A Publication of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa
Summer/Fall 2018
Cooking with Chef Nico Albert on page 5!
Operationally Speaking
BY: TANYA CAIN, RN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Phases one through three of our remodel are complete as of this writing, and phase four is well on its way. Additional exam rooms, an expanded lab and digital imaging area, and a redesigned medical provider “pod” are all complete. Additionally, we have moved scheduling to the front lobby of the building for ease of access. Those who have been in the clinic recently, will also notice new flooring in some areas, as well as new lighting. These items will eventually be found throughout the building. Thank you again to everyone for their patience during the remodeling. It has been a year of recognition for IHCRC. We are thrilled to 2 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
announce that Dance of the Two Moons was a 2018 TulsaPeople A-List Winner. The event is scheduled for March 9, 2019 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa. Guests will be treated to a totally tubular night as we enter the Amped Up 80’s. Several of our staff were also awarded Indian Health Service Area Director’s Awards during an awards ceremony in May. The award winners include: Jennie Howard - Peer Recognition Award Julie Taylor - Merit Award Systems of Care - Exceptional Group Performance Non Clinical Judy Gibson - Area Director’s Lifetime Achievement Award Kelly Mounce - Area Director’s Individual Area Impact Award Robyn Jones - Area Director’s Individual Excellence In Customer Service – Urban
Patient Benefit Coordinator Team - Area Director’s Group Excellence In Customer Service IHCRC’s Development Director, Debbie Starnes, was chosen as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year by the Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The awards ceremony will take place in November at the National Day of Philanthropy. Congratulations are also in order for Dr. Jason Menting. Dr. Menting, who has been IHCRC’s Director of Clinical Training, accepted the position of Director of Behavioral Health in August. IHCRC’s previous Director of Behavioral Health, Dr. Rachele Floyd, moved to the Oklahoma City area with her family. We are pleased to have Dr. Menting leading our Behavioral Health Team.
In This Issue of Healthy Spirit Youth Culture and Wellness Camps .......................................................4 Sit Less Move More Learn Better Workshop ........................................6 Restoring Harmony Stand to Empower Powwow ................................8 American Indian Life Skills Development Program ..........................12 Honoring Sexual Assault Survivors On Denim Day .........................14 Primary and Secondary Diabetes Prevention .....................................17 IHCRC Has A New Behavioral Health Director ................................21
MEDICAL SERVICES HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7:45 am-5:00 pm Thursday 9:45 am-7:00 pm 1st Friday of the month the Medical clinic opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff training) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOURS Monday-Wednesday; 8:00am-6:00pm Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm Friday 8:00am-5:00pm 1st Friday of the month the Behavioral Health clinic opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff training) WIC NUTRITION HOURS Monday-Wednesday; Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm Thursday 10:00 am-6:00 pm 1st Friday of the month WIC opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff training) SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS To schedule an appointment, call 918-382-1224, press option 1. If you are unable to get your preferred appointment time, please schedule for the first available appointment. Patients may call back and check to see if an opening becomes available that better suits their needs. IHCRC ADMINISTRATION Carmelita Skeeter Chief Executive Officer Judy A. Gibson Chief Financial Officer Stacie Nutt Chief Human Resource Officer Tanya Cain, RN Chief Operating Officer
Read about Sit Less Move More Learn Bet
ter Workshop on page 6.
