Greetings from Ashley Tuomi, Executive Director... Babamadziwin Babamadziwin Babamadziwin “Healing Journey” “Healing Journey” “Healing Journey” July 2013- Sept 2013 Inside this issue: Distracted Driving 2 Welcome Rosa 2 Healthy Start 3 REACH Project 4 Employee Wellness 5 Walking Challenge 5 Dream Seekers 6 Fresh Food Share 7 Sacred Bundle Project 8 Advisory Council 9 Children’s Event 10 Cooking & Social Night 11 Łax ayam, It seems like the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Marketplace are becoming every day terms here at AIHFS. Our staff is working very hard to prepare for implementation and will be available to help answer any questions that you may have. We will also be available to help you out with the application process as well. If you need more information about ACA and the marketplace there will be many information sessions available so make sure that you are on our email list or are following us on facebook for the most up to date information. As you will see throughout the newsletter we have a lot of opportunities for physical activity that will be provided here at AIHFS. We will have three different exercise classes and we will also be participating in the Tribal Olympics this year again. We are encouraging our staff to become more physically active and invite you to join us in this process. If you are not able to come to any of the classes but need some ideas for physical exercise on your own, you can talk to our new nutritionist who is also a certified group fitness trainer. In addition to improving physical activity we are working on increasing our healthy eating lifestyle. This is true for staff activities as well as the community activities that we participate in. If you have not heard of the fresh food program, please read about it in the newsletter or call us for questions. There are many other activities going on this summer and I am excited about all of the great opportunities. Enjoy this quarters newsletter! Ashley Tuomi Executive Director Congratulations Mona! Mona Stonefish recently received Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Award for her great work with the community. Miigwetch for all you do for the people Mona! Aanii from AIHFS!
Transcript
Greetings from Ashley Tuomi, Executive Director...
Łaxayam, It seems like the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Marketplace are becoming every day terms here at AIHFS. Our staff is working very hard to prepare for implementation and will be available to help answer any questions that you may have. We will also be available to help you out with the application process as well. If you need more information about ACA and the marketplace there will be many information sessions available so make sure that you are on our email list or are following us on facebook for the most up to date information. As you will see throughout the newsletter we have a lot of opportunities for physical activity that will be provided here at AIHFS. We will have three different exercise classes and we will also be participating in the Tribal Olympics this year again. We are encouraging our staff to become more physically active and invite you to join us in this process. If you are not able to come to any of the classes but need some ideas for physical exercise on your own, you can talk to our new nutritionist who is also a certified group fitness trainer. In addition to improving physical activity we are working on increasing our healthy eating lifestyle. This is true for staff activities as well as the community activities that we participate in. If you have not heard of the fresh food program, please read about it in the newsletter or call us for questions. There are many other activities going on this summer and I am excited about all of the great opportunities. Enjoy this quarters newsletter!
Ashley Tuomi
Executive Director
Congratulations Mona!
Mona Stonefish recently received Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Award for her great work with the community. Miigwetch for all you do for the people
Mona!
Aanii from
AIHFS!
Page 2 Babamadziwin
Cell phones cause an estimated 25% of all crashes - 1.4 million crashes a year.
When texting, crashing is 6 times more likely than driving while intoxicated.
A recent simulator study showed that drivers on cell phones look but fail to see up to 50% of the information in the driving environment.
At any given moment during the daylight hours, over 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
Cell Phone Safety Frequently Asked Questions: Is it safe to use hands-free (headset, speakerphone, or other device) cell phones while driving?
Research indicates that whether you have a hands-free or hand-held device, the cognitive distraction is significant enough to degrade a driver’s performance.
The driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues to avoid a crash. Is talking on a cell phone any worse than having a conversation with someone in the car? Some research findings show both activities to be equally risky, while others
show cell phone use to be more risky. A significant difference between the two is that a passenger can monitor the driving situation along with the driver and alert the driver to potential hazards, whereas a person on the other end of the phone line is unaware of the roadway situation.
