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@NAHC March 2013

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Please take a moment to check out our March 2013 edition of @NAHC. Know what's happening at your health center!
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@NAHC Amidst all this talk of health care reform and the very fact that NAHC’s name has the word “health,” in it—what does it really mean to be healthy? A couple of years back, I looked at my own health. I figured I’d try to align my behavior and choices with some kind of picture of health. If I work at a community clinic, shouldn’t I try to be healthy? The main- stream idea of healthy has taken rollercoaster turns through- out history. Certain cultures value strength, mass, thinness, etc. Even in the U.S. during certain eras, the meaty Marilyn Monroe image is compared to a willowy image of a runway model and the discourse is—which is, “better?” And for folks of color, looking at mainstream images, even in health-re- lated media, can feel daunting. They feel daunting to me, anyway. Because when I look at mainstream media, health and beauty are often conflated. The images I see are of peo- ple that don’t look like me—and that makes me feel bored and frustrated at the same time. So I decided to shut all that out for a moment and look within. To me, health is very much aligned with NAHC’s commitment to holistic health. I value my body, my mind/spirit, my family, my partner, my finances, my professional and intellectual development, my friends, my dogs, etc. If I am nurturing those elements and values—that makes for a healthy me. But what does that mean in every day actions? Some practices that have helped my journey toward health are: running; yoga; journaling; finding constructive ways to What Does Health Really Mean and Where to Start A Personal Journey By, Sandra Tavel Grants and Contracts Administrator express feelings so I am heard and at the same time, respect- ful of the other person; spending time outdoors with my partner, friends, and my dogs. And really looking at myself. I weigh close to 180 pounds. It took me a long time to ac- cept my body as it is—about 34 years. A couple of years ago, I couldn’t imagine running. Heaving my body around on the concrete, outside in exercise clothes felt silly and embar- rassing. I started running on a treadmill for just 2-3 minutes at a time and after about a month, I was able to run a couple miles. Now running has become a part of me and a habit that I constantly turn to. It’s the time I use to be alone, think, and commune with my spirit. Another practice is yoga. I take the Monday class @ 7D where we recently celebrated a year of practice. Yoga helps me slow down and pay attention to my body for a quiet, but challenging hour. For me personally, I need a combination of alone time and exercising around other people to feel good. Another and final component of personal health is emo- tional health. How do I feel? Why? What do I need to do to feel better? What are my needs and how am I going to get them met? If you are asking some of these same questions, we work in a clinic that is rife with resources. From the CWD depart- ment to Nutrition and Fitness, there are many NAHC staff that work on their own health that can be great thought partners. We have a Wellness Committee that is happy to provide resources on exercise and wellness. We have an Em- ployee Assistance Program that has a huge, on-line archive of health-related information. We have access to traditional, American Indian spiritual practitioners. We are very lucky. So for a moment, let’s put aside all the statistics and politics (although they are important) and take a look inward and see what’s there. Maybe take a walk or talk to a friend or do one action that takes you toward feeling better. Habits build upon habits and it takes 6 months to a year to build solid habits. Be nice to yourself. List all the things you’re thankful for. We have more resources at hand than we think.
Transcript
Page 1: @NAHC March 2013

@NAHCAmidst all this talk of health care reform and the very fact that NAHC’s name has the word “health,” in it—what does it really mean to be healthy? A couple of years back, I looked at my own health. I figured I’d try to align my behavior and choices with some kind of picture of health. If I work at a community clinic, shouldn’t I try to be healthy? The main-stream idea of healthy has taken rollercoaster turns through-out history. Certain cultures value strength, mass, thinness, etc. Even in the U.S. during certain eras, the meaty Marilyn Monroe image is compared to a willowy image of a runway model and the discourse is—which is, “better?” And for folks of color, looking at mainstream images, even in health-re-lated media, can feel daunting. They feel daunting to me, anyway. Because when I look at mainstream media, health and beauty are often conflated. The images I see are of peo-ple that don’t look like me—and that makes me feel bored and frustrated at the same time. So I decided to shut all that out for a moment and look within. To me, health is very much aligned with NAHC’s commitment to holistic health. I value my body, my mind/spirit, my family, my partner, my finances, my professional and intellectual development, my friends, my dogs, etc. If I am nurturing those elements and values—that makes for a healthy me. But what does that mean in every day actions?