DEVELOPMENT STAFF Debbie Starnes Development Director dstarnes@ihcrc.org Tonia Gist Development Specialist tgist@ihcrc.org John Young Marketing Specialist jyoung@ihcrc.org IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 3
Youth Culture and Wellness Camps
BY: LEAH SPEER, MSPI – PREVENTION SPECIALIST How many parents wish they had their children in camp this past summer rather than sitting at home playing Fortnite and other video games? Indian Health Care successfully completed another year of summer camp for area youth. The camps provided opportunities for team building, physical activities, nutrition lessons, cultural activities, and healthy lifestyles. This summer we provided six weeks of camp for youth ranging in ages from 6 to 14. All camps were completely free with no cost to the parents, including free breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks to campers. This was all possible again with the generous donations to our youth programs through the Dance of the Two Moons. All camps provided a number of cultural enrichment opportunities. This summer we had several highlights and first time activities. Campers had the opportunity to learn Cherokee basket weaving, oral traditional storytelling, blow dart target shooting, Cherokee language and cultural games. We had highlighted presenters, Chef Nico of Duet, Victor Wildcat with Indian Education, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma with Blaze, Matt Roberts, a Native American sports historian, and Gina Barnett with the Cherokee Nation Cultural Department. This year’s sixth through eighth grade campers got to make their own pair of stickball sticks and stickball balls for make and take. Chef Nico provided great nutrition lessons with easy to make snacks to help cut sugar out of their diets. For the first time, we taught our first and second graders how to make woven Cherokee baskets. Like every year our focus is to imprint the knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle for diabetes prevention. Each camp had field trips on every Friday. Campers visited Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Cherokee Heritage Cultural Tour, and Wheels and Thrills - skating, arcade & laser tag. Thank you to Broken Arrow Public Schools and Edison Preparatory School for the use of their facilities and buses. A special thank you to our many donors including Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Tiger Natural Gas, and Delores Titchywy Sumner. Camp would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. 4 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
“Storytelling is such an important part of Native culture, and something that children respond to really well. By telling our stories, we keep those traditions alive and illustrate the relationship Native people have with the natural world around us. A strawberry is never “just a strawberry.” An ear of corn is SO much more than “just an ear of corn,” it’s a way of life, a reminder of who we are and where we come from. When you hold a strawberry in your hand or pull the husk from an ear of corn, knowing these stories, you have a tangible connection to your culture. My hope is that by telling these stories while showing these kids hands-on how they can actually use these traditional ingredients, they will make that connection and be on their way to having a relationship with food as a part of life beyond just a bag or box to open and consume.” Nico Albert, Executive Chef Duet
Campers learned how to make stickball sticks. These sticks are used in the traditional Native American game of Stickball. Stickball is considered by many to be one of the oldest team sports in North America. IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 5
Sit Less Move More Learn Better Workshop
BY: NANCY O’BANION, MS, HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR
The Sit Less Move More Learn Better training was conducted August 7, 2018 at the Broken Arrow Academy. This popular workshop, now in its sixth year, is known for being an exceptional training for both physical education and classroom teachers. The workshop provides professional development for anyone who works with children, and wants to incorporate physical activity with academic learning. The free training is provided by Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC) and is funded by a grant from the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. IHCRC collaborated with the Tulsa Health Department, the Creek Nation, and the Wewoka clinic to host the event. Staff from these four organizations provided the afternoon presentations, while a nationally known guest speaker was contracted for the morning presentation. The training is for anyone who works with children: physical educators, classroom teachers, tribal youth leaders, and community youth program staff. The activities are designed to integrate physical activities with academic learning. These activities improve fitness and academic achievement, as well as increase communication and problem-solving skills for students. 6 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
The morning presenter was Taralyn Garner, a physical education teacher with 36 years of experience, from the Kansas City area. She is a trainer for Sportime featuring SPARK PE and provides trainings all over the United States. She taught many activities to help children learn healthy nutrition concepts and provided great ideas for integrating physical activity into classroom settings. She also explained how to integrate Choose My Plate into the classroom and physical education program, and provided resources for this web-based program.
There were 67 participants that included many TSET grantees, tribes and tribal clinics, physical education teachers, classroom teachers, pre-school teachers, and county health departments. There were 21 Native American participants representing seven tribes or native organizations. Thirty-two different communities were represented. IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 7
Restoring Harmony Stand to Empower Powwow
BY: KELLY MOUNCE, MS, LPC, SYSTEMS OF CARE – PROJECT DIRECTOR Over 1,000 people gathered at the Tulsa Westside YMCA for the 11th Annual Restoring Harmony Powwow. This year’s theme was “Stand to Empower.” It focused the importance of standing together to empower our brothers and sisters in need, that no one walks alone, and that we stand together as a resilient community ready to change and be changed. The day began with youth and their families participating in an awareness hike which focused on mental health awareness. The afternoon started with Gourd Dancing led by the Cherokee Gourd Society along with Head Staff Specials and concluded with a free supper for everyone in attendance.