Rosa Bear joins the Healthy Start Team!
My name is Rosa Bear, the new addition to the Healthy Start Program. I am actually by title the new Maternal Child Health Program Assistant. I recently served as the Agency's Medical Receptionist for the Clinic. I am Mexican American born and raised right here in Southwest Detroit. I am a mother, grandmother and bilingual in the Spanish language and excited to share my experiences and be taught many wonderful things by my co-workers and our wonderful community. As I am thrilled to be here and be part of this Program, I understand I have "big shoes" to fill as my daughter, Rosebud, was the Program's Assistant prior. She did such an impressive job in every project she took on. She's inspirational not only to this Agency, but also to the community, her peers and at a personal level. My goal is to follow her great disposition, her focus and drive to make the change in our community and agency in making it a sound healthy environment with our mind, health and spirit in balance. Big shoes indeed!
Distracted Driving Awareness by Scott Bowden
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Adults Need Vaccines Too! By Harriet Little You never outgrow the need for immunizations. The specific vaccines you
need as an adult are determined by factors such as your age, lifestyle, risk
conditions, locations of travel, and previous vaccines. Talk to your doctor or
nurse about what is recommended for you.
Zumba Classes! Zumba classes have been going strong! If you have not checked one out yet, you are seriously missing out! We will continue to offer classes every Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:30. For more information on the class schedule, contact Rosebud 313-846-3718 ext. 1162
Our Spring Season, 2013 has brought us some new changes. Rosebud has accepted a new position within this Agency as the Reach Project Assistant. Rosa Bear, the former Medical Receptionist, has accepted the opportunity to step into Rosebud's prior position as the Maternal Child Health Program Assistant. Let's welcome both into their new endeavors.
Our Childbirth Class series has recently completed and was again a complete success this year. A great turnout with a wonderful group of expectant mothers, partners and doulas made it possible. Stay tuned for the next Childbirth Class series which will be offered in the fall. More details to come. Also, this summer we will be celebrating our Third Annual Baby Celebration. At this event, we honor all of our newest families and our graduates. A barbecue is planned along with family-oriented activities such as a baby crawl and toddler race. We hope to see many of you there...come one come all and enjoy! Feel free to contact
Nina Eusani or Rosa Bear at 846-6030, ext. 1125 for any questions you may have or if anyone would like to volunteer time and assistance at this event. We still continue to offer our monthly playgroups. In the summer months, we are planning some outdoor fun. Stay tuned for more details. If you have any questions about our upcoming events or our program, do not hesitate to contact Rosa or Nina at 846-6030, ext. 1125.
Native Healthy Start
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April 1st marked the start date of AIHFS’ newest grant, REACH, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). REACH stands for Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health.
In September 2012, the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health at the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) were awarded a cooperative agreement funded as part of the REACH U.S. Initiative. Representing one of six total awards, the main goal of UCD’s project is reducing chronic disease among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Funding has allowed UCD to support AIHFS, along with 11 other Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs) across multiple states, to design programs to address risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, specifically proper nutrition, physical activity, and weight. Heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are major health disparities in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community and with this funding, UIHOs will be better equipped to raise awareness and work to spark change on a broader community level.
…Did you know?
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death of AI/AN living in the 34 UIHO service areas
Obesity is a major risk factor for both type 2 diabetes and CVD
Within UIHO service areas, obesity is higher among AI/AN than the general population
Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and increasingly affects younger generations
The statistics are startling. We know that these health disparities are affecting our community and need to be addressed. With the REACH grant, much of our project
activity will focus on informational media campaigns that educate the community on nutrition and recreation options for leisure-time physical activity. We
also want to focus on worksite wellness, with emphasis on policy change that promotes healthy eating and physical activity.