Some practices that have helped my journey toward health are: running; yoga; journaling; finding constructive ways to

What Does Health Really Mean and Where to Start A Personal JourneyBy, Sandra TavelGrants and Contracts Administrator

express feelings so I am heard and at the same time, respect-ful of the other person; spending time outdoors with my partner, friends, and my dogs. And really looking at myself. I weigh close to 180 pounds. It took me a long time to ac-cept my body as it is—about 34 years. A couple of years ago, I couldn’t imagine running. Heaving my body around on the concrete, outside in exercise clothes felt silly and embar-rassing. I started running on a treadmill for just 2-3 minutes at a time and after about a month, I was able to run a couple miles. Now running has become a part of me and a habit that I constantly turn to. It’s the time I use to be alone, think, and commune with my spirit. Another practice is yoga. I take the Monday class @ 7D where we recently celebrated a year of practice. Yoga helps me slow down and pay attention to my body for a quiet, but challenging hour. For me personally, I need a combination of alone time and exercising around other people to feel good.

Another and final component of personal health is emo-tional health. How do I feel? Why? What do I need to do to feel better? What are my needs and how am I going to get them met?

If you are asking some of these same questions, we work in a clinic that is rife with resources. From the CWD depart-ment to Nutrition and Fitness, there are many NAHC staff that work on their own health that can be great thought partners. We have a Wellness Committee that is happy to provide resources on exercise and wellness. We have an Em-ployee Assistance Program that has a huge, on-line archive of health-related information. We have access to traditional, American Indian spiritual practitioners. We are very lucky. So for a moment, let’s put aside all the statistics and politics (although they are important) and take a look inward and see what’s there. Maybe take a walk or talk to a friend or do one action that takes you toward feeling better. Habits build upon habits and it takes 6 months to a year to build solid habits. Be nice to yourself. List all the things you’re thankful for. We have more resources at hand than we think.

Page 2: @NAHC March 2013

March AnniversariesThank you for your service to our agency

Karina Alcala-Barbosa Start Date: 3/15/2007SF Dental 6 Years of Service

Christopher Lin Start Date: 3/15/2007Oakland Dental 6 Years of Service

Topaz Persons Start Date:3/10/2008Oakland Medical 5 Years of Service

Yesenia Escobar Start Date: 3/23/2009SF Dental 4 Years of Service

Kurt Schweigman Start Date:3/23/2009 Oakland CWD 4 Years of Service

Adisa Willmer Start Date: 3/2/2009 Oakland Medical 4 Years of Service

Parke Ballantine Start Date: 3/2/2011 Media Team 2 Years of Service

Chao Liang Start Date:3/15/2011 IT 2 Years of Service

Antoinette Lopez Start Date: 3/9/2011 Oakland CWD 2 Years of Service

Tangeria Oliver Start Date: 3/21/2011 Oakland Medical 2 years of Service

Michael Sanders Start Date: 3/7/2011 SF CWD 2 Years of Service

Linda Aranaydo Start Date: 3/1/2012 Oakland, Administration 1 Year of Service

Alex Monk Start Date: 3/15/2012 SF CWD 1 Year of Service

Viviana Montano Start Date: 3/19/2012 Oakland Dental 1 Year of Service

Hilary Tran WIC Nutrition Aide

3124 Oakland

Ana Rosa Chang On-Call Physician’s Assistant

SF and Oakland

Sophia Taula-Lieras Care Coordinator I

CWD 3124

Melissa Cannon Registered Dietitian Nutirition & Fitness

Tina Benitez IBLC WIC

3124 Oakland

New Hires @NAHC!

Page 3: @NAHC March 2013

Sophia Taula-Lieras Care Coordinator I

CWD 3124

Melissa Cannon Registered Dietitian Nutirition & Fitness

New Hires @NAHC!Native American Health Center, Inc. requires all its new employees, interns, and volunteers to receive a TB Test prior to their start date. Title 22 requires all community care facilities workers to obtain TB Test. Existing employees must receive a TB Test annually. NAHC Medical Departments conduct all TB screens.

TB Tests will be conducted following the schedule below.