Grand Entry began at 6pm followed by memorial songs, round dance songs, and inter-tribal dancing. In conclusion, the contests, which featured dancers from tiny-tot to golden age, filled the arena with beautiful dancing for the rest of the evening. Not only did the Restoring Harmony Powwow feature great dancing and singing, it also included many vendors most of whom were selling items such as Native American jewelry, beadwork, baskets, shawls, and blankets. Several non-profit agencies provided information about mental health services in the Tulsa area. Food vendors were also on hand with traditional Native food. 8 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
Special thanks to the Restoring Harmony Powwow Head Staff, Cindy Reed (Artist), the Tulsa Indian Community Advisory Team (TICAT), the TICAT Powwow Committee, Tiger Natural Gas, and Oklahoma Systems of Care for all their support to the powwow and for helping us promote mental health awareness to our youth and families. Thank you to all the vendors, volunteers, and visitors that came out and helped make this such a successful event!
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American Indian Life Skills Development Program
BY: TIM SHADLOW, YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR According to a 2017 state report, every week, on average, two Oklahomans between the ages of 10 and 24 commit suicide. Among American Indian youth in Tulsa County, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in ages 10-14 and the second leading cause of death in ages 15 to 17. As a recipient of the Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative grant, IHCRC conducts a suicide and bullying prevention program in seven schools, five within the Broken Arrow School District and two within the Owasso School District. Recently the program has also been adopted by a special program in a Tulsa Public School. The program, based on the American Indian Life Skills Development program, has proven effective in addressing key issues in the lives of American Indian youth. The American Indian Life Skills program focuses on communication, problem solving, depression and stress management, anger regulation, conflict resolution, and goal setting. IHCRC also integrates sessions addressing victimization due to bullying through its Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative grant. The structured lessons focus on assessing school climate, addressing and evaluating current bullying policies aimed to reduce victimization within each school, securing proper cooperation from key personnel, addressing the effects of bullying on students, teaching internet risks and safety, and teaching students various avenues for seeking help. 12 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
Classes include information on the current problem of suicide in Native youth, teaching specifics about how to help a friend who is contemplating suicide, and how and when to seek out help from an appropriate source such as teachers, school counselors, or adult care-givers. Prior to the curriculum being implemented, students are given a pre-test to determine their knowledge and utilization of specific life skills. In an attempt to maintain confidentiality and ensure honest answering of the questions, the test contained no identifying data. At the conclusion of the program, the students were given a post-test that was identical in content and construction to the pre-test. During the past year, 206 students took the pre-test and 203 students took the post-test. Examination of the scores revealed gains in several areas. • The number of students identifying the importance of self-esteem increased from 83% to 90%. • U pon retest, 81% of students recognized the healthiest means of overcoming personal problems, as opposed to 70% at the start of the program. • At the beginning of the classes, 79% of students recognized the important role understanding of cultural heritage has in generating a sense of belonging, while 83% displayed an understanding at the end of the classes. In addition to assisting students with life skills, suicide prevention, and bullying prevention, the classes are helpful in reconnecting both students and their families to their American Indian heritage and culture. This reconnection has proven to be significant in reducing risk factors in teens that often lead to suicide.
Thank you Panera Bread for your support of the IHCRC Running Strong Program! Visit www.ihcrc.org/running to learn more about Running Strong. IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 13
These five contest winners were selected from over 200 jean pocket design submissions!
