Suquamish News, January 2013

Page 1

Suquamish News

Inside...

dxseEeb syeceb

A monthly publication of the Suquamish Tribe

ELC Family Activities pg. 5

Volume 13 January 2013 Suquamish Tribe Donates To Peninsula Community Health Services

N o. 1

Kitsap non-profit health provider to use funds for counseling and patient assistance by April Leigh

An unexpected snowy morning didn’t stop Suquamish Tribe representatives from touring the Peninsula Community Health Clinic (PCHS) in Poulsbo, WA on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. The tour, provided by PCHS Board President Al Pinkham and the organization’s CEO Barbara Malich, gave Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman and Suquamish Tribal Council Member Bardow Lewis a more tangible view of the patient services available to uninsured and underinsured Kitsap County residents at the non-profit healthcare provider. “Sadly, many healthcare providers will not accept such patients,” said PCHS Poulsbo Clinic Coordinator Sarah Hasel during the tour of the facility that included treatment rooms, a clinic pharmacy and lab.

PCHS Poulsbo Clinic Coordinator Sarah Hasel shows Leonard Forsman one of the exam rooms during a tour of the facility.

The Suquamish Tribal Council recently approved an $80,000 donation to PCHS, to assist the organization in their efforts to provide affordable healthcare. “We have seen the impact state and federal budget constraints have had on the ability of health organizations to provide underinsured and uninsured patients with care. We saw the good work Peninsula Community Health Services was doing here in Kitsap County to fulfill From left, Bardow Lewis, PCHS Board President Al Pinkham, Leonard Forsman, PCHS CEO Barbara Malich, PCHS those needs and Poulsbo Clinic Coordinator Sarah Hasel and Suquamish Health Administrator Leslie Wosnig. gave as much as we nization include primary medical care, nizations in and around Kitsap County. could to assist them in providing dental care, behavioral health counFor Council Member Lewis, the donaservices,” said Forsman. seling, pharmacy services and health tion to help provide medical services to PCHS will use the donation to help pro- those who would otherwise be unable to education activities. In 2012, PCHS vide behavioral health services at all of expects to provide more than 80,000 visafford it holds special significance. their four clinics in Kitsap County, and its to 25,000 patients throughout Kitsap “I remember when I was a boy, and to assist patients who need help paying access to medical care on the reservation County. In addition to providing care for services that are not provided by the for uninsured and underinsured patients was not as it is now. We work hard to organization. ensure our Tribal Members always have PCHS also provides services to insured individuals, including some Suquamish “Our Patients Assistance Fund allows us the ability to see a doctor and will do Tribal Members who utilize their clinics to help low-income patients with access what we can to help give our neighbors for primary care, urgent care, pharmato imaging, x-rays and other services not in Kitsap the same opportunity,” said ceutical needs and testing. provided at our clinics,” said Malich. Lewis. “I use PCHS for my medical needs and The Suquamish donation to PCHS is PCHS is a community based non-profknow the care we provide to be excelin addition to those made through the it organization dedicated to providing lent. When we have patients like me Tribe’s Appendix X Grant Program comprehensive health care services to who have insurance and ability to pay, and Port Madison Enterprises Fund, residents of Kitsap County, offering it helps us provide care for those who which combined contribute more than quality low-cost care for children and don’t,” said Pinkham. $500,000 annually to non-profit orgaadults. Services provided by the orga-

Suquamish Police Bring Holiday Cheer to Kids in “Shop With A Cop” Program

Tribal officers partner with law enforcement agencies from throughout the area to provide presents to at-risk youth by April Leigh

For the past nine years, officers from a number of different law enforcement agencies throughout Kitsap and Mason counties have been lining up outside local department stores on a single, cold afternoon in December to await their orders- given by dozens of laughing children pouring out of motorcade busses during the annual Kitsap Shop With A Cop day. “Alright everyone! Find your officer and partner up!” said Officer Penny Herret at the opening of the event outside Wallmart in Poulsbo, WA this year. The annual charity event pairs officers, including police from both Suquamish and the Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes, with one of 100 at-risk youth selected for the program. Each child, ranging 6-16 years in age, is given a $100 gift card to shop for holiday presents with their officer and treated to pictures with Santa inside the store. Suquamish News

“If we didn’t give these kids this opportunity, many of them wouldn’t have a Christmas at all,” said Suquamish Police Sergeant Mark Williams, who has participated in the program for the past four years. Kitsap Shop With A Cop is a non-profit organization spearheaded by local law enforcement volunteers. Organizers fundraise throughout the year to support the program, enlisting the help of school districts to identify children to participate in the event. “Each year, we choose a different school district to focus on. This year, children from North Kitsap School District were selected for the program,” said Herret, who is also president of Kitsap Shop With A Cop.

Deputy Chief Swift Sanchez was one of seven Suquamish Police Officers who participated in the 2012 Shop With A Cop program in December.

In addition to officer participation, the Suquamish Tribe has donated to the program, contributing $5,000 in both 2010 and 2011.

In This Issue Community Calendar Education Government Sports & Rec 1

................... 2 .................. 4 ................... 6 ................... 8

Traditions ................. 10 Elders ................. 11 Business ................. 12 Community & Notices ................. 14 Vol. 13, No. 1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.