# n g T he S h a w n (2016) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aabsentee%3A977f11f9b2414fb3 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text The mo ee " "A n g T he S h a w n Absentee ShawneeNews Inside This Issue 2 - 3 Executive Committee Reports 4 Title VI Menu & News 6 Elders Council 11 Election Commission 13 OEHE 14 - 15 February Birthdays Volume 27 No. 45 ❤ February 2016 16 AST Health System Update 18 Emergency Management Report 20 - 21 Health System Announcements 23 From the Doctor's Notebook 24 National Children's Dental Health Month 27 National Folic Acid Awareness 28 - 29 Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month 30 AST Indian Child Welfare 35 - 36 Campaign Letters 37 Foster Care 38 - 39 Minutes From the Election Commission: TRIBAL MEMBERS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES Lt. Governor Kenneth Blanchard Isaac Gibson, Jr. Representative Rick Little Axe, Sr. Anthony "Tadpole" Johnson Sherman Tiger Treasurer Leah Bates Scott Miller Twila Parker Kathy Deere Commission Member #1 Mary Birdtail No one filed: Election Commissioner, Election Secretary Executive Committee Edwina Butler-Wolfe Governor Issac Gibson Lt. Governor John Johnson Secretary Leah Bates Treasurer Kenneth Blanchard Representative Monthly Executive Committee meetings can be watched online at astribe.com Governor’s Report Hello my Absentee Shawnee people! I am often amazed at what electronic online libraries offer. I can still remember earlier days when the DOS (Disk Operating System) was the first widely-installed operating system for personal computers and was considered the forerunner of business computer technology. Much has changed since IBM began that computer line. These days have a host of explorable opportunities available to us both in the type of technology and the software that can go on and in it. As an example: this past week I was visiting the Wikipedia site and decided to put DOS (Disk Operating System) was the first widely-installed operating system for personal computers in the name ‘Oklahoma’. I was somewhat surprised at what I learned. Many of you probably know that ‘Oklahoma’ is derived from the Choctaw language and liberally interpreted it means ‘land of red man’. But were you aware that the federal government regarded our state as Indian Territory with the thought in mind that it would be an all Indian state controlled by the United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs? It was only later that the name changed from Indian Territory to Oklahoma, the de facto name for Oklahoma Territory, in 1890. In review of our own tribal history the Absentee Shawnee’s began early settlement into ‘Indian Territory’ around 1839. This was brought about by Indian agents from the U.S. government bringing soldiers from Fort Reno in western Indian Territory and forcing the Absentee Shawnees located in Deep Fork River to leave. Our people were brought south to the area known as Hog Creek and Little River where the Big Jim band remains to this day. The White Turkey Band was moved to what is now Pottawatomie County near a town later named ‘Shawnee’ after our tribe. As I go out and meet with other tribal leaders or agency officials I am often asked the question? Why are we called the ‘Absentee Shawnee’s’? Our cultural department indicate the phrasing of our name the “Absentee Shawnee” stems from a provisional clause in an 1854 treaty regarding surplus lands in the Kansas Reservation which were set aside for the “absent” Shawnees. State of Indian Nations On January 14, 2016 the State of the Indian Nations was given by the National Congress of American Indian’s President, Brian Cladoosby. He called on the federal Congress and the President to address the following issues in 2016: Community Security. ➢➢ Reauthorization of the Tribal Law and Order Act. Economic Equality. ➢➢ Tribes should be able to collect taxes without placing extra burdens on local businesses. NCAI called on the Department of Interior to amend ‘The Indian Trader’ regulations, to eliminate dual taxation in Indian Country, and empower tribes to invest in the infrastructure and services that make economic development possible. ➢➢ Tribes must be able to issue taxexempt bonds. Education, Health And Wellness Of Tribal Communities. ➢➢ Education is a promise made in exchange for our land. NCAI indicated there is ‘… work to do, to ensure that tribal governments are directing the education of their youth.’ 2 It can be done by incorporating tribal culture and language into the classroom; by acknowledging the role of tribal education departments in Indian education; and by ensuring that students have adequate, safe, and modernized schools and environments in which to learn and thrive. ➢➢ Wellness. NCAI asked the federal government to permanently reauthorize the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians, so that tribal communities can continue to combat this disease. NCAI called on Congress to provide advanced appropriations for the Indian Health Service to eliminate delays and uncertainties for clinics, hospitals, staff, and patients. NCAI called on both the Administration and Congress to relieve tribal communities of the financial burden they bear under the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. Threat Of Global Climate Change. NCAI asked for the establishment of a permanent Climate Adaptation Task Force, in collaboration with tribal leaders. Land Into Trust – Where Are We? In August 2015 the Executive Committee legislated to make an offer on the Nettie Moreland trust property in Pottawatomie County. In November expenditures of tribal funds were authorized for the purchase of this property. The tribe owns the property and we are waiting for this land and numerous other tracts of land the tribe owns to be placed into trust for the tribe. Maintenance For the past 31 months I have been bringing to your attention the concerns I have in relation to getting the maintenance and grounds needs of our tribal complex taken care of. Our buildings are in dire need of care both on the inside and the outside. Two weeks ago part of my ceiling fell in. Pigeons and hawks are known to get in our buildings due to holes and openings in our ceilings. If you were to come onto the campus you would see the negligence both staff and visitors daily see. Yet there are exceptions to this. Finance has had three building renovations done in a 3 year period, with new equipment purchased and ‘matching’ glass desk tops tailored to their desks. This year’s budget for Finance shows they included additional building renovation funds; construction funds and new furniture and fixture funds. It has been noted that two facilities located on the tribal campus have had to hire their own maintenance personnel. This is not good for business. The tribe needs to set project prioritizations. These could be done by starting with buildings on the tribal complex as the tribe operates business and the services being provide from these buildings. As a secondary consideration the community buildings as those serve our tribal communities. The needs of the tribal members are important and a system should be considered to assist tribal members based on an established process and a budget line item specifically for that to occur. At this time none of this is in place and it needs to be done and I am hopeful with a change in leadership that will happen. Meetings And Events Since my last report in the January newsletter I have attended the following meetings and/or special events: ➢➢ December 15th Health Board Meeting ➢➢ December 16th Executive Committee Monthly Meeting ➢➢ December 17th CTSA Governing Board of Director Meeting ➢➢ December 18th Budget Meeting Health Program and Tribe ➢➢ December 23rd Staff Christmas Luncheon ➢➢ December 30th Special Executive Meeting ➢➢ January 11th Informal Meeting Executive Committee ➢➢ January 11th CTSA Training 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm ➢➢ January 15th United Indian Nation Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Meeting Expressions For those families who may have lost a loved one this month I offer my sincere condolences to you and your family on your loss. For those families celebrating a new birth, birthday and/or anniversary I extend my warmest congratulations. In Conclusion I have 16 months left in Office and I find each day both challenging and full of possibilities. My door is always open (unless I am in a meeting or at a meeting) and I welcome your visits. Help me to make a difference – stand beside me and Let us Build for the Future (BFF) - united and together! Thank you for your support. Secretary’s Report On November 24, 2015 I had a change of staff Leonard Longhorn is now the Director of Cultural Preservation and Diane Ponkilla transferred from AST Police Specialist to the Representatives Administrative Assistant. The Representative has oversight of The Human Resources and The Cultural Preservation Department. Human Resources Department: The mission of the HR Department is to recruit, retain and develop a highly competent workforce that supports the core goals, vision and values of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. HR is made of (4) Employees: Cheri Hardeman, Human Resource Director; Rachael Lankford, Human Resource Generalist; Elizabeth Clark, Benefit Specialist and Casey Adams, Human Resources Assistant. Hello All, The holidays are over and the New Year has begun. I am ready to get things started and my goals accomplished. I'm hoping with a new year among us, I will be able to exceed and excel in the goals that I have set forth for the tribe. Due to the funds running low for 2015, I was unable to start my first goal of getting the tribal resolutions set up on a database. By doing this, the tribal resolutions will be made available via the tribal internet. This will give AST tribal members complete access to the tribal resolutions that are being passed in the Executive Committee meetings. My second goal is to have a NEW TRIBAL TRAVEL STORE in Little Axe built. After a complete feasibility study is done on the store, I will be able to give you more details. As tribal members, I want to hear your feedback on this. I want to hear your questions, comments or concerns for a new store. As you know, there are upcoming elections approaching, as the tribal secretary, I would like to ask for all candidates to please be respectful to each other during the election time. Thank you and good luck to all the candidates. GOOD DAY!! Niyawa, John R. Johnson Secretary The HR Department is currently working on ACA1095 reporting and 401K open enrollment. They have drafted (3) policies for the Executive Committee to review and are continuing efforts in revising the Personnel Manuel. Representative's Report If you have any questions regarding the Cultural Preservation Department please call Leonard Longhorn at (405) 275-­6310 Greetings Tribal Members: I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday with family and friends and ready for the beginning of 2016. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the recent deceased Tribal Members. 3 Coming events in the early part of 2016 will be Supervisor and Safety Training for our Employees. HR has identified that this is a need across the board to insure the safety of our Employees. The Absentee Shawnee Tribe currently has 370 Employees and growing! If you have any questions regarding the Human Resources Department please call Cheri Hardeman at (405) 275-­4030 ext. 6252 The Cultural Preservation Department: Consists of (6) Employees: Leonard Longhorn, Cultural Preservation Director; Colleen Butler, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO); Sherry Tejada, THPO AP/AR Clerk; Miranda Cobell, THPO AP/AR Clerk; Tracy Wind, THPO Specialist; Ashley Brokeshoulder, Gift Shop Manager and Ashley McCray, Librarian/Archivist. You may contact Me Representative, Kenneth Blanchard at (405) 275-­4030 ext. 6287 or cell (405) 585-­8991 or Diane Ponkilla at (405) 275-­4030 ext.6335 or cell (405) 765-­6598. Sunday Monday Menu subject to change Tuesday 1 2% milk served daily Sunday Monday 2 1 7 8 9 Chicken Str-Fry 14 Egg Roll Chicken Fry Steak Pineapples Turkey 15 Mashed Pot/Gravy Hot Carrots Ham n Chez Sandwich Roll/Pears 14 20 21 27 28 Happy Valentne’s Day 21 Chef Salad w/Chicken Beef Tips Eggs, Chez & Noodles Crackers Veggies Mixed Fruit Crisp 22 Green beans Bread Title VI Closed Mixed&Fruit Inventory Cleaning 22 23 Salisbury Steak Mashed Pot/Gravy Mixed Veggies Apricots 28 Chicken Enchilada Soup Tortlla Chips Pudding 29 President’s 29 Tuna Sandwich Fish Lett, Tom Coleslaw Chips Fries Orange Ice Cream 9 Cabbage Stew Crackers Chicken Broc & Rice Crisp Casserole Tossed Salad* 10 Chili w/beans 16 Chez, Onions Tamales Cornbread Mexi-­‐corn Peaches Wieners N Kraut Mac n Chez Green beans Prunes Thursday 11 Roast Red Pot/Carrots Bread Mixed Fruit NOT GOING TO BE HOME!!! CALL AND LET US KNOW AT 405-­‐275-­‐4030 EXT 6227 or 6270 OR NOTIFY YOUR DRIVER Scrambled Eggs Sausage Gravy Biscuits Saturday 6 Cornbread 11 Cereal Toast Muffin English Sausage Paty Ham Fruit Scrambled Eggs Crackers Pears Beef Tips Scrambled Eggs 18 Sausage Gravy Cereal Biscuit 20 Wafes 25 Bacon Fruit Christmas 26 Merry Plums 26 Ham Black-­‐eyed Peas Au gratin pot. Cornbread 19 Toast 19 24 Noodles Veggies Beans w/ham Steak Eve fries Onions 31 Cake 12 13 12 Baked Chicken 17 Wild Rice Stew Veggies Chez Stick Mandarin Oranges 18 5 Friday Oven 10 Fried Chicken Mashed Pot/Gravy Beans Brussel Sprouts Steakfries Applesauce Onions 25 Baked Zit Green Beans Tossed Salad* 30 Garlic Bread Saturday 5 23 Ranch Beans Tossed Title VSalad* I Closed Cinnamon Inventory & CRoll leaning 24 Friday 4 Grilled Chez Veggie Soup Pineapples 4 Mac Salad Chips n Salsa 17 16 Chips/Mand. O ranges Cookie Taco Casserole Kraut n Wieners Title VDay I Closed Inventory & Cleaning Thursday 3 Goulash Salad Bar* Cornbread Wednesday 3 8 Mashed Pot/Gravy Veggies 15 Apricots AST Complex Closed 2016 7 13 Wednesday 2 Fish Coleslaw Hushpuppies Tuesday Pie 6 Hamburger Let,Hamburgers Tom, Onions Tom, Lett, Onions Wafe Fries Fries Yogurt Applesauce 27 Scrambled Eggs Sausage Gravy Christmas Biscuit LUNCH SERVED MONDAY-­‐THURSDAY 11AM TO 1PM BREAKFAST SERVED FRIDAYS 9AM TO 11AM TITLE VI NEWS We have scheduled two dates with the Public Health Department, February 9th at the LARC 11 am to 1 pm and February 23rd at the Shawnee Title VI Building 11 am to 1 pm, more details to come. Weather Information: AST Severe Weather policy • Prior to normal starting time it will be announced on the local television or radio channels that the Absentee Shawnee Tribe is open and/or closed based on weather severity. The Governor, and/or designee, will report to these channels. Channel 4, 5, 9, Fox 25; Radio KTOK 1000; KOKC 1520 AM. Formerly the policy has been that when schools in Little Axe and Shawnee are closed then employees would be allowed administrative leave. This policy seeks to clarify on procedures and gives the decision making process back to the Tribe. February 2, Ground