Honoring Sexual Assault Survivors On Denim Day BY: ALY SPEERS, LCSW, DVPI PROJECT COORDINATOR/CLINICIAN
What is Denim Day? The Denim Day campaign has been a national movement highlighted during April to honor Sexual Violence Awareness Month. This campaign focuses on the importance of education, prevention, and activism in regard to sexual assault. What Sparked This Campaign? In the late 90’s an 18-year-old Italian girl was sexually assaulted by her 45-year-old male driving instructor. While he was initially convicted of the crime and sent to prison, the ruling was later overturned by the Italian Supreme Court because the justices felt that because the victim wore tight jeans, she must have helped remove them thereby making the act consensual. The following day the women of the Italian Legislature protested this decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protests. In 1999, an agency in Los Angeles, CA established the first Denim Day in the US—a tradition that has grown and continued (Peace over Violence, n.d.). Did you know? • On average, American Indians ages 12 and older experience 5,900 sexual assaults per year (Department of Justice, 2004). • American Indians are twice as likely to experience a rape/sexual assault compared to all races (Department of Justice, 2004). • 41% of sexual assaults against American Indians are committed by a stranger; 34% by an acquaintance; and 25% by an intimate or family member (Department of Justice, 2004). • Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted (CDC). • 44% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 18 (RAINN/Dept. of Justice). • At least 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police (CDC). 14 IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018
How Indian Health Care Resource Center Has Been Involved Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC) launched its own campaign to honor sexual assault survivors and Denim Day on April 25th, 2018. IHCRC completed a community and clinic wide jean pocket artwork contest. Individuals were asked to decorate a pocket with a message against sexual assault. This year’s successful campaign attracted over 200 jean pocket designs, ranging from elders to youth. A committee had to make the difficult decision of choosing five jean pockets that portrayed a strong and clear message of the cause. These winners were presented a $25 gift card and their jean pockets were put on display throughout IHCRC. Be on the lookout for educational material and ways you can participate in this campaign as IHCRC will be holding this annual contest and honoring the cause on April 24, 2019! References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey,” (n.d.) Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/ Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Crime, 1992-2002 (2004). Peace over Violence (n.d.). Denim Day Resources. Retrieved from http://denimdayinfo.org/resources/#/didyou-know RAINN; Department of Justice. Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www. rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence
Calling all Native American girls ages 12 – 24! Want to learn more about healthy lifestyles to prevent the chances of getting diabetes during pregnancy? Join our Stopping Gestational Diabetes study! Call 918-382-2223 for more information. Gift cards available for your participation!
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Primary and Secondary Diabetes Prevention
BY: NANCY O’BANION, MS, HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR This was the question to our summer campers: “How many of you have someone in your family with diabetes?” Typically, about 75% of the children raise their hands. Most of them have a grandparent, parent, or aunt and uncle with diabetes. Many of these children grow up believing that it is inevitable that they too will someday have diabetes. Our job is to teach these youngsters that diabetes doesn’t have to happen to them. Through healthy food choices and physical activity, these children can avoid or delay the onset of this lifethreatening disease. The education we provide can truly make a difference and change a child’s life forever. In our Health & Wellness programs, we focus our efforts on both primary and secondary prevention. Primary prevention consists of educating youth and adults about how to prevent diabetes. We see children and adults in our clinic for weight management, physical activity, and pre-diabetes. Quality time is spent with our educators so the patients can learn simple changes that make a great difference in preventing diabetes. Secondary prevention is preventing complications from diabetes. Diabetes is a vascular disease, so it affects the cardiovascular system, the eyes, feet, hands, gums, kidneys, and other organs. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in Native Americans. It can be prevented or delayed by controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and by taking medicines that protect the kidneys. Kidney failure from diabetes has been higher in Native Americans than any other race. The good news is that the efforts of Indian Health Service and all Indian clinics across the United States resulted in a 54% drop in kidney failure among Native Americans between 1996 and 2013. It takes extensive efforts to help our Native American community reduce the risk for Type 2 Diabetes. Our patients’ challenges include food insecurity, health literacy, transportation, family issues, legal issues and more. While some of this is out of our control, we can provide education, labs, and medication to help patients gain control of their diabetes.
CIRCLE OF BLUE We are a community that honors passing along our traditions. Sadly, diabetes has become common to our people and they have come to believe it is destined to be passed along. But that’s not true. With diabetes prevention - which is getting back to our traditional way of eating and staying active - we can break the generational cycle of disease.