AIHFS’ REACH project team is in place and
excited to begin this new work! A slight
departure from offering the usual direct
services and different types of
programming to create individual change,
this grant focuses on policy and
environmental changes around nutrition and physical
activity that have the ability to transform the larger
community. Essentially, we want to make changes to
the environments that we learn, work, and play so that
healthy choices are practical and available to all
nutritionist and certified group fitness trainer Michele Ramsey. Receive healthy eat-ing tips, meal planning and fitness workout
plans. Join the “Body Blast” class every Thursday
5:30pm – 6:15pm with Michele. We’re just a call away! (313)846-6030 Make
your appointment now.
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AIHFS Employee Wellness By Rosebud Bear
We have all heard the saying, “you can’t begin to take care of anyone else unless you take care of yourself first.” Here at AIHFS, we promote self-care but we do not always have the chance to take care of ourselves. Within the last year we have put a heavy focus on employee wellness. This past November, a group of us started an eight-week weight loss challenge. Since then, we’ve participated in a few different wellness challenges, and as a result, we as a group have lost a total of 167 pounds! We offer a few different options for staff to be physically active. We have lunchtime Yoga sessions on Mondays with Sara, Zumba on Wednesdays with Rosebud, and Body Blast with Michele on Thursdays. Quite a few staff members have even taken the initiative to walk in groups on their lunch breaks. Currently we are participating in the Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Tribe to Tribe Walking Challenge. The competition is stiff but we are motivated to “walk” in a healthier way from now on. This challenge is not just for staff, it is open to our entire community! If you have not yet had a chance to sign up, please contact Rosebud Bear.
WALKING CHALLENGE The Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan
and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan are partnering to provide the challenge from May
6th until July 8th 2013. Winning Teams will be revealed at the Michigan Indian Family Olympics
July 26th.
Metro Detroit Residents-Join the AIHFS Team!
Milestone incentives will be provided for individuals throughout the program.
Sign-up today with the AIHFS Walking Challenge Coordinators:
Dream Seekers Youth! Spring has been a very exciting time of learning and new experiences for the Dream Seekers youth group. In April, several teens attended the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor. At this event, they got to watch several types of traditional dance and participate in some intertribal dances. These youth also helped to hand out flyers for AIHFS’s Hope and Wellness screening at the event. Throughout the rest of the month, the group explored the theme of Respect for Earth. They held discussions on what it means to show respect for Mother Earth and spent an afternoon picking up trash in the neighborhood. We also observed Earth Day by preparing our garden for the upcoming growing season. The first weekend in May, the youth group attended the Algonac Powwow and American Indian Festival. One of our young women from the youth group danced Fancy Shawl as the Junior Head Female Dancer, and many of the young ladies danced for the first time since working on their regalia this winter.
Towards the beginning of the month, the youth group participated in a project called PhotoVoice. For this project, the youth took photos of the neighborhood and community surrounding AIHFS—showing ways that respect for community was either shown or not shown. After the photos were developed, the youth chose their favorite photos and wrote how it related to the theme. Finally, they held a discussion on their photos and ways that people can improve their community. Later in the month, Leslie Science Center of Ann Arbor joined the youth group and gave a special presentation on birds of prey. The presenters brought a screech owl, a red tailed hawk, and a bald eagle. Looking towards summer, we have a lot of fun activities planned for the Dream Seekers youth group. This summer we will have two major events for youth, including a 3-day Native H.O.P.E event in late June and a 3-day GONA workshop in July. For more information or to register, please contact Martha or Shiloh at (313) 846-6030 ext. 1113.
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aihfsmich @AIHFS_Detroit facebook.com/aihfs
Want to learn more about what’s going on at AIHFS? Follow us on the web!
How to support
AIHFS!
Only with your support can AIHFS continue to try to meet the physical, spiritual,
emotional and mental well being needs of Native American families and other
underserved populations in Southeastern Michigan. Additionally, as a 501(c)(3), your
generous support is tax-deductable.
Won't you make a donation today to help us get closer to meeting these
needs?
