. And once again, we say that, we owe them a debt we can never repay and with that in mind, “freedom is not free.” n Nooksack Tribal Veterans Program Program Manager: Evaristo “Jovie” Joven, Jr. (360) 592-5839 Asst. Veterans Representative: Elder “Smokey” Roberts (360) 966-2907 Administrative Contacts Tribal Council Office…………………………………………………… (360) 592-5164 Enrollment Office …………………………………………… (360) 592-4158 x1010 Tribal Council Fax……………………………………………………… (360) 592-4506 Administration Administrative Office Main……………………………………………… (360) 592-5176 Administrative Fax……………………………………………………… (360) 592-2125 Human Resources (Director: Suzanne Brownrigg)……………………… (360) 592-5176 Emergency & Risk Management………………………………… (360) 592-HELP (4357) (Program Manager: Glenn Yorks) (Program Facilitator: Steven Jimmy)…………………………………… (360) 303-3457 Law Enforcement (Police Chief: Jim Lynch) Police Department ……………………………………………………… (360) 592-9065 Health Services (Director: Rebecca Crocker) Medical Clinic …………………………………………………………… Dental Clinic …………………………………………………………… Medical Business Office (Manager: Lona Johnson)……………………… Genesis II Office (Manager: Rick George)……………………………… (360) 966-2106 (360) 306-5151 (360) 966-7704 (360) 966-7704 Behavioral Health ………………………………………………… (360) 966-2043 Social Services (Director: Katherine Canete) Social Services Main …………………………………………………… Elders Office …………………………………………………………… TANF-Deming…………………………………………………………… TANF-Skagit…………………………………………………………… Domestic Violence Office ……………………………………………… DV Emergency Hotline………………………………………………… Enrollment to VA Medical Health Care System Attention to all Nooksack Tribal Veterans who are not yet enrolled to the VA Medical Care System, please contact Jovie Joven at (360) 592-5839 or Smokey Roberts at (360) 966-2907 for assistance in enrollment process. Monthly Meetings The American Legion, Wendell H. Fidele, Post #83, meet every third Wednesday of the month, at 6:00pm, in the downstairs Conference Room at the Tribal Administrative Building, located at 5016 Deming Road, Deming. We encourage all veterans, Tribal and non-Tribal, to join us. Next meeting: Wednesday, January 18. n (360) 592-5176 (360) 592-0100 (360) 592-3219 (360) 848-1758 (360) 592-5176 (360) 592-4164 Family Services (Director: Ken Levinson) Indian Child Welfare (ICW) …………………………………………… (360) 306-5090 Child Support …………………………………………………………… (360) 306-5090 Education (Director: Donia Edwards) Education Main Office ………………………………………………… Headstart-Deming……………………………………………………… Headstart-Everson……………………………………………………… Youth Program………………………………………………………… (360) 966-9696 (360) 592-0141 (360) 966-0523 (360) 966-9696 Other Services Housing Office (Director: Katrice Romero)…………………………… (360) 592-5163 Natural Resources (Director: Gary MacWilliams)……………………… (360) 592-5176 Fishing and Shellfish Fisheries Hotline ………………………………… (360) 592-5140 Cultural Resources (Director: George Swanaset, Jr.)…………………… (360) 306-5764 Tribal Veterans (Program Manager: Jovie Joven)……………………… (360) 592-5839 Tribal Gaming …………………………………………………… (360) 592-5176 x1456 Tribal Maintenance……………………………………………………… (360) 592-0162 Auto Shop……………………………………………………………… (360) 306-5756 Tribal Library…………………………………………………………… (360) 592-5291 Community Building…………………………………………………… (360) 966-9153 Casinos & Market Centre Nooksack River Casino………………………………………………… Toll free ………………………………………………………………… Nooksack Northwood Casino…………………………………………… Toll free ………………………………………………………………… Nooksack Market Centre………………………………………………… (360) 592-5472 (877) 935-9300 (360) 734-5101 (877) 777-9847 (360) 592-4214 11 Snee-Nee-Chum P.O. Box 157 Deming, WA 98244 Holiday Calendar Nooksack Tribe’s government offices will be closed on the following holidays: December 25 & 26, 2011 – Christmas • January 1, 2012 – New Year’s Day The 2012 calendar will be coming soon.