Community Services
Carmen Kalama
Program Manager
Community Services programs address a variety of needs within each tribe’s community, but share one common element: improving the health and wellness of every community member.
- Food Distribution – The nationally recognized Food Distribution Program (FDP), a member of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations, make monthly food deliveries to four consortium tribes as well as to Port Gamble S'Klallam.
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – Provides culturally competent services to eligible women and children. Outreach services inform pregnant and educate breast-feeding women so they know how to maximize the the vouchers for cheese, milk, eggs, juice, baby formula, and farmers market checks they receive. The education component involves a registered dietician. This program serves the five SPIPA tribes as well as the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Through outreach activities assist low-income eligible households to meet their energy costs, particularly households paying a high proportion of household income for energy.
- Emergency Food Vouchers – This program is administered at local tribal center offices. The Tribal Vouch Voucher Program was designed to distribute food vouchers to eligible families and individuals according to the Food Assistance Program Policies and Procedures.
- Native Women's AIDS Prevention Program. – This program serves only the Nisqually and Squaxin Island Tribes. The goal: to educate Native American women about the risk of being HIV-sero positive, targeting women 14-87at these two tribes.
- Senior Meals Program (Title VI) – USDA funds provide food for this program which is administered through AOA. The meals serve to supplement our Elders diets, but also function as a time for social gathering.
- Community Services Block Grant – The goal: reduce poverty by addressing problems of inadequate nutrition, isolation or being homebound, and offer some recreation opportunities.
- Caregiver Support Program (Title VI), Home Care for the Elderly and Disabled – This program provides supportive services, as well as some respite, for family members who are sole caregivers of grandchildren, children with developmental disabilities, or older adults.
- Native Women's Wellness Program – Among the first programs funded in 1994 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the American Indian/Alaskan Native Initiative. Funds female health providers at Tribal health clinics who conduct breast and cervical cancer screenings to Native women, spouses, and partners. Referrals are made as needed. Outreach informs community members about services, increase screenings, and track treatment timeliness.
- HIV/AIDS, Expanding the Circle of Care and
Tribal B. E. A. R. – The Building Effective Aids Response project provides clinical training to tribal health care providers who serve Native American communities in order for them to treat their HIV patients on the reservation in a culturally competent manner using the most current guidelines. This grant is funded by HRSA and supported by the Northwest AIDS Education and Training Center at the University of Washington (UW). The Tribal Bear Project works with 15 tribes in both Washington and Oregon state and hosts an annual Medical Update Conference. With the support of other grants, the Tribal Bear staff has offered such activities as community dinners on Hepatitis C and HIV prevention as well as regional training session on the use of the rapid HIV test. - The Cancer Project – This program creates and implements awareness activities for both the prevention and screening of colon cancer. This award-winning program has received national attention and has been used as a model by other programs and agencies. In addition, this program works with tribal youth to create a Power Youth Conference that raises awareness among our youth about how lifestyles (diet, exercise, regular health care, screenings) impact cancer. The goal: to help ease cancers risks in our communities through healthy living. This conference is remarkable because, while John Simmons facilitates, the youth conference is essentially youth led, not only raising cancer awareness, but also giving future tribal leaders the opportunity to gain leadership experience.
- The Colon Health Program – The focus is to increase the colorectal screening rate for all people age 50-plus with a goal of providing screening and follow-up to at least 800 eligible patients per year. This program also funds a half-time Patient Navigator at each of the seven participating tribes. Participating tribes include the Five Tribes (Chehalis, Nisqually, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish, and Squaxin Island), plus the Quinault and Cowlitz. This program works closely with both Native Women's Wellness and the Cancer Project.
- Women and Girls' Gathering – Historically a grassroots movement. Dalyne Herrera is now the SPIPA point person for this gathering. The gathering has grown to the point that planning for it is nearly a year-long process, with meetings that are held at each of the five tribal sties. The event promotes healthy lifestyle and leadership for women. Unfortunately, the 2009 Gathering was unable to raise the funds necessary to implement the Gathering this year's gathering. Planning for 2010 is already underway. We can always use volunteers – please remember, this gathering is a grass-roots effort of the women who reside in the Chehalis, Nisqually, Shoalwater Bay, Squaxin Island, and Skokomish Tribes.
Debbie Gardipee coordinates
the WIC, LIHEAP, Food Voucher
and Native Women's AIDS
Prevention Program, as well
as CITGO
Johnson family at NWWP
Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
John Simmons,
Project Coordinator
Comprehensive
Cancer
Project
Bobbie Bush,
Colon Health Program
Coordinator
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