Health Facilities Update
It’s been nearly 2 years since the San Poil
Valley and Inchelium Community Health Centers opened their
doors. Since that time, the San Poil Valley Health Center has
built up over 650 files and Inchelium has built up over 6,000
files. In addition, both facilities have remained financially
independent from the Tribe as planned in their original
business plans. Other than gaming money allocated to each of
the 4 districts in 1997, the Inchelium and San Poil Valley
Health Centers have been able to effectively utilize grants
and third party billing through Medicare, Medicaid and private
insurance to run the operations of their building without
dipping into any Tribal General Fund dollars.
Both the San Poil Valley and the Inchelium Community Health
Centers are open to the public. The centers are able to offer
a sliding fee scale through federal grants to those
individuals that do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid or
private insurance. Anyone who chooses to visit either health
center will not be denied for medical care, dentistry and
optometry.
Many of you may have noticed the third of the Colville Tribes
health facilities rapidly progressing in Nespelem. The
Nespelem Health Center Expansion is on an aggressive schedule
to be handed over to the Tribe later this year. If schedules
remain on a steady course, the new Nespelem Clinic could see
operations at the beginning of 2007.
Much of the outside has been completed on the structure.
Asphalt and curbing are the next steps visually noticeable
from the road. Inside, the building has seen drywall,
electrical, plumbing rough-ins, lighting, etc. Over the next
couple months, CTSC will install flooring, cabinetry and the
lowered ceiling to start forming what will ultimately become
the atmosphere of the Nespelem Expansion.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions
regarding any of the clinics as well as tourism or economic
related matters.
Kyle Desautel
Kyle.desautel@colvilletribes.com
(509) 634-2589
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BUILDING ON THE COLVILLE
RESERVATION
If you own property within the boundaries of
the Colville Indian Reservation you are required to comply
with Tribal land use/shoreline development regulations. A
permit is required in advance for any type of development
(well drilling, septic/drainfields, utility extensions, home
sites, moving a mobile, etc.). Depending on the complexity of
your project, process times are as follows: Minor developments
are $50 for zoning and are routed for a five day comment
period; Major developments are $225 for zoning and are routed
for a fourteen day comment period. Under the Intergovernment
Agreement held between the Tribes, Counties and Cities on the
Reservation; the Tribal staff will negotiate with the
respective County or City agency on who will process the
permit application and who will be the commenting agency. Both
agencies however will have the opportunity to place certain
conditions on the development to regulate laws under their
jurisdiction. If you have questions regarding permitting
issues or concerns, please direct them to Pete Palmer, Land
Use Shoreline Administrator for the Colville Confederated
Tribes at 509-634-2577.
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Colville Tribal
Convalescent Center
The Colville Tribal
Convalescent Center is accepting applications for a new
nursing assistant training program. The classes are to begin
July 10.
Students don’t have to be tribal members to attend or to
accept employment at CTCC following the class.
Nursing assistants work in nursing homes, in hospitals, in
clinics, in homes, and with home health care agencies. Nursing
assistants provide care to needy clients, participate in the
group effort to plan and carry out care, and document their
care in the medical records
The program is Washington State approved. Successful
completion qualifies the student to take the state
certification exam leading to certification as a nursing
assistant.
Tuition, books, and testing fees are free to the student.
Student fees run from $20-35. Additional costs involve travel
and work appropriate clothing if needed.
The class will last approximately six weeks. Initially,
classes will be Monday thru Thursday 9am to 3pm. Later classes
will coincide with the nursing home day shift of 6:30am to
3pm.
For further information and to register, contact Michael at
634-2878.
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Tribal Health Program
The Tribal Health Program (THP)
is pleased to announce the new Transporter/Office Assistant
position for the Nespelem community. Tuesdays and Thursdays
are scheduled for long-distance transports to Spokane. Our
vehicle can hold four (4) clients comfortably and we will be
scheduling more than one (1) client per trip. So, please note
that you will be riding with other clients from Nespelem and
will need to bring your own lunch and snack monies. If
necessary, Transporter/OA will make contact with you and your
provider to schedule your appointment on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. The other days are scheduled for local transports.