Hog Day!!! February 8, Chinese New Year!! February 14, Happy Valentine’s Day • On days when weather conditions worsen as the day progresses, the Governor or another Member of the Executive Committee may decide to close early. In such cases, a decision and an announcement will be made through email to all employees. February 15, 4 President’s Day AST Complex will be closed for President’s Day. No lunch will be served or delivered this day. The Green Buffalo Company At Little Axe Bison Ranch Tecumseh, OK In Stock Items Items Available for Pre-order Buffalo Stew Meat 1 pound packages Vacuum sealed & Frozen $12 each Buffalo Summer Sausage 12 ounce roll Vacuum sealed & Frozen $12 each Ground Buffalo 1 pound packages Vacuum sealed & Frozen $11 each Buffalo Burgers Four 1/3 pound patties per package Vacuum sealed & Frozen $14 each thegreenbuffalocompany@gmail.com (405) 287-8517 Providing quality bison products, made in Oklahoma! Piano & Guitar Lessons $10 Per Hour Call Phil Bradley at 405-585-8801 5 Elders Council If you have a family member that is 55 or older and resides in a nursing home, assisted living or is homebound contact Meredith Wahpekeche at (405) 760-2601 or Betty Watson at (405) 637-5806 The Elders Council has a limited number of Christmas Baskets that will be distributed. They will need your name, address and phone number for delivery. ATTENTION 55 YEARS OR OLDER YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN ABSENTEE SHAWNEE ELDERS’ COUNCIL If you are 55 years and older, we invite you to come and join us. We would like you, AST elders who have recently or who will be turning 55 years, to come check us out at either the AST Resource Center in Little Axe or the Title VI Building in Shawnee. We love to visit, eat and fellowship with each other so we invite you to come. The AST Elders Council meet the third Saturday of each month, 10 AM to Noon with a potluck lunch. The meeting sites alternate each month between the Resource Center in Little Axe and the Title VI Building in Shawnee. PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFO: Mary Birdtail: 476-5603, Wynona Coon: 481-3506, or Kathy Deere: 816-7874. Below is our Purpose Guideline: PURPOSE: It shall be the responsibility of the Elders Council to define and make known to the Executive Committee, any economic and social needs of the Elders, to promote the delivery of supportive services, including health, nutritional services, personal care, chore services, and transportation. To provide guidance for the membership, Absentee Shawnee Tribe government on matters of history, tradition, and culture. We encourage elder participation and endeavor to strengthen connections among the tribal community nationwide. To promote and provide cultural enrichment programs to children and youth. To generate unity among tribal members and to support other programs that benefit the Absentee Shawnee Tribe (amended 03-12-2011). We have a general fund budget that is allocated to the Elders Council for monthly expenses and we do monthly fund raising activities to sponsor activities that the Elders participate in throughout the year. We have sponsored and participated in these activities throughout the years: Veterans’ November Pow Wow Tecumseh Frontier Days Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners Shawnee Christmas Parade Indian Child Welfare Christmas Gifts OKC Red Earth Parade First Inaugural Ball for Newly Elected Officials Thunderbird July 4th Pow Wow 6 Nations of Canada, “Tecumseh” play Crow Fair Pow Wow We recently sent a support letter for the Tribal Incentive grant and we are in the process of an ANA grant for the Shawnee language. These are just a few of the activities, the list is long and diverse. NI YAWA Absentee Shawnee Elders’Council 2016 AST Elders’ Council Meeting Dates and Places SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016 AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016 TITLE VI BUILDING, SHAWNEE SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016 AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016 TITLE VI BUILDING, SHAWNEE SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016 AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2016 TITLE VI BUILDING, SHAWNEE SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016 AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 TITLE VI BUILDING, SHAWNEE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 TITLE VI BUILDING, SHAWNEE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 NOTE: THESE DATES & PLACES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AST RESOURCE CENTER, LITTLE AXE 6 TheAST AST Elders’ Elders’Council Council appreThe appreciate ciate ALL the donations reALL the donations received from the ceived from the Executive ComExecutive Committee, AST Housing mittee, AST Housing Authority, Authority, LSWNEClinic, Dental Clinic, LSWNE Dental Mary T. Mary T. (30 Jacobs (30 tins cookie tins & Jacobs cookie & 29 goody 29 goodybags bags), individuals, ), individuals,&&the the Elders!We We could Elders! could notnot havehave given the given the 32 Christmas baskets 32 Christmas baskets for the shutfor the shut-ins, disabled, and ins, disabled, andAST nursing home AST nursing home members! members! Those members who received Those members who received the the baskets were so very apprebaskets were soandvery appreciate, ciate, excited, happy that excited, andthought happy that were they were of atthey Christmas time! thought of at Christmas time! AST COUNCIL ASTELDERS’ ELDERS’ COUNCIL THANK THANK YOU! YOU! Honoring Our Past With Promise for Our Future LIFE is Beautiful Living Meth Free 7 Contact me to find out more! Delana Ayers 405-432-7405 http://www.marykay.com/dayers4 MK® / MARY KAY® / ©2010 Mary Kay Inc. he Company grants all Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants a limited license to duplicate this document in connection with their Mary Kay business. his item should not be altered from its original form. January 15: Snow Globes February 19: Sunshine/Science Crafts March 19: Dr. Seuss Crafts April 16: Rainy Day Crafts May 21: Percussion Instruments June 18: Summer Fun in the Car July 16: Crafts that Blast Off August 20: Back to School Crafts September 17: Pirate Crafts October 15: Spooky Crafts November 19: Squawking Turkey Crafts December 17: Winter Wonderland Crafts IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUBMIT AN AD OR ARTICLE: Give us a call at (405) 598-1279 or (405) 481-0558 or send us an e-mail to stiger@astribe.com ALL ARTICLES FOR THE NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE ARE DUE BY THE 15th OF THE CURRENT MONTH Unfortunately, we can only accept one picture per birthday person, not per birthday wish. 8 AAA Oklahoma News Release www.AAA.com www.facebook.com/AAAOklahoma www.twitter.com/AAAOklahoma Chuck Mai – 405-753-8040 / 405-760-6007 – chuck.mai@aaaok.org Cristi Goettel – 918-748-1072 / 918-845-4115 – cristi.goettel@aaaok.org PREPARE NOW FOR WINTER DRIVING Nov. 24, 2015 – With possible ice and snow in Oklahoma’s forecast, now’s the time to make sure you and your vehicle are ready for the weather. AAA estimates thousands of vehicles in the state are in need of preventive maintenance. “During AAA’s Car Care Check-ups, the most frequent problems we find are under-inflated tires, dirty oil and low fluid levels under the hood,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Taking action now can save trouble on down the road.” To help motorists get ready, get set and go during this year’s winter driving season, AAA Oklahoma offers the following tips: Get Ready: Before you drive long distances, check the weather conditions along your route. As a safety precaution, remember to bring a cellular phone and a winter driving kit that includes the following items: • • • • • • • • • • • • • a flashlight with fresh batteries, a small snow shovel and brush, traction mats, an ice scraper, booster cables, a warm blanket, flares or triangle warning devices, heavy gloves, snacks and water, simple tools window washing solvent, paper towels and a first aid kit. Get Set: Inspect your vehicle thoroughly before leaving your driveway. Ensure that your tires are properly inflated, fluid levels (including anti-freeze) are full, front and rear lights are operating, and belts and hoses are in good condition. Keep in mind that one of the most common causes of cold-weather breakdowns is a weak or dead battery. Good indicators that your battery is weak and may need replacement include a starter motor that cranks the engine slowly when the ignition key is turned, or headlights that dim noticeably when the engine speed drops to an idle. If in doubt, have a qualified auto technician check it. Go: Now that your vehicle has the green light, here are some winter driving tips to get you to your destination safely. • • • • When driving during slippery and icy conditions, slow down and keep a safe distance from other vehicles, minimize brake use and bear in mind that traction is greatest just before the wheels spin. Gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting is the best method for retaining traction and avoiding skids. The most effective way to stop on ice and snow is to apply your brakes gently well in advance of the point where you intend to stop. With antilock braking systems (ABS), you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when coming to a stop. This means the system is operating as designed to prevent wheel lock up. Continue to apply firm pressure to the brake pedal until your vehicle comes to a complete stop. Keep your seatbelts fastened and make certain all passengers are securely restrained. When driving in falling snow or fog, lower your speed, use your low-beam headlights or fog lights and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. AAA is North America’s largest motoring, leisure travel and safety advocacy organization with nearly 56 million members. A not-for-profit, fully tax-paying auto club, AAA Oklahoma serves its 389,000 Oklahoma members with emergency roadside assistance, auto travel counseling and a wide range of personal insurance, worldwide travel and financial services at branch offices across Oklahoma and online at AAA.com. 9 ABSENTEE SHAWNEE LANGUAGE CLASS FREE SHAWNEE LANGUAGE CLASS FOR NATIVE YOUTH  Limited to the first 20 youth participants  Must be 10—18yrs. Must have a CDIB card.  Transportation may be provided after school from Little Axe Schools  Orientation starts February 10th and classes start February 17th and run through the spring; classes will be held one day a week after school hours at the AST Little Axe Health Center. tes and Wellness a youth soccer The Absentee Shawnee Diabetes and Wellness School. All Little Programtowill be sponsoring a youth soccer e invited mitedcamp soatplease the Little Axe High School. All Little ellnessAxe Fitness community youth are invited to nd pre-register  Classes will be taught by AST Tribal Elders. We find it to be very important to bring culture into prevention. This class is sponsored by the MYDNA SPF-TIG program & Diabetes and Wellness. For more information or to get a registration form please contact Kasey Dean at 405-701-7993 or Howard Brown at 405-701-7115. participate. Registration is limited so please contact the Diabetes and Wellness Fitness Learn basic soccer skills Program at 405-364-7298 and pre-register EARLY! Have fun being physically Participant name: __________________________ DOB: _________________ active! _________________________ Parent/Guardian name: _______________________ Phone: ________________ All LA Elementary Learn basic soccerand skills Middle School Community Have fun being physically youth are welcome! active! No experience required! All LA Elementary and on of the acceptance of this entry I waive all claims for myself and my heirs against the Middle School Community nd coordinating groups and any individuals associated with this event and will hold them youth are welcome! injuries which may result from my participation. I hereby give my permission to the media Name:_______________________________________ Male:__ Female:___ Age:___ tograph in the AST newsletter without limitation or obligation. I certify that I am physically erstand the risks involved by participating in this event. No experience required! __________________________ I, ______________, grant my child, _______________, permission to participate in the Absentee Shawnee Language Class. In Consideration of the acceptance of this entry I waive all claims for myself, my child and my heirs against the sponsors, cooperating and coordinating groups and any individuals associated with the event and will hold them harmless for any and all injuries which may result from my participation. I hereby give my permission to the media to use my name and photograph in the AST newsletter without limitation or obligation. _________________________ Phone:______________ Male:__ Female:___ Age:___ Date _________________________________ ___________________ Print Email Waiver: In consideration of the acceptance of this entry I waive all claims for myself and my heirs against the sponsors, cooperating and coordinating groups and any individuals associated with this event and will hold them harmless for any and all injuries which may result from my participation. I hereby give my permission to the media to use my name and photograph in the AST newsletter without limitation or obligation. I certify that I am physically fit for this event and understand the risks involved by participating in this event. ______________________________________________ _________________________ Signature Date _________________________________ Signature ___________________ Date Oklahoma SPF-TIG project is funded by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) 10 Election Commission The Filing Period for Elective Office in 2016. PLEASE fill out EACH BLANK completely and return by the Deadline. A tribal member may file for office, January 1 to January 10 (excluding Weekends and Holidays.) Hours to file are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon) and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Potential candidates please consult the Election Ordinance for the procedures and qualifications when running for elective office. I, ____________________________________, hereby certify that I am or will be an Eligible The following positions will be open for the Elections to be held in 2016. Voter of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe on or before March 19, 2016. I cannot physically be present to cast my Vote at the March 19, 2016 Primary Election, therefore, I am requesting an Absentee Ballot be mailed to me at the following address. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Position Filing Fees Term Lt. Governor $590.00 Two (2) Years Tribal Treasurer $590.00 Two (2) Years Tribal Representative $590.00 Two (2) Years ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST (Print Name) Name (please print): ___________________________________________________________ (first) (middle) (maiden) (last) Address:____________________________ City: _______________St: _______Zip:________ CDIB#:______________________ Date of Birth:_______________________ Signature:________________________________ Date:______________________________ ELECTION COMMISSION Position Filing Fees Term Election Commissioner $215.00 Three (3) Years Election Secretary $215.00 Three (3) Years Commission Member #1 $125.00 Two (2) Years All REQUESTS must be returned to the Election Commission by the deadline of February 28, 2016 Fee amount: Basic Fee (Executive Committee $500.00 and Election Commission $125.00) plus cost of $40.00 for Alcohol test, $25.00 for Drug test and $25.00 for Driver’s License Verification (MVR.) QUALIFICATIONS: A) An enrolled member of the tribe. B) An eligible voter for purposes of voting in tribal elections. C) Must be twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of the election for which he/she desires to be a candidate. D) Physically reside within the following counties: Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, McClain, Garvin, Pontotoc, Seminole, Lincoln, or Okfuskee. E) In cases where a prospective candidate has been convicted of a felony, such person shall not be eligible for consideration as a candidate until at least five (5) years have passed following completion of the penalty for such conviction(s). F) Not more than one (1) member of an immediate family shall be elected to the same tribal elective body except when running as a candidate for the same elective position. Mail to: Absentee Shawnee Election Commission P.O. Box 741 Tecumseh, OK 74873 Fax to: Fax # (405) 273-1337 (Do not fax to any other fax #) Phone: (405) 275-4030 ext. 6271 Toll free number 1-800-256-3341 ext. 6271 Deliver in Person to: Election Commission Office located in the Tribal Court Building All eligible voters are entitled to vote either at the Polls or by Absentee Ballot. This form may be duplicated for your convenience. ______________________________________________________________________________ ELECTION COMMISSION USE ONLY Received: _____________________ Approved:____________________ Disapproved: _______________ If Disapproved (reason): _________________________________________________________________ Denial Letter Mailed:___________________________ Ballot Mailed:_____________________________ _______________________________________ Election Commission/Representative Consult the Election Ordinance for Specific/Additional Qualifications. 11 Tax Collections FY-2015 YTD TAX COLLECTIONS (thru 12/31/15) FY-2015 YTD TAX COLLECTIONS (thru 12/31/15) TAX CATEGORY JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY YEAR-TO-DATE % OF TAXES AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER TOTAL COLLECTED Sales (6%) $1,309.86 $98.49 $32,618.91 $119.48 $12,469.19 $6,240.39 $5,322.62 $5,825.51 $1,059.20 $5,255.54 $5,816.45 $11,931.27 $88,066.91 Gaming % of free cash $164,284.00 $150,000.00 $250,000.00 $265,798.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00 $200,000.00 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $200,000.00 $200,000.00 $100,000.00 $2,330,082.00 Employee (1%) $41.05 $0.00 $11,691.21 $0.00 $11,597.06 $36,303.24 $3,817.41 $19,742.45 $12,900.47 $10,019.03 $13,882.91 $16,118.32 $136,113.15 Severance (8%) $7,199.15 $756.29 $5,251.65 $4,449.01 $5,411.85 $5,533.28 $4,318.57 $3,852.18 $544.92 $6,370.80 $0.00 $9,940.25 $53,627.95 Motor Vehicle $11,660.98 $16,042.65 $16,645.60 $16,196.66 $10,223.79 $15,487.60 $16,468.69 $15,061.03 $13,262.66 $14,808.94 $10,107.63 $9,372.21 $165,338.44 Tobacco Refund $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,344.76 $20,355.21 $17,171.98 $43,871.95 TOTAL TAXES 3.12% 82.63% 4.83% 1.90% 5.86% 1.56% $184,495.04 $166,897.43 $316,207.37 $286,563.15 $239,701.89 $313,564.51 $229,927.29 $194,481.17 $227,767.25 $242,799.07 $250,162.20 $164,534.03 $2,817,100.40 $2,790.00 0.10% TOTAL COLLECTIONS $184,800.04 $167,022.43 $316,327.37 $286,745.65 $239,794.39 $313,709.51 $230,072.29 $194,731.17 $227,932.25 $242,864.07 $250,277.20 $165,614.03 $2,819,890.40 100% Miscellaneous $305.00 $125.00 $120.00 $182.50 $92.50 $145.00 $145.00 $250.00 $165.00 $65.00 $115.00 $1,080.00 Personal Banking: AllNations Bank offers a wide range of products and services to meet today’s consumer demand including our AllNations Bank Free Checking Account; Savings Account; Certificate of Deposit Accounts; Individual Retirement Accounts; Money Market; Now Accounts & Consumer Loans including Auto, Boat and more. AllNations Offers Free ATM/Debit Card with each personal account that can be used at our Shawnee OK Drive Up ATM. In addition, we offer a wide selection of Safe Deposit Boxes for rent at competitive prices. Contact Us for Details As Follows: Calumet Office - Gene Davis or Dixie Smith 405-893-2240; offers a wide range of products and services to114 meet today’s E Main, Calumet, OK cluding Shawnee Office - Gene Davis or Amber Alexander 405-273-0202; 2023Accounts; S. Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee, OK ree Checking Account; Savings Account; Certificate of Deposit Individual Business Banking: Money Market; Now Accounts & Consumer Loans including Auto, Boat and more. In addition to our Commercial Checking account, AllNations Bank offers a wide range of products and services to e ATM/Debit Card with each personal account that can be used at our Shawnee OK meet today’s business needs including all types of Commercial and Small Business Loans; Merchant Services; Night ition,Depository we offer a wide selection of Safe Deposit Boxes for rent at competitive prices. Drop & More. Contact Us for Details As Follows: Contact Us for Details As Follows: Calumet Office - Gene Davis or Dixie Smith 405-893-2240; Calumet Office - Gene Davis or Dixie Smith 405-893-2240; 114 E Main, Calumet, OK 114 E Main, Calumet, OK Shawnee Office - Gene Davis or Amber Alexander 405-273-0202; Shawnee Office - Gene Davis or Eugene Stidham 405-273-0202; 2023 S. Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee, OK Banking Hours: 2023 S. Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee, OK 2023 S. Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee, OK 74801 Lobby Hours 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Drive In Hours AMBank - 6:00 - Friday mmercial Checking account, 8:00 AllNations offersPM a wideMonday range of products and Saturday: 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon y’s business needs including all types of Commercial and Small Business Loans; ons Bank ight Depository Drop & More. 12 THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & ENGINEERING (OEH&E) Office of Environmental Health & Engineering •Tribal Housing Improvements Application The Tribal Housing Improvement Program’s goal is providing sanitary, safe, and decent housing for its members by utilizing the following criteria to select the most “in need” tribal members with homes that are in disrepair but are still suitable for rehabilitation. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and criteria which is approved by the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. The principal role of OEH&E is to raise the health status of our tribal members to the highest possible level by providing services in the area of water and wastewater. To qualify for a water well and/or septic system, the applicant must be an enrolled Absentee Shawnee Tribal member and reside within one of these six counties; Pottawatomie, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Payne, Lincoln, or Logan, provide land ownership by verification such as a Warranty Deed or Notarized Lease Agreement through the Absentee Shawnee Tribe Reality Department. Proof of income is not required. The services we provide are: new water wells, renovation of a water wells, new city or rural water connections, replacement of city or rural water service lines, new wastewater septic systems, renovation of septic systems, new city sewer lines/ renovation of city sewer lines and water treatment systems as needed. We are not funded to perform annual pumping of septic tanks. That service is considered part of home maintenance. If you are having water or wastewater issues or building a new home and need services please come by our office and fill out an OEH&E application for assistance. If your home is under the management of any housing authority and has not been paid off, you do not qualify for assistance. Applications for this program are available online at www. astribe.com and at the OEH&E building. THIP list all applicants by a priority list: a. Handicapped/Disabled and Elderly b. Income c. Family Size/Overcrowded Living Conditions d. Condition of Home Other Programs available: •Sanitation Facilities Assistance Program Applications need to be completed and all necessary documents attached before the application will be processed. Applications are available online on the website: www.astribe.com. Submit completed application to: Office of Environmental Health & Engineering Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. Shawnee, OK 74801 Absentee Shawnee Tribe Complex Office of Environmental Health & Engineering, Building 13 If you have any questions, you can reach us by phone at (405) 214-4235 The Housing Authority of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe is seeking sealed bids for the Development and Construction of 12 Single Family Units to be located in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Indian Preference will be given according to NAHASDA regulations and 24 CFR 1000.52; but Sealed Bids will be open to all vendors. Sealed Bids will be available on or after January 25, 2016 and will be due back in our office at 107 N Kimberly, Shawnee by February 26, 2016 at 3:00 pm. Late submissions will not be considered unless an insufficient number of proposals are received. The cost of each packet obtained will be a $300.00 refundable deposit which must be paid by check, money order, or credit card. If you are interested in submitting a sealed bid for this project, please contact Amanda Ramirez, Development Coordinator, at (405) 273-1050 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 13 February 2016 Birthdays Alford, Dianne Susan Alford, Laurie Leann Alford, Makenzie Raychel Alford, Paul Henry Almanza, Sacha Blue Renee Arellano, Jennifer Lynn Argueta, Oneonta Marie Armstrong, Dusty Ridge Asbridge, Sandra Lilrene Atwara, Honey Nicole Barnard, Kevin Michael Battiest, Phyllis Leeann Belden, Florene Belden, Lois Little Creek Bennett, Blaine Mattingly Berryhill, Valerie Lynn Bettelyoun, Amber Dawn Bettelyoun, Anthony Bryce Bettelyoun, Lea Dawn Bittle, Joshua Jacob Blanchard Craig, Carolyn Jean Blanchard Sr, Leland Dale Blanchard, Aaron Gabriel Blanchard, Cache Lewis Blanchard, Caden Briar Blanchard, Charles Eugene Blanchard, Joshua James Blanchard, Kellice Lee Blanchard, Rikki Rechele Blanchard, Sierrah Delyn Blanchard, Taylor Jordan Blanchard, Thurman Leon Blanchard, Velma Mae Bowles, Melissa Carole Boyd, Laura Lynn Bread, Charles Michael Bread, Dina Adele Breeding, Kinsley Reece Brokeshoulder, Tammy Lynn Brown, Curtis Jermain Brown, Cody Wayne Brown, Lisa Renee Bryant, Isis Aponi Bullen, Myles Robert Campbell, Mikayla Jo Carlson, Scottina Dakota Carnes, Kylee Aleea Lynn Carr, Adoree Celeste Checotah, Eric Wayne Cloud, Doris ( Elephant ) Coddington, William Michael Cooper, Dade Luke Allen Copeland, Val Rochelle Cottrell, Ryan Thomas Cozad, Anastasia E-mah-doh Creek-Harjo, Josiah Sage Crider, Eric Russell Crocker, Dorothea Carolyn Csoma, Alexander Attila Daugherty, Kenneth Daugherty, Mikenna Hope Daugherty, Serena Mae Davis, Meghan Paige De Shazo, Heather Ann Dean, Minnie Bear Deardorff, Cynthia Ann Deckard, Dakota Dale Deer, Kylee Taryn Deer, Michael Neil Deere, Adina Ann DeLodge, Lena Ruby Rhianna DeLodge, Ruby Leigh Digilio, Brandin Anthony Digilio, Bryon Andrew Downs, Camden Blake Downs, Cayden James Edwards, Kenneth Lee Ellis, Austin Chase Ellis, Jeremy Michael Ellis, Jessica Lyn Ellis, Leroy Emmons, Brian Ross Engledowl, Jasey Belle Fenner, Kayana Isabelle Ferrell, Ethan Shawn Fixico, Stephen Anthony Floyd, Jane Elizabeth Foreman, Joshua Daniel Foreman, Richard Eli Frazier, Devon Leanne Geissler, Stephanie Dayle Gibson Jr., Ronald Lewis Gibson, Kylakay Virginia Gibson, Paige Nycole Gibson, Paul Brian Gillihan, Dezirea Kristyne Gilman, Juanita Gomez, Wilma Sue Goodman, Blake Samuel Granstrom, Gayla Sue Grass, Avis Elaine Grass, Wayne Gravel, Olivia Jane Hale, Taliyah Marie Haley, Sasha Mae Hall, Matteson Roi Ham, Jerred Mace Ham, Rhonda Juliene Harder, Ruth Ellen Harjo, Benjamin Ray Harper, Pauline Aileen S. Hartfield, Jazlynn Shae Harvey, Hally Marie Hayes, Donna Kay Elkins Hayes, Jocelyn Cynthia Lorene Hernandez, Erica Ann Herrera, Robert Manuel Hibdon, Kendra Nicole Hilderbrand, Amy Beth Hill, Stephen Allen Hood III, Warren Weslyon Hood, Dakota Zane Hood, Moria Oloizia Huntington, Bradford Paul Hurst, Joseph Douglas Skinner Ibarra, Angel Antonio Irvin, Nathaniel Konrad Jimerson Jr., Robert Jobe, Alexa Lee Johnson Jr., Foster Calvin Johnson Jr., Mark Benjamin Johnson, Cleta Joyce Blanchard Johnson, Grayling Wade Johnson, Henry Kirby Johnson, Jacob Jordan Johnson, Marc Anthony Johnson, Mark Benjamin Johnson, Michael Jeremy Johnson, Pauline Virginia Johnson, Rahstin Allyn Sabbestiun Johnson, Sandra Kay Johnson, Tiffany Sheri Johnston, Diana Sue Alford Jones III, Timothy Dale Jones, Willie Lee Judkins, Ashley Ann Keith, Andy Ronin Kelly, Ryan Michael Kickapoo, Derek Anthony Kirby, Gage Robert Kitchen, Amber Elisabeth Knight, Natalie Jean Krackenberger, Sharon Lea Krejci, Ronald Dylan Kupczynski, Joseph Martin Lalehparvaran, Ali Jordan Laplant, Scotty Alan Lasarge, Amos Dewayne Lavell, Jade Daniel Leath, Mary Loyse Lehman, Joenita Leigh Lena-Tiger, Camille Dawn Lewis, Elain Kay Lewis, Pamela Lynn Limbaugh, Jodi Kathleen Little Axe Eckles, Debra Lynn Little Axe Sr., Danny Little Axe, Ronald Dean Little Charley Jr., Scott Little Creek, Larry Dwight Littlebear, Brooklyn Shay Littlebear, Grant Edwin Littlebear, Laura Jan Littlecreek, Cynthia Marie Littlehead, Gary Lynn Longhorn, Lindsey Marie Longhorn, Nathan Neil Lowe, Kara Michelle Lowe, Taylor Makayla Lumpmouth, Wynona Lee Maddux, Jonathan Webster Tiger Mahardy, Jeffery Andrew Mann, Colby Lee Richard Markwardt, Ethan Thomas Marshall, Denia Kay Martinez, Erica Inez Martinez, Hayden Loa Martinez, Jasmine Consuelo Martinez, Shawnee Danielle Masquas, Cora Irene Masquas, Elysia Rose Masquas, Joshiah Lee May, Gina Lanette McDoulett, John William McDowell, Farrell Ramon McKane, Sidna Rae Lenee McKinney, Ellen Marie Medina, Elizabeth Ruth Ann Medina, Trinity Lynn Tiger Melton, Jaycie Taylor Miller, Cari Denise Miner, Veda Jorene Minesinger, Joshua Brooker Minesinger, Seth Wildcat Mitchell, Benito Miquel Travis Mohawk, Cherokee Cheyenne Molina Jr., Charles B. 14 Moore, Alexia Saranda Moore, Thomas Joseph William Randall Morton, Joseph Ohland Mount, Glenda Dawn Murdock Jr., Steven Alan Murdock Sr., Steven Alan Musick, Michael Thomas Nail, Gregory Thomas Novick, River