General Council briefed about myriad social services offerings

Tribal Social Services Department Manager Dana Ainam briefed General Council attendees on the numerous programs the Tribe offers to help members become self-sufficient, deal with affordable housing issues and ensure that they are getting the appropriate federal benefits from Veterans Affairs during the Sunday, Dec. 5, meeting held on Zoom.

Ainam was joined by her management staff, which included Warriors of Hope Domestic Violence Program Coordinator Danielle Murrell, Employment & Training Program Manager Michael Herrin, Children & Family Services Program Manager Kristi Petite, Youth Empowerment & Prevention Manager Amber Mercier and Community Program Supervisor Caitlin Zimbrick.

“Right now, we really recognize that COVID has created a lot of stress on our community,” Ainam said during her approximately 40-minute presentation. “Our youth are really struggling, our Elders are lonely, addiction support is needed, mental health support is needed, our levels of violence have increased, there’s a lack of financial stability for our families … the lack of available and affordable housing is a crisis, and our people need our culture and practices.”

Ainam listed all of the programs offered within her department. Programs include Youth Empowerment & Prevention, post-treatment services, the Warriors of Hope Domestic Violence Program, Children & Family Services, the Employment & 477 Program, the Portland Area Office and the Community Program, which includes the Veterans Service Office.

“It’s really important to our team that as a community you know that we want to help however we can help whenever you need it,” Ainam said. “You don’t have to know what services that you need. Just make a phone call and we will work to make the appropriate referrals and if we don’t provide it, we will find somewhere that we can connect you to.”

Some highlights of Ainam’s presentation included:

• The Tribal Assistance Program offers Tribal members $4,500 to help with move-in or mortgage costs for new housing. It can be used once every five years. In 2020, the program helped 63 Tribal members;
• There are 25 Tribal children currently in the foster care system and 16 families on average are being provided preventive care every month;
• Veterans Service Officer Ramona Quenelle has helped Tribal veterans obtain more than $80,000 in increased or retroactive benefits from the federal government;
• The Warriors of Hope program has helped 336 Tribal members with domestic violence and sexual assault counseling and assistance since 2014;
• Twelve youth are currently receiving equine counseling services through the Youth Empowerment & Prevention Program;
• And the Portland Area Office on Barbur Boulevard has distributed surplus fish to 125 members this year, as well as 360 food boxes and 30 Thanksgiving boxes.

In 2022, Ainam said Social Services will be expanding its services by adding two domestic violence and sexual assault shelters, moving the Veterans Service Office into the former Procurement building off Grand Ronde Road and building a new Men’s Transitional House to accommodate increasing need.

Ainam fielded eight comments and questions from the membership following her presentation. Approximately 100 Tribal members signed on for the Zoom teleconference.

In other action, three Elders were nominated to fill three vacancies on the Elders Committee. Linda Brandon nominated Dan Ham, who in turn nominated Brandon, and Herrin nominated Tammy Galligher Cook. Voting will occur during the Elders’ drive-through event scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 22, and at the next General Council meeting slated to be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2.

Gail Wilkinson, Clifford Olson, Jenny Murphy, Kateri Marrufo and Kalene Contreras won the $50 door prizes and Joanna Brisbois, Jesse Norton and Stephanie Craig won the $100 door prizes.

To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Government tab and then Videos.