According to Resolution #1993-560, following are policy for
Tribal Health Program:
PRIORITY:
Clients that have exhausted all other means of transportation
first, i.e., family members, relatives, etc.
Clients with clinic appointments have first priority for
services. Minor emergency care, follow-up appointments, will
be considered on a case-by-case basis. Walk-ins or last minute
requests may be denied if prior commitments cannot permit
flexibility in the schedule.
All requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance for
local transport in advance for local transport.
All long distance transport requests must be made at least one
week in advance, two weeks preferably, because the available
seating room in the vehicle fills up quickly. Long distance
transport request must be pre-approved.
Clients who are confined to wheel chair or otherwise
incapacitated may be required to have someone available to
lift them in and out of the car at transport stops, pick-up,
and drop off.
Clients requesting transports should have their Medicaid or
Medicare documentation
THE THP WILL NOT TRANSPORT:
Transportation for non-health related needs will not be
considered. I.H.S. eligible clients must have a health-related
need (i.e., doctor, and /or dental appointments, medication
refills, ect.) to be eligible for transportation.
A client who is intoxicated or appears to be under the
influence or alcohol or illegal drugs.
A client who is being held in jail or a juvenile detention
facility.
Minors under the age of 18 without a parent or guardian,
unless the minor has been emancipated (on their own for a
number of years) and the THP will decide this case-by-case.
Someone in need of emergency care needs to be handled by an
EMT.
Clients who are emotionally or mentally disturbed, who must be
transport by mental health professional
SERVICE RESTRICTIONS:
THP has the right to restrict or deny client’s services for up
to 3 months if one of following occurs:
A client is intoxicated or to appears to be under the
influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Client uses offensive/threatening language or engages in other
disruptive behavior.
Other means of transportation are available to the client
(family, relative, friend, etc.) and client refuses to use
them as a transportation resource.
Client is not at home for scheduled transport and/or client
has already gone by other means of transportation and did not
inform the THP.
Currently, THP has hired Billie Leith to perform the duties of
transporting clients and when no transports scheduled, she
will be performing office assistant duties for Tribal Health.
You may contact her at 509 634 2961 or billie.leith@colvilletribes.com
to arrange transportation with her. Please do not hesitate to
call.
Also, Tribal Health Program is can assist you or your family
member in applying for Medicare and/or Medicaid. Please call
and we can help you. We also have information on paying for
your deductible if your dependent is on Medicaid. Please call
509 634 2943 and ask for CHR.
Val Vargas-Thomas, Program Manager
Tribal Health Programs
Val.vargas@colvilletribes.com
509 634 2944
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Children & Family
Services
Children & Family Services would like to extend
our gratitude to the following local businesses that provided
gift and supply donations for the Foster Parent Appreciation
Picnic held on May 25th: Coulee Dam Casino, Odom Corporation
of Omak, and Okanogan Bingo Casino. With the generosity of
these businesses, our event was a big success.
This event was put on to observe Foster Parent Month during
the month of May, and to extend our thanks to the many foster
parents both in and out of our community who open their homes
to help keep our at-risk children safe and healthy.
Currently we are in dire need of Foster Homes in our
community. If you think this might be something you are
interested in, please contact Tammy Nicholson, Licensor, at
(509)634-2762. There are plenty of children who are in need of
a safe and loving environment for both short and long-term
care right now.
Thank you to all of our foster parents, for all that they do
for our children and our communities.
Sincerely,
Daryl Toulou
Program Manager
Colville Confederated Tribes Children & Family Services
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TRIBAL HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OFFICE
Have you ever wondered what you should do if
you find an archaeological, traditional, cultural or sacred
site? Who should you call if you knew a site was being looted
or was about to be damaged by construction? Who should you
call if you have concerns about sites? Contact the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Tribal
Historic Preservation Office also known as the
History/Archaeology Program at 509-634-2693.
The Tribal Historic Preservation Office serves the Colville
Tribes by “protecting the future, preserving past” by caring
for archaeological, traditional, cultural and sacred sites.
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