Steps to Follow when Getting a TB TestBy, Michelle ShawnegoHR Generalist

HR Buzz

January 14th 16th February 11th 13th March 11th 13th April 8th 10th May 13th 15th June 10th 12th July 8th 10th August 12th 14th September 9th 11th October 14th 16th November 12th 14th December 9th 11th

7 Directions San Francisco ClinicTest Date: Test Date:Result Date: Result Date:

January 9th 11th February 13th 15th March 13th 15th April 10th 12th May 8th 10th June 12th 14th July 10th 12th August 14th 16th September 11th 13th October 9th 11th November 13th 15th December 11th 13th

Please follow the below steps when obtaining your PPD screening

• The employee should report to the Medical Department on the Test Date. • The employee must return to the Medical Department on the Result Date

to get their results and pick up their documented test results. • The employee must send the documentation to Human Resources.

A message from NAHC Media:Are you interested in Media Services? Outreach materials (flyers and postcards), department branding, video production, digital storytelling workshops, photo-booths, campaign generation, photo and video event coverage, and high-quality voice record-ing is available to you! We are also in charge of updating the NAHC website, so if your department needs a change made on your page, please contact us!

[email protected]: [email protected] or [email protected]

Page 4: @NAHC March 2013

Over 400 runners and walkers joined together on Saturday, March 9 at the Native American Health Center’s 12th annual “Running is My High” 5K and 10K event. This year’s theme, With all our Powers Combined, motivated par-ticipants of all ages and backgrounds to come together for a day of fun, fitness and friend-ship.The day kicked off with opening prayers and sage burning, followed by an honor song on the drum. The day continued with group stretching, the 5K and 10K races, more drumming, a vibrant display of Aztec tribal dancing, booth vis-its, honoring of elders and of children, and a healthy vegan meal to finish things off. The sun was shining brightly as nearly 415 participants ran the Lake Merritt loop in downtown Oakland, greatly exceeding our past participation record. Five alcohol recov-ery lodges participated in this year’s friendly competition for Best Combined Time. Three Rivers, Turtle Lodge, Friendship House, Tulle and FSH - Oakland Lodge all gave their best efforts, but Friendship House remains the un-disputed winner for yet another year. They received an engraved trophy, while all race participants were gifted with either a hat or an environmentally friendly reusable jute bag.

In addition, hundreds of people gathered at the race to visit booths and cheer on their community. Booths offered activities related to promoting a healthy mind, body, spirit, and environment. NAHC’s Community Wellness Department once again sponsored our “Well-ness Tent,” complete with yoga, light recipes, and fresh samples of healthy foods to taste. Intertribal Friendship House wowed partici-pants with their beautiful native garden dis-play and plant giveaway. NAHC’s Nutrition & Fitness Department was on hand to answer

Running is My High

questions about diabetes prevention and chal-lenge kids with the always popular “Vegetable Wheel of Fortune” game. The consistent fo-cus on health and wellness is so important in our community, which faces the highest rates of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. With the tripling of childhood obesity rates in the past thirty years, it was especially moving to see so many children running their first race and proudly accepting their awards at the finish line. It was inspiring to have 13 year-old Andrew Helmers win the 5K with a time of 20:57. Way to go, An-drew! With environmental concern growing across the globe, we continue to make “Running Is My High” an environmentally-friendly event by reducing waste, composting and leaving Lake Merritt as beautiful as it was before the race. Detailed banners were posted to help people dispose of waste in the proper containers, while biodegradable water cups and utensils were chosen so that nearly all the waste from the event could be composted. We would like to thank the community for their overwhelming support! We would also like to thank the Native American Health Center’s Community Wellness Department and Nutrition & Fitness Departments for co-sponsoring this event. A special thank you is extended to NAHC’s School Based Health Center, Transports, Trader Joe’s, Wings of America, Piedmont Grocery, Bill’s Trading Post, Gathering Tribes, Peet’s Coffee, Noah’s Bagels, and Berkeley Bowl. Finally, thank you to all who volunteered and participated in our 12th annual “Running Is My High.” We could not have done this without your help and support!

By: Marni Weinstock, Dietetic Intern, Nutrition and Fitness

Page 5: @NAHC March 2013
Page 6: @NAHC March 2013

An Interview with Crystal Marich

Equine Therapy

Why is Equine Therapy a good fit for our community?

