Vocational Rehabilitation seeks to help people help themselves

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

If you are a Grand Ronde Tribal member living in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Tillamook, Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington counties and are looking for employment, don’t overlook the Tribe’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program as a resource.

Although some might attach negative connotations to the program’s name or feel they that they do not have a “disability,” Vocational Rehabilitation offers a Tribal member numerous avenues of assistance in gaining and retaining employment.

“We are here for any Tribal member seeking employment and seeking to become self-sufficient,” says Employment and Training Specialist Khani Schultz. “Vocational Rehabilitation is intended for anybody who needs services in obtaining employment and training.”

In 2014, the program helped 263 Tribal members.

How does one get started?

First step is to call Vocational Rehabilitation/477 Supervisor Michael Herrin at 503-879-4543 for a friendly conversation, Schultz says.

From that conversation, if a Tribal member is deemed as a person who qualifies for help, then the Tribal member will fill out an intake application and undergo an assessment evaluation that will help Vocational Rehabilitation employees determine what kind of training and/or on-the-job education is needed.

For instance, Schultz says, if a Tribal member had back surgery and can no longer return to work as a laborer on construction projects, Vocational Rehabilitation would help train them for and obtain a new job.

Or if a Tribal student is transitioning out of high school and wants to start a career instead of attending a post-secondary institution, Vocational Rehabilitation can help.

“What is it that you want to do?” Schultz says about clients. “VR is a process of helping people help themselves.”

Vocational Rehabilitation can help Tribal members take basic computer classes so that they feel more comfortable tackling online computer applications like the one used at Spirit Mountain Casino.

Vocational Rehabilitation also helps Tribal members get “booted and suited” – obtain the proper clothing for jobs they have been hired to perform.

Schultz says that Vocational Rehabilitation staff members are held to the same confidentiality standards as health workers. “Everything is confidential,” she says.

Vocational Rehabilitation also works with many partners, from the state Employment Office to numerous Tribal departments – the Tribal Employment Rights Office, Human Resources, Education, Housing, Transitional Housing, the Community Garden, the Grand Ronde Food Bank, Grand Ronde Food and Fuel, Finance, Procurement and Behavioral Health.

In particular, Schultz cites the Finance Department and Kelly Herber in Procurement – “They rock our world,” she says – because staff members often are asked to process purchase orders and check requests on short notice to help Tribal members obtain needed supplies, such as work boots.

“Without them, we can’t get services done for our people and that is what it is all about,” Schultz says. “Interdepartmental cooperation is vital. We are always out there looking for partners.”

Vocational Rehabilitation also can help Tribal members who are receiving Social Security disability or supplemental security income but want to return to work.

“Just call,” Schultz adds. “Our goal is to have eligible Tribal members with disabilities gain and retain employment. The desired outcome will be independent, self-sufficient, productive participants in the community.”

Vocational Rehabilitation employees also staff the Portland Area Office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., on a weekly basis to help Tribal members in the metropolitan area.

The Vocational Rehabilitation staff also includes Employment & Training Specialist Pearl Rife, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Dodie McKenzie and 477/VR trainee Chris Martin.