Elaine-Monique Odell, Ronnie Lynn Owens, Beau Wesley Laine Owings, Abigail Rose Panther, Lydia Denise Panther, Shawn Dell Panther-Davis, Tammie Rae Parker, John Wendall Gage Perez, Tesla Nichole Perkins, Miranda Deann Perry, Georgia Grace Perry, Sierra Breanna Peter, Kalina Nicole Pine, Jeremiah Andrew Ponce, Aisaiah Anthony Oscar Pyrch, Jesse Kellen Quraishi, Ibraheem Bin Khalil Raisbeck Jr., David Nathaniel Raisbeck, Samantha Storm Raisbeck, Samuel Walter Ramirez III, Florentino Ramirez, Mariah Fay-Ann Ramirez, Matias Noah Reyes, Isabel Fe Richey, Kodi Rae Jolynn Ridenour, Sydney Bree Rigg, DeeAnn Onahwag Riley, Hulbutta Kotcha Robbins, Blake Anthony Robbins, Taylar Paige Robison, Ariana Michelle Rolette, Cheryl Lynn Rolette, Madison Fox Grant Rolette, Madison Joy Rowan, Damian Eugene Runsabove, Honor Mae Sams, Christine Lorraine Sanchez, Kianna Paola Seber, Peyton Eddie Serena, Laveda Shawnee, LaNayah JaN'aee Sheets, Angela Christy Simpson, Christian Jacob Simpson, Cody Lee Skelly, Shanna Lynn Slate, Patricia Ann Slayton, Brooke Danielle Sloat, Douglas James Sloat, Meika Ladon Sloat, Newton D Smith, Cynthia Diane Daugherty Smith, Marvin Smith, Zackery James Snake, Alvin Matthew Snake, Julia DeAnn Snake, Kenneth Lee Snake, Lewis George Snake, Stewart Lancer Soap, Sally Clarice Solomon, Billie Jean Tiger Spoon, Edward Joe Spoon, Justin Tyler Spoon, Paisley Rennea Spybuck, Garland Charles Spybuck, Gavan Wayne Spybuck, Roberta Ann Stevenson, Jodean Ann Stoudemire, Naviah DeAnne Strain, Gerald Tousley Stryker, Doyle Chad Stryker, Laurel Brad Sullivan, Aizah Vanesse Sullivan, Marcus Lee Sutton Jr., Jeremy Ray Switch, Sabrina Lee Switch, Sophia Michelle Tahah, Barton Dale Talton, Dacia Arie Talton, Kaydince James Taryole, Laura Lee Tascier, Sarah Isabelle Tello-Faz, Maria delaLuz Terrell, Xavier Thomas Jackson Thompson, Asher Bryce Thorpe IV, George Isaiah Thorpe Jr., Edwin James Thorpe Lena, Janice Gail Thorpe, Edwin James Tiger, Karman Rose Daylee Tiger, Kevin Richard Dewayne Tiger, Soaryn Edward Matthew Tiger, Tammy Cindie Ladawn Tiger, Tyler Matthew Trussell, Sherry Lynn Uchida, Denise Louise Uchida, Kevin Micheal Valdivia Jr., Enrique Vaughn, Dylan Thomas Wade, Justin Lee Walker, Robert Stanley Warrior, Anthony Louis Warrior, Pamela Sue Washington, Olvie Winston Watkins, Destiney Shae Watkins, Jayana Laneis Watson, Adriana Renae Watson, Brent Grynnel Watson, Micah Lashaun D. Watson, Peyton Deshae Wheeler, Emily Anne Wheeler, Leah J. Whims, Madison Mackenzie White Thunder, Shelby Lynn White, Christopher Alan Whittaker, Caiden Skye Whittaker, Joshua Jay W. Wiley, Prince John Bowen Wilkinson, Kaelynn Rayann Williams, Brennan Marie Williams, Kaylee Nicole Williams, Kevin Bruce Wilson Harjo, Reta Marie Wilson, Adam Lee Wilson, Mariana Danyel Wilson, Melvin Wayne Wilson, Zelma Jo Womack, Che`le Caye Wood, Judith A. Wood, Ryan Ashley Yamutewa, Chebon Dale Shelby Lynn White Thunder (Feb. 3rd) Whitney Huckaby Garland I love you sweetie! Brother! I love you very much!! Love your sister, Sadie XOXO From, Mom, Dad, Sheldon, Shelsie, Bryson, and Daelan You continue to make me so very proud of the great young man you have become!! I love you so very much!! Love, Auntique & Lil Shoxx Love, Granny GRANDSON JUSTIN TYLER SPOON Stay sweet like you are. I love you very much. Love, Granny Happy birthday Leland (Feb. 28th) From, Sis, Tommy, Sheldon, Shelsie, Shelby & Justin, Bryson, and Daelan Happy birthday to our totally awesome big brother!! Hope your day is filled with more love and more laughter!! Love, Joplin & Jiliyan Rikki Blanchard rd 43 (Feb 17th) From, Sis, Tommy, Sheldon, Shelsie, Shelby & Justin, Bryson, and Daelan 29th Abbe! Love You Always, Momma, Daddy, Hector, Ale and Ricky Happy Belated Birthday To: Betty “Sug” Isaacs January 4th Sheldon White Thunder January 16th Bernice Blanchard January 19th Chester Blanchard January 24th Martin Starr January 24th To my oldest child Justin Justin, Happy 29th Birthday to my eldest child. You have my heart always and forever!! You have my heart always and forever!! Love, Love, Your Mother Your Mother 15 From: Sis, Shelby, Shelsie, Daelan, Bryson, Jensen, Rikki, Devin, Mack, Willon, Leadra, Jr., and Ken AST Health System - January 2016 2015 was a year to remember! We achieved much, and yet we have much more to do. We’ve seen steady increases in our customer/ patient satisfaction rates, access to care and services, as well as a steady decline in patient complaints and concerns. Although no organization is perfect, the distinction of excellence lies within the culture of an organization and its ability to continuously improve processes and respond to their internal and external customers’ needs and concerns. The health system’s culture is on the right track, and I’m proud of the motivation, morale, and dedication our staff has to this health enterprise! This past year we added several new providers, increased access to services more than any other time in AST Health System’s history in Dental, Primary Care, and Behavioral Health. Also, our Diabetic Health and Wellness as well as Physical Therapy and Contract Health (now renamed Purchase Referred Care by Congress) drastically increased their services, outreach, and patient access at both clinic locations. As the mantra states in health care, when you take care of the patient the revenue follows! Our third party revenue is also at historic highs, allowing us a near-term ability to accelerate our payment schedule to retire the Joint Venture debt for the Little Axe Clinic in years rather than decades at the present rate, which is projected to continue to grow! Making this important goal even more attainable is the refinancing of the interest rate for the health system’s Joint Venture at historically low interest rates, also allowing more accelerated payments on the debt. The Zombie 5K Run held for the second year along with the annual health fair had record crowds and attendance by vendors at these events, which were a huge, growing success, mainly due to the dedication of our outstanding employees and tribal members! New equipment, state of the art technology, and improvement in patient through-put processes combined to increase efficiency, lower wait times, and increased access to services. The expansion of pharmacy hours along with the PlusCare Clinic initiative has provided our tribal members services – as identified through the annual community needs assessment (C.N.A.) conducted in 2014. Accreditation of our health system is pending, with the final stage being set in midApril with the on-site survey by the AAAHC Team. This mark of distinction for our health system will certify our system as being in a unique, set apart category of excellence recognized by the healthcare industry as being a provider of quality healthcare verified through very in-depth assessments and skillfully applied industry standards of practice and evidence-based medicine. It is also extremely important to recognize the accomplishments of the health boards, LSWN and ASTHA, both being chaired by experienced, dedicated, AST Tribal members with significant healthcare industry and hospital experience. The Executive Committee has been instrumental in working together every time they’ve been needed by health to support all the successes we’ve achieved, and we all sincerely thank them for their kind, caring, and dedicated support in improving health care services and access to all of our patients and tribal members we service! Please take notice…recently, reported to us, one of our patients, who is a tribal member, was contacted by someone claiming to be with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and asking for personal information including their Medicare number. The call back number provided did not work, and the member felt uncomfortable with the request, as they had just signed up with the benefits mobile unit at the Little Axe Clinic. Please feel free to coordinate with our health system’s Patient Benefit Advocates (PBAs) if you think you are being targeted or solicited for information that does not seem right to you and allow us to help you verify or assist in vetting whether it is a legitimate request or not. Upon further review, this member did not have any items needing any attention, and it is suspected that it may have been an attempt to gain personal information. Always ask questions and call back to verify if you do not believe the request for information is appropriate or necessary based upon what you know about your status and coverage(s). This tribal member was alert, and cautious, and succeeded in protecting their valuable information. We are thankful and very proud of our outstanding star performers this month and thank them all for their contributions to our patients, their fellow employees, and the tribe! Employee of the month for health was Mr. Robert White Jr., facility support staff; the team of the month was the Mrs. Emily Key, Mrs. Sara Judkins, and NP Jamie Gonzalez for their partnership with the Casino in improving healthy menu choices. The special leadership recognition award was presented to both Jimmy Robertson and Manual Johnson, for assisting transportation with multiple patient transports on very short notice, assisting tribal patients with getting to their medical appointments unabated while short staffed in transportation. We have a wonderful team health, and they all make a difference for our health system and for the health and wellness of all of our patients! Additional health related information: - AST/Serviced Health System Native American Veterans: If you are currently receiving services with the area VA Medical Center, please contact us today to set up an appointment to have your services established with the AST Health System. - If you need CPR training, please contact the AST Health System’s Public Health Office at (405) 447-0300 for scheduling and training opportunities. - Contract Health Services (CHS) interactive phone menu helps patients access the most appropriate service provider by calling (405) 701-7951. This feature will speed up access to the patients seeking services and follow-up 16 to their care. We also have Contract Health representatives available at our Shawnee location. Tribal members are able to call Ms. Flo Mann, LPN or Ms. Laurie Webber, LPN at (405) 878-5850. - The AST Health System continues to improve its Customer Service. The Customer Service Line is (405) 701-7623. Please direct all complaints or compliments to this line for appropriate attention and/or response. Please be assured that this is the best way to have each situation addressed, with consistent updates from our Health Staff. After the investigations of all issues are complete, our Health Director or a Clinic Administrator will personally contact you with updates, decisions, or question pertaining to your case. - The AST Anti-Bullying Prevention “HOTLINE” is (405) 701-7987 during work hours 8-5, M-F, and for added confidentiality or after hours you may contact Mrs. Dara Thorpe at either (405) 701-7992 or via cell (405) 4810815 to start intervention assistance for tribal youth. If it is an emergency or someone is at risk of harming themselves or others, please contact 911. - The Affordable Care Act Decision Tool continues to be a valuable tool with helping you decide what you need to do for compliance with the act. Please see the ACA tab at the ASTHA Health Program’s Website: http:// www.asthealth.org/aca (Please visit our site today to find out what you need to do to protect yourself and your family)! - Emergency After hour Pharmacy Access: If you experience an emergent issue after hours and receive a prescription that needs to be filled that same evening, AST Health has provided access for Tribal members only at three (3) approved Wal-green locations in Shawnee and Norman. You will need to submit your prescription and it is mandatory to identify yourself with your AST CDIB card and other appropriate ID. Then they shall fill your prescription. You will have a 5-day limited fill on your prescription. Upon the first work/business day, you can have the remaining balance of your prescription(s) transferred to your AST pharmacy in either Shawnee or Little Axe, and they will fill your remaining balance. The three (3) AST Health approved Walgreen service locations are: 1427 North Harrison Street or at 600 Shawnee Mall Drive, Shawnee, Oklahoma or 615 West Main Street, Norman, Oklahoma. The Little Axe Health Center Drive-Thru Pharmacy is also available for emergency fills, for tribal members only, from: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday & Sunday and holidays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas. - Social Media: You can follow the AST Health System on Facebook and receive the most current messages and announcements regarding your tribal health care. AST PHARMACY Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System Behavioral Health Services When requesting refills, please provide 24 hour notice until pick-up. The most efficient method is to have your refill numbers ready when you call the Pharmacy, and use our automated system. Deliveries of controlled medications are not allowed. If you would like to receive a text message to your cell phone when your medications are ready for pick-up, please alert the pharmacy staff and provide us with your current cell phone number. Please inform us of changes in address, phone number, insurance and other contact information (changes at registration do not flow to pharmacy). Office Hours Monday-thru-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Little Axe Clinic 15951 Little Axe Drive Norman, OK 73025 Ph. 405-701-7987 If you have any questions at any time, feel free to call either Pharmacy or stop by and speak with one of our Pharmacy staff. We are happy to assist you with your pharmaceutical needs! Shawnee Clinic 2029 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. Shawnee, OK 74801 Ph. 405-878-4716 Services are offered through: Little Axe Clinic & Shawnee Clinic for all Federally Recognized Tribes. Hours of Operation: Little Axe: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (7:30am-5:30pm Drive-Thru) Phone-(405)292-9530 Shawnee: Monday-Friday 7am-5pm Phone-(405)878-5859 AST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES For counseling information, contact: Shawnee BH: Roberta Cooper (405) 878-4716 Little Axe BH: Rolanda Smith (405)701-7987 We are open through the lunch hour!! Women’s Health **BOTH PHARMACY DEPARTMENTS ARE CLOSED WITH THE CLINICS THE FIRST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON OF EVERY MONTH TO COMPLETE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. ** Ser v ic at Sh es prov ide aw 405.8 nee Clin d ic Sche 78.4702 appo dule an intm ent Little Axe Health Center Women’s Health Services Located in the Primary Health Care Providing & Promoting Preventative Health for All Women Services include: Thank You, AST Pharmacy Staff h Adult immunizations h Breast & Pelvic Exams h Mammogram Referral h Bone Density Studies AFTER HOUR PHARMACY NOTIFICATION Information about: • • • • • • • • The Walgreens located at 100 12th Avenue NE in Norman, OK is no longer contracted with the AST Health System to pay for after hour emergency prescriptions due to losing its 24-hour service status. Tribal members may now take prescriptions to: Walgreens 615 W. Main St Norman, OK (405) 573-5019 17 Health Promotion Quitting Smoking Misuse of Alcohol and Drugs Nutrition Physical Fitness and Exercise Controlling Stress and Violence Prevention of Pregnancy AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases Women’s Health Services Little Axe Health Center 15951 Little Axe Drive . Norman, OK 73026 405.447.0300 . Fax 405.701.7605 www.asthealth.org Emergency Management - January 2016 Report PREVENT WINTER FIRES Put a FREEZE on winter fires. Home fires occur more in winter than any other season. As you stay cozy and warm this winter season, BE FIRE SMART! • • • • • • Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as light fixtures or furniture. • Hold on to any sturdy covering so you can move with it until the shaking stops. Stay where you are until the shaking stops. If getting safely to the floor to take cover won’t be possible: Identify an inside corner of the room away from windows and objects that could fall on you. The Earthquake Country Alliance advises getting as low as possible to the floor. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available. If you are in bed when you feel the shaking: If you are in bed: Stay there and Cover your head and neck with a pillow. At night, hazards and debris are difficult to see and avoid; attempts to move in the dark result in more injuries than remaining in bed. If you are outside when you feel the shaking: If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Stay there until the shaking stops. This might not be possible in a city, so you may need to duck inside a building to avoid falling debris. If you are in a moving vehicle when you feel the shaking: If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly and safely as possible and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that the earthquake may have damaged. • Half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January, and February. Heating equipment is involved in 1 in every 6 reported home fires, and 1 in every 5 home deaths. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters. Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away as possible from your house. Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time. Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. EARTHQUAKE SAFETY If you are inside a building: • Stay where you are until the shaking stops. Do not run outside. Do not get in a doorway as this does not provide protection from falling or flying objects, and you may not be able to remain standing. • Drop down onto your hands and knees so the earthquake doesn’t knock you down. Drop to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!) • Cover your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris. • If you are in danger from falling objects, and you can move safely, crawl for additional cover under a sturdy desk or table. • If there is low furniture or an interior wall or corner nearby, and the path is clear, these may also provide some additional cover. COMMUNITY OUTREACH A limited number of electric space heaters will be available on a limited basis for tribal members, elders, and families with small children during the cold weather. If you need a space heater, contact Emergency Management at (405) 740-1562, or the AST Tribal Police department at (405) 275-3200. EMERGENCY NUMBERS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 911 Police, Fire, Ambulance HEARTLINE EMERGENCY 211 State of Oklahoma TRIBAL POLICE TRIBAL EMERGENCY MANAGER 405-­275-­3200 405-­740-­1562 (cell) Absentee Shawnee Absentee Shawnee SHERIFF CITY POLICE CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. 405-­273-­1727 405-­273-­2121 405-­273-­5272 405-­273-­2157 Pottawatomie County Shawnee Shawnee Pottawatomie County SHERIFF CITY POLICE HEALTH DEPT. 405-­701-­8888 405-­321-­1600 405-­794-­1591 Cleveland County Norman Cleveland County OG&E Report Power Outage CANADIAN VALLEY 405-­272-­9595 1-­800-­522-­6870 405-­382-­3680 DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HIGHWAY PATROL 1-­800-­522-­0206 405-­425-­4385 State of Oklahoma Road Conditions 18 Power Outage FYI: Contract Health Service News Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health The AST Contract Health Services Team are here to assist you ... follow the CHS Guidelines! Get a copy of the CHS Guidelines and update your information Emergency and Urgent Care Services Contract Health Services for AST members with Insurance Contract Health Services for AST members without Insurance CHS for a currently enrolled AST member who resides in the defined catchment area who needs emergent or urgent care: CHS for a currently enrolled AST member who resides in the defined catchment area who has insurance such as Medicare or Private Insurance: CHS for a currently enrolled AST member who resides in the defined catchment area who does not have insurance: 1. Call the On-Call nurse at (405) 447-0300 option 9 for “triage”. 1. Complete CHS Patient Update form and update all information every 6 months. 1. 2. Notify CHS on the next businesss day or within 72 hours after the ER visit. Notification does not assure authorization of payment. However if you do not notify CHS within 72 hours, your bills will not be paid. 2. Notify CHS at least 48 hours prior to appointment date for a (COB) Coordination of Benefits to be sent to provider 3. Inform Provider/HealthFacility that AST CHS is secondary payer/payer of last resort. You must apply for all resources available to you such as: Medicaid, Medicare, Worker’s Compensation, Vocational Rehabilitation, Auto Insurance and other personal injury or liability coverage. PRC staff and/ or Benefit Coordinators can assist with the application process for alternate resources. Failure to exhaust available or potentially available alternate resources may result in denial of payment. 4. In the event that you receive a bill from a provider, please provide a copy to CHS. You may leave bills at the Little Axe Health Center or Shawnee Clinic. 2. Complete CHS Patient Update form and update all information every 6 months 3. You must utilize the services provided within the AST health clinics prior to being referred out. 4. Referrals for outside services must be sent to CHS. Services must be medically approved by an AST Health provider. 5. An appointment will be scheduled and a COB will be sent to the outside provider. 6. In the event that you receive a bill from a provider, please provide a copy to CHS. You may leave bills at the Little Axe Health Center or Shawnee Clinic. 3. 4. 5. For AST members with no insurance evidence must exist that the visit was medically necessary. Medical priorities have been established for determining which referrals can be authorized for payment. For AST members with insurance, evidence must exist that a third party resource has made determination such services were “emergency care” or “urgent care” (such evidence may include payment from private insurance). Contract Health Direct Phone Line 405.701.7951 In the event that you receive a bill from a provider, please provide a copy to CHS. You may leave bills at the Little Axe Health Center or Shawnee Clinic. Contract Health Services is conveniently located at Shawnee Clinic-Building 16 and Little Axe Health Center Flo Mann Debi Sloat Glendine Blanchard Laurie Webber Sharon Ponkilla 19 Shawnee Clinic (405) 878-4702 Darla Gatzman Little Axe Health Center (405) 447-0300 Jayne Werst “It is not my heritage or my history. To submit my life and my strength to a substance that has no intention other than to cause me harm is not my natural instinct. Nor is it in my DNA. I was born, by nature, into strength, tenacity, and an innate ability to overcome, no matter how dire the circumstance. These are the characteristics that are in my blood and that wrote my history, I will take ownership in that history and will commit to writing the next chapter with integrity and a promise to uphold the very values that made it possible for my generation to exist today.” Check out our social media website: https://www.facebook.com/mydnarocks/ & Our website: AST AST DENTAL DENTAL ANNOUNCES ANNOUNCES NEW NEW DENTIST DENTIST ASTHS ANNOUNCES NEW CHILD PSYCHIATRIST ASTHS ANNOUNCES NEW CHILD PSYCHIA Norman, Norman, Oklahoma Oklahoma -- The The Absentee Absentee Shawnee Shawnee Tribal Tribal Health Health System System isis pleased pleased to to announc announ AST DENTAL ANNOUNCES NEW DENTIST Norman, Oklahoma (January 15, 2016) Theteam. Absentee Shawnee Tribal Norman, (January 15, 2016) – was The addition of Walker, DDS, to She born in but reloca additionOklahoma ofMichele Michele Walker, DDS, toour our–dental dental team. She was bornAbsentee inIndiana Indiana butHealt reloca SystemShawnee would like to introduce Little Axe Health Center’s most recent addition, D Tribal Health System would like to introduce Oklahoma at an early age. She is currently living in Moore, OK. She attended the Univer Oklahoma at an early age. She is currently living in Moore, OK. She attended the Univer Norman, Oklahoma (January 15, 2016) – The Absentee Shawnee receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. She then went on to pursu FadaliaLittle Kim,Oklahoma, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She is a nationally board certifie Axe Health Center’s most recent addition, Dr. Fadalia Oklahoma, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. She then went on to purs Norman, Oklahoma - The Shawnee Little Tribal Health SystemHealth is pleased toCenter’s announce thewhere System would likeSurgery to Absentee introduce Axe mostsherecen Doctor of Dental the of Oklahoma, grad psychiatrist specialization indegree, child also and adolescent psychiatry. She where is a she Clinica Kim, with Child Adolescent Psychiatrist. She a nationally Doctor ofand Dental Surgery degree, also from from the University University ofis Oklahoma, grad Fadalia Kim, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. isinato child nationally addition of Michele Walker, DDS,has to oursince dentalwith team. She was borneducation inMemorial IndianaShe butby relocated with distinction. She furthered her Associate Professor atspecialization Griffin Hospital Psychiatr board certified psychiatrist with distinction. She has since furthered her education by psychiatrist specialization in and adolescent psychiatry. Sh Advanced in and completing adolescent psychiatry. is a Residency where she (AEGD) teaches and completing theearly Advanced Education inchild General Dentistry (AEGD) Oklahomawith atthe an age. She isEducation currentlyProgram livingShe inGeneral Moore, OK.Dentistry SheClinical attended the University of supervise residency program, which focused on comprehensive care for Associate Professor at Griffin Memorial Hos residency program, which focused on comprehensive care for Associate Professor at Griffin in training, as well aswent seeing to the Oklahoma, receiving herphysicians Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. She then on to pursue her medical car patients Her goal isis provide personalized care patients at at aa complex complex level. Her goal provide personalized care Memorial Hospital of level. patients. She works part time at Psychiatry a she psychiatric crisia Residency Program where teaches Doctorwork of Dental Surgery degree, also from theyour University of Oklahoma, where and she graduated and with to function, and work with you you to improve improve your health, health, function, and Residency Program where she crise center hospital where she cares for acute physicians in training, aspatients well asinseeing to th appearance. with distinction. She has sinceteaches furthered her and education by appearance. supervises physicians requiring stabilization. of patients. She since works part time at a p She and her husband Mitch have been married 2006, She and her husband Mitch have been married since 2006, in training, as well as seeing to completingOklahoma the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Dr. Kim is a graduate of The o Norman, - The Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System is pleased to announce the center hospital where she cares University for patients and she spending time with family &&friends, andin inher herfree freetime timeOklahoma sheenjoys enjoys spending time with family friends, the medical care of patients. She Health Sciences Center where she also went o residencyof program, which DDS, focused ondental comprehensive for in Indiana butand addition Michele Walker, to ourrequiring team. She care wasOU born relocated to stabilization. bowling, traveling, watching bowling, snowboarding, snowboarding, watching OU football football and works partresidency. time at psychiatric to traintraveling, in psychiatry Dr.aKim received her pos patients basketball. atbasketball. level.SheHeris currently goal is provide care Thunder Dr. Kim is a thegraduate of The Oklahoma ata ancomplex early age. living inpersonalized Moore,in OK.child She attended University of psychiatry Thunder center hospital where she doctoralcrisis specialization and adolescent a “We are very pleased to introduce Dr. Walker to our patients and to their familie “We are very pleased to introduce Dr. Walker to our patients and to their famili and work receiving with youherThe toBachelor improve your health, function, and Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where sh Oklahoma, of Science degree in Zoology. She then went on to pursue her cares for patients in acute crises University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. here strive provide quality, tribal here at at the the health health system, system,we we always always strive to provide the the utmost utmost quality,Dr. tribalinitiated initiated to train in to psychiatry residency. reci appearance. requiring stabilization. She grew up in Del City, OK and currently Kim resides Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, also from the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated care,” said Mr. Mark Rogers, AST Health Executive Director. care,” said Mr. Mark Rogers, AST Health Executive Director. doctoral specialization child and The adolesce Dr. Kim is afor graduate of OK. She issince married and in has 3 children who ar She herdental husband Mitch been married 2006, The AST provides care with distinction. SheNorman, hasdepartment since have furthered her education byfor American Theand AST dental department provides care American Indian/Alaska Indian/Alaska Native Native pa p University of Oklahoma Health involved in competitive soccer and basketball take The University of Oklahoma Healthwhich Sciences from 2in2years of age to adult. They offer 16 dental chairs including aawheelchair access cha and her free time she enjoys spending time with family & friends, from years of age to adult. They offer 16 dental chairs including wheelchair access ch completing the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Center where she much ofSciences her free time. Sheup also enjoys cooking, craftin She grew in Del City, OKalso and curr private room setting the of the patient. Services are available by private room setting for for the comfort comfort of the patient. Services are available by appoin appoin bowling, snowboarding, traveling, watching OU football and went on to train in psychiatry residency program, which focused on comprehensive care for and travelingMonday to new places. AM PM the Axe Center. Norman, OK. She is married has 3 ch Mondaythrough throughFriday Fridayfrom from8:00 8:00 AMto to5:00 5:00 PMat at theLittle Little AxeHealth Healthand Center. Thunder residency. Dr. received her offer Dr. Kimpatients seesatbasketball. children from 5inyears 18 years of age. a complex level. Her the goal isages provideof personalized caretoKim involved competitive soccer and She basketb postdoctoral specialization initial psychiatric assessments and medication management ofcall acute andinchroni “We are very pleased to introduce Dr. Walker to our patients and to their families and For more information or to make an appointment, please (405)447-0300. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (405)447-0300. and work with you to improvechild your health, and time. psychiatry much of function, her free She also enjoys and adolescent at c psychiatric disorders. here at the health system, we always strive to provide the utmost quality, tribal initiated dental and traveling to new appearance. The University of places. Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The LAHC Behavioral Health Department is now scheduling appointments with care,” said Mr. Mark Rogers, AST Health Executive Director. Dr. Kim sees children the ages of 5 today yearsat to(405) 18 years She grewcall inhusband Del City, and currently resides in of a Sheup and Mitch havefrom beenOK married since 2006, Dr. Kim, so please toher make your confidential appointment 701-7987. AST DENTAL ANNOUNCES NEW DENTIST http://www.mydna.rocks Contact Kasey Dean or Howard Brown at 405-701-7993 for more info. 2016 Employee BLS HCP CPR initial psychiatric assessments management of acut The ASTShe dental department providesand care formedication American Indian/Alaska Native patients Norman, is married and in OK. her free time she enjoys spending time withand family &has friends,3 children who are involved in competitive soccer and basketball which takes psychiatric from 2disorders. years of age to adult. They offer 16 dental chairs including a wheelchair access chair in a bowling, snowboarding, traveling,She watching OU football and much The of her time. enjoys craftingappo Department is now scheduling private LAHC roomfree settingBehavioral for the comfort ofHealth thealso patient. Services are cooking, available by appointment Thunder basketball. and traveling to new places. Dr. Kim,Monday so please call your appointment at (40 through Friday fromto8:00make AM to 5:00 PM atconfidential the Little Axe Center. to 18 today Dr. Kim sees children from the ages ofHealth 5 years years Date Time “We are very pleased to introduce Dr. Walker to our patients and to their families and of age. She offers initial psychiatric assessments and here at the health system, we always strive to provide the utmost quality, tribal initiated dental medicationFormanagement acute and more information or to makeof an appointment, please callchronic (405)447-0300.psychiatric care,” said Mr. Mark Rogers, AST Health Executive Director. disorders. The LAHC The Behavioral Health is now scheduling AST dental department providesDepartment care for American Indian/Alaska Native patients appointments with Dr. Kim, so please call to make from 2 years of age to adult. They offer 16 dental chairs including a wheelchair access chair in a your confidential appointment today at (405) 701-7987. private room setting for the comfort of the patient. Services are available by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Little Axe Health Center. Location Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B Conference Room B January 19, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm February 2, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm March 8, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm April 12, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm May 10, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm June 14, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm July 12, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm August 9, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm September 13, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm October 11, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm November 8, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm December 6, 2016 09:00am to 12:00pm Please call Kathy at 7997 or email me at kheldenbrand@astribe.com or Call Gloria at 7600 or email her at gseeley@astribe.com or Call Deidre at 7190 or email her at dyarbrough@astribe.com For more information or to make an appointment, please call (405)447-0300. 20 -Exercise regularly. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Exercise keeps the body strong and contributes to healthy weight which lowers risk for heart disease. As always, consult your health care provider before starting any exercise regimen. ASTHS PUBLIC HEALTH ADDS STAFF & ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EVENTS -Eat healthy. Eat smaller portions at meal time and choose nutritious, heart-healthy foods such ASTHS PUBLIC HEALTH ADDS STAFF & Norman, Oklahoma – The Public Health Department at the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health Clinic recently gained two new staff ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EVENTS members. Ms. Deidre Yarbrough, RN, will be taking on the role of Health Promotion and also assisting with visiting patients at home. -Reduce stress. There are many ways to reduce stress. You can exercise, laugh, meditate, or as fruits and vegetables. Limit sodium and trans fats. Consult with your health care provider or a nutritionist for more heart healthy food options and nutritious food choices. Ms. Kathy Heldenbrand, RN, will be the Employee Health nurse for both Little Axe and Shawnee locations. Getting the right amount of sleep also reduces stress. All of these stress It is not too even late todeep get a breathe. flu vaccine if you haven’t received one yet. Flu season peaks from December to February so now is as reducers can help you reduce your risk of heart disease. good a time as any to get your flu shot. Everyone six months of age and older should get a yearly flu vaccination. Contrary to popular Norman, Oklahoma The Health Department at the theflu Absentee Shawnee Tribal redness Health or swelling at belief, the flu shot DOES NOT give you–the flu.Public The most common reaction to shot in adults is soreness, Ultimately, taking responsibility for your health is up to you, but there are programs available to Clinic recently gained newonly staff members. Deidre Yarbrough, taking on the the spot where the shot was given and two usually lasts a couple Ms. of days. Protect yourself RN, from will the be flu and contact your health care assist you with making changes such as quitting smoking. The Public Health Department at the provider for an appointment today! role of Health Promotion and also with visiting patients at a home. Ms. Kathy Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health Clinicassisting offers The Second Wind Program, 12-week program February is American Heart Month and Public Health Department would totobacco provide you with some helpful information about Heldenbrand, RN, will be the the Employee for bothlike Little Axe and Shawnee locations. designed to assist Native Americans to Health refrain nurse from commercial use. The next class is heart health and risk factors leading to heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Native Americans. Some risk tentatively scheduled to start in March. Feel free to contact us at the Public Health Department at factors for heart405-447-0300 diseases, suchfor asmore genetics, we are not able to control. Most risk factors can be decreased or eliminated by making information or to sign up for a class. Happy Heart Month! lifestyle changes. alwaysifeasy make but with some become easier. Youfrom can start by doing It These is not lifestyle too latechanges to get aare flunot vaccine youtohaven’t received onepractice yet. Flu season peaks one or more of the followingtothings: December February so now is as good a time as any to get your flu shot. Everyone six months References: -Maintain a http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2015-2016.htm healthy blood pressure or control high blood pressures. If you suspect high blood pressure, make an appointment ofcare ageprovider. and older shouldyour get ablood yearly flu vaccination. Contrary popular belief, thea flu shotand DOES with your healthhttp://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_aian.htm Measure pressure at home for severalto days in a row, keep record take it with you to http://heart.arizona.edu/heart-health NOT give you the flu. The most common reaction to the flu shot in adults is soreness, redness your appointment. Sometimes we have “white coat syndrome” and our blood pressures will always be elevated duringoryour visit to the http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/american_heart_month.htm clinic. Your home measurements will help your better assess blood pressure and plan treatment swelling at the spot where theprovider shot was given andyour usually only lasts a couple of days. options. Protect -Monitor andyourself lower your cholesterol if it is elevated. Our bodies have both “good” and “bad” fats and a proper amount of each is from the flu and contact your health care provider for an appointment today! required to be healthy. We can maintain a good balance of each by eating right, but sometimes medications are also needed. Talk to your health care provider about your cholesterol levels. February is American Month andincreases the Public Health Department would like to provide you diabetes will -Prevent or control diabetes. HavingHeart diabetes greatly your risk for heart disease. Preventing or controlling lower your risk. with If yousome have helpful diabetes, make sureabout to follow youhealth and your treatment for controlling information heart andprovider’s risk factors leadingplan to heart disease. blood Heartsugars. -Stop smoking. Cigarette and second hand smoke exposure increases the riskfactors of heart and stroke. When you disease is thesmoke leading cause of death in Native Americans. Some risk fordisease heart diseases, smoke it is not only harmful to you, but also to those around you. Your risk for disease decreases more the longer you abstain from such as genetics, we are not able to control. Most risk factors can be decreased or eliminated by smoking. making lifestyle changes. lifestyle changes not always to make with somedisease, heart -Limit alcohol use. Excessive amounts These of alcohol increases bloodare pressure, whicheasy increases thebut risk of heart attack, and stroke. Use alcohol in easier. moderation use alcohol practice become Youand canalways start by doing oneresponsibly. or more of the following things: -Exercise regularly. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Exercise keeps the body strong and contributes to healthy weight which lowers risk for heart disease. As always, consult your health care provider before starting any exercise regimen. a healthy blood or control high heart-healthy blood pressures. If you -Eat healthy.-Maintain Eat smaller portions at meal pressure time and choose nutritious, foods such as suspect fruits andhigh vegetables. Limit blood pressure, make an appointment with your health care provider. Measure your blood sodium and trans fats. Consult with your health care provider or a nutritionist for more heart healthy food options and nutritious food choices. pressure at home for several days in a row, keep a record and take it with you to your -Reduce stress. There are many ways towe reduce exercise, and laugh, or even deep breathe.be Getting the right appointment. Sometimes havestress. “whiteYou coatcan syndrome” ourmeditate, blood pressures will always amount of sleepelevated also reduces stress. All of these stress reducers can help you reduce your risk of heart disease. during your visit to the clinic. Your home measurements will help your provider better Ultimately, taking responsibility for your health is up to you, but there are programs available to assist you with making changes such assess blood pressure and plan treatment as quitting smoking. Theyour Public Health Department at the Absenteeoptions. Shawnee Tribal Health Clinic offers The Second Wind Program, a 12-week program designed to assist Native Americans to refrain from commercial tobacco use. The next class is tentatively scheduled -Monitor and lower your if it is elevated. atOur bodies haveforboth “good” and “bad” to start in March. Feel free to contact us at cholesterol the Public Health Department 405-447-0300 more information or to sign up for a fats Month! and a proper amount of each is required to be healthy. We can maintain a good balance of class. Happy Heart each by eating right, but sometimes medications are also needed. Talk to your health care References: provider about your cholesterol levels. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2015-2016.htm http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_aian.htm http://heart.arizona.edu/heart-health http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/american_heart_month.htm -Prevent or control diabetes. Having diabetes greatly increases your risk for heart disease. Preventing or controlling diabetes will lower your risk. If you have diabetes, make sure to follow you and your provider’s treatment plan for controlling blood sugars. -Stop smoking. Cigarette smoke and second hand smoke exposure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. When you smoke it is not only harmful to you, but also to those around you. Your risk for disease decreases more the longer you abstain from smoking. -Limit alcohol use. Excessive amounts of alcohol increases blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Use alcohol in moderation and always use alcohol responsibly. 