In May 2012 myself and our other youth coordinator had the chance to go to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to learn about how they had implemented the tool of equine therapy to serve the youth in their community. We got to see how youth got to work with animals and horses and the type of impact it had on participants. We want to take the skills they provided us with to bring back to our community and implement those things that have worked. Coming from an Urban setting, we don’t always have that chance or that access to get out to the outdoors and work with animals, and it’s also part of our culture, and in living in a western world and an urban setting, it’s something we can become really disconnected from. I see in my experience work-ing with young people, that they really crave those connections and so if our program has the resources and the capacity to provide those opportunities, then I think we really should.

What have been some challenges in getting this going?

Obviously, developing a whole infrastructure for an equine therapy program is a really challenging task, it really requires a lot of collaboration from our staff, and a lot of commitment. Also just the resource, we are in an urban setting, it’s not like you can walk down the block and find a horse stable.

What’s something that people don’t know about equine therapy that might surprise them?

With equine therapy you really work with the horse, it’s not just a child receiving services, but it goes both ways, the horse is impacted by how the client or the youth or the community member interacts with the horse and vice versa. When you’re implementing curriculum, a lot of it has to do with the mood, and that day, like how the horse feels, how the youth feels, and that’s what makes it such a dynamic tool because you can’t really predict how those elements are going to come into play, but you really just learn from whatever experiences are happening in that moment, and that’s something really special.

When do you see us being able to begin equine therapy with our youth?

I know that we did get the experience to take our youth to start riding horses, so we’re hoping to expose them more to learning about animals, bringing them around, but to actually start the infrastructure for a program, probably wouldn’t be until fall, until we implement her, because of how therapists would be documenting their notes, and any type of training that would be required.

Page 7: @NAHC March 2013

What’s something that people don’t know about equine therapy that might surprise them?

With equine therapy you really work with the horse, it’s not just a child receiving services, but it goes both ways, the horse is impacted by how the client or the youth or the community member interacts with the horse and vice versa. When you’re implementing curriculum, a lot of it has to do with the mood, and that day, like how the horse feels, how the youth feels, and that’s what makes it such a dynamic tool because you can’t really predict how those elements are going to come into play, but you really just learn from whatever experiences are happening in that moment, and that’s something really special.

When do you see us being able to begin equine therapy with our youth?

I know that we did get the experience to take our youth to start riding horses, so we’re hoping to expose them more to learning about animals, bringing them around, but to actually start the infrastructure for a program, probably wouldn’t be until fall, until we implement her, because of how therapists would be documenting their notes, and any type of training that would be required.

A big thank you to the staff who participated in creation of the Staff Wellness Committee logo.

The four colors represent the the way the Wellness Committee will approach the year, beginning with

the Physical for this year’s Running is my High!

Interested in joining our Committee?Please contact Yvette Torres at:

[email protected]

Page 8: @NAHC March 2013

On March 5th, NAHC’s first group of providers went live with NextGen’s EHR system. This team of Behavioral Health providers from the Community Wellness Department’s Fog Building site in San Francisco acted as a pilot for the organization. The much anticipated launch went remarkably smooth, with only a few minor identified issues. The staff at the Fog Building’s positive attitude, willingness to learn, and attention to sharing feedback was a key to the suc-cess of the launch. During their training, the staff helped to identify issues, develop solutions, and provide suggestions for future trainings.

“Our staff did really great on this go-live; all of our colleagues at CHCN and our sister clinics were really impressed that our intake flow was even faster with NextGen than our old process on the first try!” -Meriah Gille, RD, PM/EHR Project Manager

“Congratulations to the Community Wellness team on a successful launch! I appreciate all the hours of planning by our behavioral health workgroup – David Samlan, Chirag Patel, and Rebecca MacKenzie – as well as all the time and effort of the E.H.R. team – Meriah Gille, Lillawa Willie, Linda Yoshino, Aarati Sawhney, David Lichtenstein – who have been working diligently on this project for many, many months. I am also very proud of our Fog Building Team who came together with openness and collaboration to pilot the launch of NAHC’s E.H.R. Great work, team! Thank you!”

-Serena Wright, Director of Community Wellness Department

Please congratulate the staff on their successful launch!

EHR is Live at NAHC!By: Lillawa Willie, Project AssistantElectronic Health Records

Next up: First group of Behavioral Health providers at 3124 and School-Based Medical providers in Alameda

From top to bottom:Chir P., David S. Rebecca M., Kelly C., Joanna K., Maggie W. Michele M., Michelle G., Michael D.

Page 9: @NAHC March 2013

March 2013 @NAHC Calendar


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