To donate by check or money order, please send payable to:
American Indian Health & Family Services
P.O. Box 810 Dearborn, MI 48121-0810
To donate online: www.aihfs.org/donate.html
Fresh Food Share at AIHFS! Fresh Food Share is a community-based monthly produce delivery program in the city of Detroit. Fresh food is bought at wholesale prices from local farmers (including Detroit farmers), thus often making the food less expensive than store prices. The boxes contain a nutritious variety of fruits and vegetables and a monthly newsletter with recipes and nutrition information. Fresh Food Share is an easy and affordable way to get fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers! Customers can pay with cash, checks, or Bridge Card/EBT. Produce boxes are delivered one Friday a month to AIHFS. If you would like more information or want to order a box, please contact:
The team members and everyone affected by the project have been hard at work promoting the culture of healthy minds in our community. The Screening program Minobimaadiz Baagosenmaang- Wellness and Hope Screen has started, and we have held screenings at two community events (Ann Arbor Powwow and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day). Be on the lookout for our program at future events! The screening is also available by appointment in the Behavioral Health Department, and those that get screened receive a $20 Meijer gift card. So if you are a youth ages 10-24 be sure to ask about being a part of the GLS project and get Screened!
Upcoming Events
Come check out these events for the summer to help us build a spiritually and mentally strong community through culture and knowledge.
GONA (Gathering Of Native Americans): Don Lyons will be joining us as well as all of the GONA
leaders trained last year to put on 3 days of community events. At these events we will grow as a community in addressing issues through culture and examining the themes of Belonging-Mastery-Interdependence & Generosity. July 19th (5pm-8pm), July 20th (11am-5pm), and July 21st (11am-5pm) Call John Marcus– Sacred Bundle Program Assistant at 313-846-6030 x1217 to Register for the event!
Mural Project: Save The Date! Daniel
Vallie will be coming in on July 13th and 14th to work on the mural. Check out the sneak peak here! The concept is about the sweat lodge, the seven grandfather teachings, and how those directly address suicide prevention messages. The mural will depict the idea of the sacred bundle, and how healing and mental wellness takes a whole community. Call Christy Bieber-
Sacred Bundle Program Coordinator at 313-846-6030 x1217 for more information on how to get involved and help with the mural!
Native H.O.P.E.(Helping our People Endure)
Dr. Clayton Small will be coming to help us provide this training for youth. It is a peer– counseling curriculum and is a strengths-based approach that incorporates culture, spirituality, and humor, as well as, awareness and education of the warning signs of suicide. There will be a lot of fun activities and giveaways too! Please call Martha or Shiloh for more information and registration at 313-846-6030 x1113
GLS/Maanidookewigashkibjigan
- Sacred Bundle by Christy Bieber
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Advisory Council Report Summer Report by John Marcus
In March we talked about Open enrollment for uninsured adults into Medicaid. Our benefits coordinator, Jennifer Pipes, was there to present on this topic. This open enrollment was only through April which is why we wanted to share this information with the community through the community advisory council meeting. As always, we allowed for some broader topical discussion which led to the idea that one of the issues facing Native America is the definition of what or who is a Native American. This definition can be different depending on which department of the United States is making the determination and as a result can effect who receives services. April’s CAC meeting was cancelled due to a power outage as a result of bad weather. The agency lost power around 3pm but we were able to continue signing up uninsured adults for Medicaid as planned in the social hall because the big windows let in enough light to see the laptops which were being run on their batteries! In May we talked about the newest program here at AIHFS which is a grant from the Center for Disease Control called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health or REACH for short. This presentation was done by the project manager, Charla Sanders. Also contributing to the introduction of the program to the community was our executive director, Ashley Tuomi. Rounding out the presentation was Rosebud Bear, the REACH project assistant. An overview of the project was given with an emphasis on what makes this grant special is changing the health behaviors of a community as a whole rather than as individuals. The CAC then participated in a short focus group as a way to get started on this approach. Lastly, if there is a specific program or topic you would like featured at a community advisory council meeting let me know and I will see if I can arrange it. I look forward to seeing you at future meetings. Have a great summer.