21 National Wear Red Day FEBRUARY IS ® FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AMERICAN HEART MONTH Join the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement to help raise awareness and save more lives. What is heart disease? You can: • wear red on February 5th; • encourage others to get involved. What are the signs and symptoms? Are you at risk for heart disease? Can heart disease be prevented? For more information about your organization’s involvement, Public Health Nursing (405) 447-0300 contact:______________________________________________ Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States. Let’s unite to prevent heart disease and stroke. Wear red to raise awareness and help save women’s lives. Attend an event near you to receive more information about ways to help prevent heart disease and receive a blood pressure check. GoRedForWomen.org/WearRedDay. Friday, February 5th, 2016 1:00-3:00 Little Axe Health Center lobby Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 11:00-1:00 Little Axe Resource Center Friday, February 19th, 2016 1:00-3:00 Shawnee Clinic lobby Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 11:00-1:00 Shawnee Complex, Title 6 For more information contact Public Health Nursing Phone: 405-701-7190 E-mail: dyarbrough@astribe.com ©2015, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS. 2015-218-1172 February is National Children’s Dental Health Month AST Dental’s theme this year is “Fighting for Healthy Teeth”! Good foods: fruits, vegetables, yogurt, cheese, nuts, and beef jerky Bad foods: chips, crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, dried fruits Ugly foods: candy, cookies, cake, donuts, soda, and energy drinks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Want your Community, Workplace and/or Family to be suicide safe? All carbohydrates whether it is sugar or not, mix with the plaque bacteria to create acids. These acids attack the tooth’s surface and cause breakdown and cavities. Then come to this Workshop! Some things to remember when you have the not so good foods:     Rinse your mouth with water to help loosen the food particles Wait 30 minutes after drinking soda to brush your teeth due to the acid in soda Limit late night snacks Do not allow children to have anything after bed except water In 2014, the ADA (American Dental Association) changed the guidelines for use of fluoride toothpaste in small children. Now when the child gets their first tooth you can use fluoride toothpaste. Use the amount the size of a grain of rice until age two or three then you can use a pea size amount. WHEN: March 3 & 4, 2016 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days WHERE: Little Axe Clinic Conference Room HOW: Register by February 19, 2016 at Behavioral Health with Jenifer Sloan 701-7988 or jsloan@astribe.com ********lunch provided Brush twice a day for two minutes, floss, eat healthy foods and see the dentist twice a year to help keep a healthy smile. Ne yi wa! The ASIST workshop is for people who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million people have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop. Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid. 22 From the Doctor's Notebook Let’s talk today about low back pain. This is a subject near and dear to my heart as I have endured back pain for over 40 years. Back pain is a consequence of our existence as human beings and stems from one very important factor in that existence – we walk upright and we are fighting gravity. It is also a consequence of our frailty as biomechanical machines, and you are well aware that all “machines” wear out or break down sometime. When patients come in with back pain I am not being flippant when I tell them that the “We all get it” ion one form or another. Low back pain exists in many different flavors but the most common is simply muscular strain. When we do stupid things (I don’t know about you but I do stupid things) like bend over quickly to pick up an object on the ground, especially while twisting we invite trouble. The muscles of the back are some of the smallest and weakest we have. There is no one large muscle, say like the large rectus muscles of the thigh. The muscles of the back exist as three layers, each with a specific function. Within these layers, the muscles are grouped in long strands that run up and down the back. Some are very short and some are quite long. These muscle groups work together to maintain our posture during walking and to help us bend and twist when those movements are required. When bending over too quickly, especially when twisting and then trying to straighten back up these muscles can become strained. One can actually tear muscle fibers. This can result in instantaneous, very sharp pain, mostly in the low back where the muscles are the weakest. It can feel like someone stabbing you with a knife and that is no exaggeration. I have lost track of how many times I have done this. Make no bones about it, it hurts like the devil and is no laughing matter when you are wearing it. Again, this type of back pain is due to muscular strain and so common it can be lumped under the category of “overuse” syndrome. Safety departments, employee health organizations, OSHA and others take back injury seriously as it contributes too many lost days of work and millions of dollars in cost visiting a healthcare provider. One thing that we just must consider when we deal with mechanical low back pain is obesity. Take a look at a side view of a child or teenager. One can imagine an imaginary line drawn from the top of the head down through the legs and ending in the feet. This line represents the axis along which our center of gravity resides. One should notice that the crossover point, or point of inflection of the curvature of the back is in the low back. This in essence is the center of gravity point. The mass of the body on either side of this line is pretty much the same. Now, do the same exercise with a picture of an overweight or obese individual. One can easily see that the mass (weight) is shifted forward and that the center of gravity has shifted forward. Understanding mechanics helps you to visualize that when this weight is shifted forward there is now an induced strain on the inflection point in the low back. This causes strain on the muscles as we try to maintain our posture to keep from falling forward. Obesity is a major contributor to low back pain (and other skeletal pain such as knee pain). My apologies if I have gotten too technical but as a former engineer I do tend to think of things that that hat on as well. In times past when one did get the classic low back pain due to overuse or strain the old remedy was typically narcotic pain meds, muscle relaxers and the advice to lie on a heating pad. It turns out that many studies have been done on this subject and the old advice has been thrown out the window. Narcotic pain meds are no help at all for the underlying problem. Muscle relaxers simply make one tired, and lying on a heating pad over time worsens the condition. The best remedy for common low back pain (muscular strain variety) is to walk. Plain old over-the-counter “Excedrin Migraine” is an excellent pain reliever and is cheap as dirt. In recent years I have begun recommending patients perform McKenzie© exercises (this can be found easily on the Web). Rarely, if ever do patients with low back pain need to get x-rays, MRI’s or other imaging studies because imaging does not yield any useful information except as we discuss below. When low back pain is accompanied by shooting pain down either or both legs all bets are off. This can be the sign of a more insidious problem. Recall that I made the statement that the vast majority of low back pain is muscular. This is still true, however low back pain can present with what we in the medical profession call “red flags.” Along with this is a mantra I have been singing for a number of years – “No bad thing happens on onesies.” If there is something bad going on there will always be other things going on. Let me illustrate. A patient who comes in with low back pain from a fall off a ladder is more than likely going to have some muscular contusions but when we couple that with the inability to walk, has bowel or bladder incontinence, or shooting pain into either extremity we have need for concern. That concern would be a compression fracture or other lumbar (low back) skeletal issue. There is a difference – muscular issues yield well to physical therapy or can just improve over time with daily activity (lying around on the couch does not count!), skeletal (in the bones) issues take more investigation. This is where x-rays, or sometimes MRI or CT scan can pay off leading to a diagnosis. Low back pain that is accompanied by shooting pain down into the lower extremities is red flag. Add in numbness and weakness and we have more red flags. If we have bowel or bladder incontinence we have a big red flag. We need to know about that. This is the type of situation where an MRI is most helpful but be aware MRIs are expensive. If a patient comes in with the above symptoms and states flatly that they do not want any intervention (surgery) then there is no need to do an MRI. For the most part MRIs are not used for diagnosis. They are used to tell a surgeon where to cut. Even so, skeletal back pain can yield somewhat to physical therapy. When there is bowel or bladder incontinence, however this is serious. One thing I might point out here is that whenever a normal healthy adult has an x-ray of their low back a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (DJD) typically follows. There are sometimes other findings as well but DJD is almost always on the x-ray report of anyone older than 50 or so. DJD can even show up on an x-ray of the chest or abdomen that might be done for a totally different reason. In truth this is why we don’t order routine x-rays for low back pain. Degenerative disc disease is a normal consequence of aging and is the reason people get shorter as they age. It shows up on an x-ray report and people get all excited about what is in essence a nonissue. The discs of the spine are like shock absorbers and are made of cartilage-like material. The same material found in the large joints of the body, especially the knees. This material wears and degenerates but DOES NOT generally contribute to low back pain (again – no bad thing …) unless the degree of compression is pronounced. Since it is such a common finding on lumbar spine x-rays there is no reason to order an x-ray to find out what you already know. X-rays are ordered when there is a suspicion of some other problem (this is why we physicians examine our patients, or at least should examine them). Of particular significance is the deep down inside type low back pain that comes on insidiously over time, is worsening and accompanied by other symptoms (again – no bad thing …) such as night sweats or weight loss. With this type of back pain we have to consider something really bad and if you go to the doctor for that you would be wise to describe all your symptoms so that nothing gets missed or the wrong assumption gets made. Women tend to get back pain more than men. Aside from the common back pain described above women of child bearing age suffer from the common muscular back pain of carrying a child in pregnancy. We married men know all too well what pregnancy does to a women. Another not uncommon cause of back pain is urinary tract infections. Most women will already have an idea that they are dealing with that and it is an easy diagnosis and treatment. Kidney stones and other internal problems can also manifest with back pain. Low back pain; we all get it and it can resolve without any treatment, or with minimal treatment. Remember, I said that I have lived with back pain for over 40 years. I can remember the very day in 1968 when as a young Marine I bent over to pick up a foot locker and got a shooting pain in my low back that took me to my knees on the floor. Now I can tell my patients that I have been there and done that. Occasionally I get that twinge in my back that tells me I’m doing something stupid and to back off. This is one instance when listening to your body can help avoid some significant discomfort. Interestingly enough, as I conclude this discussion a recent study has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that concludes without a doubt that exercise is the number one best way to help prevent low back pain. Unfortunately there is no guarantee of anything in life (except death and taxes) and likewise there is no guarantee that one will never suffer from back pain despite a good exercise program. Your physicians do not want you to suffer and we certainly don’t want you to think you are not welcome to come in to discuss this issue. I would rather have 10 people come in with common low back pain that is for lack of better term – no big deal, than to have 1 person not come in just thinking there is nothing wrong only to find out there is something very wrong. Always in your service, Ne-Yi-Wa Bruce A. Stafford, DO Diplomate, ABFM, NBPAS Deputy Medical Director Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System Little Axe Health Center 23 FITNESS BIT Did you know that one of the easiest and most effective exercises for your body involves the use of only a chair? The simple sit-and-stand exercise is a great physical activity that can be used to strengthen and tone your legs (quadriceps and hamstrings) and butt (gluteus maximus). This exercise also helps to get your heart rate pumping! All you need is a chair or a bed! Here are some steps to help you learn how to perform the sit-and-stand to increase leg strength and endurance: AST Dental’s theme this year is “Fighting for Healthy Teeth”! Good foods: fruits, vegetables, yogurt, cheese, nuts, and beef jerky Step 1: Have a seat in a STURDY chair or use your bedside (make sure you’re not sitting too high!) Bad foods: chips, crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, dried fruits Ugly foods: candy, cookies, cake, donuts, soda, and energy drinks Step 2: Fold your arms in front of you or hold them to your side, or even behind your head. All carbohydrates whether it is sugar or not, mix with the plaque bacteria to create acids. These acids attack the tooth’s surface and cause breakdown and cavities. Some things to remember when you have the not so good foods: Step 3: Simply stand up without using your arms. If you are just now learning how to do this exercise and have weak legs, use a chair with arms to assist you in standing. Step 4: Come to complete standing position then sit back down. √√ Rinse your mouth with water to help loosen the food particles Step 5: Repeat the sit-and-stand as many times possible for 30 seconds, then rest. Complete this exercise 3 times, or as many times as possible. √√ Wait 30 minutes after drinking soda to brush your teeth due to the acid in soda Tip #1: If this exercise is too hard, use a higher chair or bedside Tip #2: If this exercise is too easy, use a lower chair √√ Limit late night snacks √√ Do not allow children to have anything after bed except water In 2014, the ADA (American Dental Association) changed the guidelines for use of fluoride toothpaste in small children. Now when the child gets their first tooth you can use fluoride toothpaste. Use the amount the size of a grain of rice until age two or three then you can use a pea size amount. Brush twice a day for two minutes, floss, eat healthy