Diabetes harms our Native American community at a rate 3 times higher than other Americans and shortens their life span by 5 years. Circle of Blue is a group of individuals and companies who recognize the urgent need to prevent diabetes within our Native American community. Through their support they are advocates in shaping the change that stops the cycle of this illness. This caring group provides hope, healing, and health by making a financial commitment that strengthens treatment and prevention programs to combat diabetes.
For a gift of $500 or more you can join this caring group and help our Native American Community live longer.
Join at www.ihcrc.org/bluedonate
IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 17
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5/15/15 9:43 AM
IHCRC Has A New Behavioral Health Director BY: DEBBIE STARNES, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
IHCRC was sad to lose Dr. Rachele Floyd as Director of Behavioral Health. Dr. Floyd and her family moved close to Oklahoma City to be near her husband’s congregation. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jason Menting has accepted the position of Director of Behavioral Health. Dr. Menting began his tenure at IHCRC as a Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern in 2012. Following completion of the internship program in 2013, Dr. Menting was hired as Director of Clinical Training for IHCRC. As Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Menting supervised the training of each intern at IHCRC, assuring that their clinical training meets criteria for the American Psychologist Association (APA) as well as the Northeastern Oklahoma Psychology Internship Program (NOPIP). In addition to providing training, Dr. Menting shared his extensive experience in providing individual psychotherapy with clients, administering test batteries for psychological assessments, and writing psychological evaluation reports. Dr. Menting completed his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native of Wisconsin, he has a certificate in American Indian Studies. He serves as an advisory board member for the American Indians Into Psychology (AIIP) program at Oklahoma State University.
Protect What Matters Most.
The IHCRC Planned Giving Department offers a variety of ways that you can protect your family’s future, achieve your financial goals, and help to ensure a brighter future for Tulsa’s Native American community. At IHCRC, we offer free estate and legacy planning services. Visit www.ihcrc.org/legacy for more information. IHCRC Summer/Fall 2018 21
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Society of the Medicine Wheel Giving the equivalent of one single energy drink or lunch out per month could literally save someone’s life. Your gift of $5 to $10 per month will change a life in one of the following ways and so many more. All of these items are live saving in one way or another. • $5/month will purchase healthy snacks for all the kids attending a day of summer camp. • $5/month will purchase a blood pressure cuff for someone needing to protect their life by lowering their blood pressure. • $10/month will purchase 400 lancets and a sharps container for someone living with diabetes.
Thank you to our 2018 Society of the Medicine Wheel Members! Dr. Aliakber and Farida Akberali Tom and Sherry Askew Stacy Berg Donna Birkenfeld Larry and Tanya L. Cain Heidi Dawson Rachel Dugan Elizabeth A. Duncklee, LCSW Deni Fholer Judy A. Gibson Dr. Jesicah Gilmore and Dane Bowin Tonia Gist Jo Ann Gower Kelly E. Henderson Robyn Jones Karen Knight Angie Lanning Dr. and Mrs. Dean Martin Karen Miller Jay and Kelly Mounce Brian and Stacie Nutt
Nancy O’Banion Daniel Olson Elizabeth Parrott Edward E. Rogers Dr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Roman KiAnna Sam Dr. Geeta Silas and Mr. David Knapff Carmelita Skeeter Leah Speer Debbie Starnes Brenda Taylor, LPN Patrick and Madeline Teague Karen Thomas Dr. Charles Van Tuyl Joia Washington Shawna Webb Sherry Williams Shelly Williams Annette Williams Stacey Wilson Nicole Woodmansee
Donors in color have given at the highest level.
You can help provide much needed health care for today and health and wellness that carries into tomorrow.
www.ihcrc.org/medicinewheel For more information, call Tonia Gist at 918.382.1226 or email tgist@ihcrc.org.
Thank you for being an integral part of our “Caring is Strong Medicine� Team. If you have any questions or would like to be removed from our mailing list, contact John Young at 918-382-1206 or jyoung@ihcrc.org. 918-588-1900 | www.ihcrc.org