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Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day -by Deirdre King
Congrats Employees of
the Month! Mar-Jennifer Pipes
April-Rosa Bear May-Linda Brady
This Issue’s Native Quote: So, I will never give up on the language and you will
never give up, either. I am still learning, never giving up.
–Madison Rose Kennedy-Kequom
Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (CMHAD) is a part of the “Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign,” within the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CMHAD seeks to raise awareness nationally about the importance of children’s mental health, as positive mental health is key to healthy development from birth. This national event is especially important for the American Indian Health and Family Services (AIHFS) community, as American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) youth suicide rates are 2 ½ times higher than the national average and the highest for all ethnic groups in the United States.
The focus of this year’s CMHAD event at AIHFS was to “inspire hope and wellness” in our youth and their families. The event had over 113 participants from the community! One of the prevention and mental health outreach features of the event were depression screenings for youth through the Suicide Prevention: Sacred Bundle Project. Additionally, the event had 9 visiting community organizations provide outreach for services in the area, including Southwest Solutions, The Guidance Center, The Ruth Ellis Center, Synergy Partners LLC, and NSO Life Choices. CMHAD also had culturally-tailored events for the AI/AN community such as Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) activities facilitated by our emcee, Don Lyons, a Two Step traditional dance lesson lead by AIHFS’ own Chantal and Rosebud, and a traditional craft vendor. Beyond hosting a Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
event at AIHFS, the center is actively involved in addressing mental health concerns for AI/AN youth. In addition to the Sacred Bundle Project, AIHFS is strengthening the AI/AN youth community through the Dream Seekers youth group for ages 8-17. Dream Seekers explores ways for youth to live healthy and break the cycle of drugs, alcohol and violence through balancing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our youth and families. Both of these youth programs were integral to organizing and facilitating CMHAD 2013 at AIHFS. Chi-Miigwetch to all the community members that came out to support Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day!!
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Cooking Class & Social Night! Have you been to one of the AIHFS Community Cooking Class and Social Nights recently?
Each month at our community cooking class we learn how to make a simple and delicious meal, featuring a variety of healthy traditional foods. The last few months, we have made Rabbit and Dumpling Soup, Maple Sweet Potatoes, and diabetic-friendly Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp—all of which have been tasty seasonal recipes that can easily be made at home. Community members are also welcome to bring one of their own special dishes to share during these potlucks, but you don’t have to. Each class, while our food is simmering away in the kitchen, we also take some time to learn a little about nutrition and discuss ways that we can live healthier. These nutrition lessons cover a variety of tips to help us make healthier decisions about what we buy at the store, what to feed our families, and fun ways to stay physically active. Recently, we invited a speaker to come in and give a presentation on “Decoding Food Labels”—everyone learned something new and walked away being able to read food labels to determine what foods are low-fat, low-salt, and low-sugar. We also learn about helpful tools, such as MyPlate, to make eating healthy easier. MyPlate illustrates the five food groups (Protein, Grain, Vegetable, Fruit, Dairy) that are the building blocks for a healthy diet using a familiar image—a dinner plate. MyPlate helps us to think about what goes on our plate—before we eat—so we get a healthy amount of each food group. Each month we also host a different social night activity at our class—including drum socials, craft nights, dance demos, special speakers, and much more. Sounds fun, right? Join us every fourth Wednesday of each month, from 5-8pm, for our community cooking class and social night—the more, the merrier! For more information, please call Martha or Shiloh at (313) 846-6030 ext1113.
Medical Services Women's Care Maternal Health Diabetes Health & Education Substance Abuse Counseling Behavioral Health Counseling Dream Seekers Youth Program Parent Support Program Tobacco Cessation Native Healthy Start
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Here at
American Indian Health we offer great care & services
for your health care needs.
If there is anything we can be more helpful with, please let us know!
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Seeking Board Members! The AIHFS Board of Directors is looking for new members! If you have a passion for the Native Community, Wellness program and services,
Accounting, Finance, Development or Fundraising, please consider applying!
In order to be considered please submit letter of intent and resume to:
American Indian Health and Family Services, ATTN: Nickole Fox