foods and see the dentist twice a year to help keep a healthy smile. Ne yi wa! The AST Dental Team The Absentee Shawnee Diabetes and Wellness/Fitness Program 24 Health Authority, Inc. / Li-Si-Wi-Nwi Health Inc. CTSA Early Childhood Center is seeking to hire a part-time Tribal Members please submit your resume and a letter of interest to be considered being placed on Health Board. NUTRITION TECHNICIAN for our Shawnee Location QUALIFICATIONS FOR HEALTH BOARD MEMBERS: • There must be 2 tribal members with health care experience. • All other directors must have sufficient professional experience in various fields (business, accounting, public service, law administration to contribute productively to the Board. • Appointees shall have a background check and may not be a staff member or employee of the health care system. The Nutrition Tech will provide support to the Lead Nutrition Tech, including dish washing, cleaning, serving and basic meal preparation. Must be at least 18 years of age Must have a high school diploma or equivalent Must pass background investigation for licensed child care programs Previous experience is preferred Food handlers certification is a plus All applications accepted with preference given to qualified Native Americans and current/former HS/EHS parents Apply today: Applications accepted until position is filled THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, INC. (TEC BOARD) Employment Applications can be downloaded at: www.ctsaheadstart.org (click on Forms) or picked up at: 1535 North McKinley Avenue, Shawnee OK 74801 Interested Tribal Members to be consider for board position. Please send letter of interest and a resume. QUALIFICATIONS: • Must be eligible to obtain a gaming license from the Absentee Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission and possess experience in gaming operations, business, finance, or law and of the following: __ D e g r e e i n B u s i n e s s Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Law or an equivalent field (Bachelor’s degree or higher); __ Minimum three (3) years’ experience in business management; __ Minimum two (2) years’ experience in casino operations; or __ Knowledge of federal Indian law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and related statutes and regulations CTSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer CTSA Early Childhood Center is seeking to hire a full-time Early Head Start Teacher for our Shawnee Location An Early Head Start teacher provides educational experiences to infants/toddlers in a classroom setting, using developmentally appropriate practices. Early Head Start Teacher Minimum Requirements:  Infant/Toddler CDA Credential or Certificate of Mastery in CD  Previous work experience with young children  Pass background investigation for licensed child care programs All applications accepted with preference given to qualified Native Americans and current/former HS/EHS parents Apply today: Applications accepted until position is filled Employment Applications can be downloaded at: www.ctsaheadstart.org (click on Forms) or picked up at: 1535 North McKinley Avenue, Shawnee OK 74801 Please send letters and resume to Secretary John Johnson Office: 2025 South Gordon Cooper Drive Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 Email: johnraymond.johnson@astribe.com CTSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer 25 Register Now!!! www.asthealth.org/patient-portal New Patient Portal Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System Little Axe Health Center Shawnee Clinic Visit your app store and install the Follow My Health app - Improved access to your health information - Communicate directly with your clinic - Request an appointment ...and more! for real-time access to your health information For more information on how you can register for the new AST “Follow My Health” Patient Portal, contact Patient Registration at Little Axe Health Center - 405.447.0300 or Shawnee Clinic - 405.878.4702 ABSENTEE SHAWEE TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEPARTMENT Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy The AST Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Programs are on-call 24 hours per day to provide emotional support, advocacy and crisis counseling to survivors at hospitals, police stations and throughout the legal system. The programs also serve as a resource center to the community by offering educational information and referrals. The AST Health System values ALL feedback. We will listen.... *Patient Advocate Jim Robertson 405-447-0300 *Customer Service Line 405-701-7623 *Patient Questionnaire located in each of our clinics or on our website www.ASTHEALTH.ORG Little Axe Health Center Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System 15951 Little Axe Drive Norman OK, 70326 405-447-0300 Shawnee Clinic Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System 2029 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. Shawnee OK, 74801 405-878-5850 Little Axe Health Center Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System 15951 Little Axe Drive Shawnee Clinic Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System 2029 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. Transitional Housing The AST DV Transitional Housing Program serves victims of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault. Participants have up to six months to obtain education and job skills needed to begin a new life. Court Advocacy Assists survivors with domestic violence court related costs (when funding is available) and appearances as well as filing for emergency protective orders (EPO) or restraining orders. Shelter Placement Assistance The Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Domestic Violence Program works with other shelters within Oklahoma in order to help victims obtain safe housing. Emergency transportation for the victim and children may also be available. Housing and Utility Assistance Assists victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or dating violence in emergency situations. This assistance may allow for a victim to either receive housing or utility assistance. Referral Assistance Assists with providing community resources to those who are in need of additional services outside the scope of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Domestic Violence Program. Community Outreach The Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Domestic Violence Program offers educational trainings, informational displays, and community events in order to provide more awareness to both Tribal and Non-Tribal communities. For any questions regarding any of the above services please contact the Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Domestic Violence staff at (405) 273-2888. 26 January 10-16, 2016 is National Folic Acid Awareness Week. Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is an important part of preconception health, which refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years. If a woman consumes the recommended amount of folic acid before and during early pregnancy, it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain (known as anencephaly) and spine (known as spina bifida). Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which parts of a baby’s brain and skull do not form correctly. Babies born with anencephaly cannot survive. Spina bifida is a serious birth defect in which a baby’s spine does not develop correctly, and can result in some severe physical disabilities. All women, but especially those who want to become pregnant, need 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Do I need folic acid? Yes! Every woman needs to get enough folic acid each day, even if she does not plan to become pregnant. This is because our bodies make new cells every day—blood, skin, hair, nails and others. Folic acid is needed to make these new cells. Start a healthy habit today and get 400 mcg of folic acid every day. Why can’t I wait until I’m pregnant to start taking folic acid? Birth defects of the brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman finds out she’s pregnant. Also, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. These are two reasons why it is important for all women who can get pregnant to be sure to get 400 mcg of folic acid every day, even if they aren’t planning a pregnancy any time soon. By the time a woman realizes she’s pregnant, it might be too late to prevent these birth defects. Plan ahead! Starting today is the best option. How do I get folic acid? An easy way to be sure you’re getting enough folic acid is to take a daily multivitamin with folic acid in it. Most multivitamins have all the folic acid you need. If you get an upset stomach from taking a multivitamin, try taking it with meals or just before bed. If you have trouble taking pills, you can try a multivitamin that is gummy or chewable. Also be sure to take it with a full glass of water. Folic acid has been added to foods such as enriched breads, pastas, rice and cereals. Check the Nutrition Facts label on the food packaging. A serving of some cereals has 100% of the folic acid that you need each day. In addition to getting 400 mcg of folic acid from supplements and fortified foods, you can eat a diet rich in folate. You can get food folate from beans, peas and lentils, oranges and orange juice, asparagus and broccoli, and dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, and mustard greens. Taken from CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/features/folicacidbenefits/index.html Deidre Yarbrough, RN Public Health Nursing 15951 Little Axe Drive Norman, Oklahoma 73026 (405) 701-7190 (405) 701-7605 (fax) www.asthealth.org 27 FEBRUARY IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH Every year nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner. And 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. The following is a healthy relationship quiz. Answer the questions below to see if you are in a healthy relationship. The Person I'm With (Often, Sometimes or Never) 1. Is very supportive of things that I do and encourages me to try new things. 2. Likes to listen when I have something on my mind. 3. Talks to me when they’re unhappy with something in the relationship. 4. Is willing to compromise. 5. Understands that we have separate interests and can spend time apart. 6. Is mean or rude to my friends. 7. Criticizes or distracts me when I’m doing things that don’t involve them. 8. Gets extremely jealous or possessive. 9. Accuses me of flirting or cheating when I’m not. 10. Constantly checks up on me or makes me check in. 11. Breaks or throws things when we fight. 12. Threatens to destroy my things. 13. Tries to control what I do, who I see, what I wear, how I look or who I talk to. 14. Makes me feel nervous or like I’m "walking on eggshells.” 15. Blames me for problems, puts me down, calls me names or criticizes me. 16. Makes me feel like no one else would want me. 17. Threatens to hurt themselves, me, my friends, pets or family. 18. Grabs, pushes, shoves, chokes, punches, slaps, holds me down, throws things or hurts me in some way. 19. Yells, screams or humiliates me in front of other people. 20. Pressures, guilts or forces me into having sex or going farther than I want to. Scoring Questions 1-5: Often: -5, Sometimes: -3, Never: 5 Questions 6-10: Often: 5, Sometimes: 1, Never: 0 Questions 11-15: Often: 10, Sometimes: 5, Never: 0 Questions 16-20: Often: 50, Sometimes: 25, Never: 0 Now that you're finished and have your score, the next step is to find out what it means. Simply take your total score and see which of the categories below apply to you. Score: 0 or Less Points You got a negative score or a zero? Don’t worry -- it's a good thing! It sounds like your relationship is on a pretty healthy track. Maintaining healthy relationships takes some work -- keep it up! Remember that while you may have a healthy relationship, it's possible that a friend of yours does not. If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship, find out how you can help them. Score: 1-5 Points If you scored one to five points, you might be noticing a couple of things in your relationship that are unhealthy, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are warning signs. It's still a good idea to keep an eye out and make sure there isn't an unhealthy pattern developing. The best thing to do is to talk to your partner and let them know what you like and don't like. Encourage them to do the same. Remember, communication is always important when building a healthy relationship. It's also good to be informed so you can recognize the different types of abuse. Score: 6-10 Points If you scored six to ten points, it sounds like you may be seeing some warning signs and your relationship may be unhealthy. Don’t ignore these red flags. Something that starts small can grow much worse over time. No relationship is perfect -- it takes work! But in a healthy relationship you won't find abusive behaviors. Score: 11-50 Points If you scored eleven to fifty points, you are definitely seeing warning signs and may be in an abusive relationship. Remember, abuse is not just physical. Learn about the different types of abuse and how to spot the warning signs. 28 Score: More than 50 Points If you scored more than 50 points, it is important to consider taking steps to ensure your safety. A trained advocate is available to work with you to create a safety plan that is tailored to your situation, and focused on keeping you safe whether you choose to remain in the relationship or not. You don't have to deal with this alone. We can help. Everyone deserves a healthy relationship. For questions regarding Teen Dating Violence you may contact Melissa Lopez at 405-­273-­2888 or 405-­432-­9657 or visit the following websites: www.loveisrespect.org www.BreaktheCycle.org Teen Dating Violence (For Parents) Knowing that your son or daughter is in an unhealthy relationship can be both frustrating and frightening. But as a parent, you’re critical in helping your child develop healthy relationships and can provide life-saving support if they’re in an abusive relationship. Remember, dating violence occurs in both same-sex and oppositesex couples and either gender can be abusive. What Do I Need to Know? You can look for some early warning signs of abuse that can help you identify if your child is in an abusive relationship before it’s too late. Some of these signs include: • Your child’s partner is extremely jealous or possessive. • You notice unexplained marks or bruises. • Your child’s partner emails or texts excessively. • You notice that your son or daughter is depressed or anxious. • Your son or daughter stops participating in extracurricular activities or other interests. • Your child stops spending time with other friends and family. • Your child’s partner abuses other people or animals. • Your child begins to dress differ [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aabsentee%3A977f11f9b2414fb3. Public record. Not legal advice.