@NAHCFor several months NAHC Safety Committee has brainstormed ways to assist staff with ensuring safety while at work, as well as staff’s personal safety. The ever rising concern for safety in our community has caused us to look for ways to help our staff re-main safe will coming to and leaving work. Some ideas we came up with are to, when possible, park close to your worksite, walk in groups, contact a member of the Fruitvale SNAP Team (see contact information below) or a NAHC staff in the maintenance department to walk you to your car. One very important must for personal safety is to always remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times.

On January 7, 2013, NAHC contracted Ken McCullum, founder of A.W.A.R.E. Self Defense for Women to train our staff in personal safety techniques and tactics. In his A.W.A.R.E class he gave beneficial information that will help staff protect themselves from violent crimes or reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

If you are interested in attending Ken McCullums, A.W.A.R.E. training he will return to NAHC at the following dates :Oakland 7Directions February 15, 2013: 1pm -2pmSan Francisco 160 Capp February 22, 2013: 1pm -2 pm

HR Buzz: Personal SafetyBy, Yvette TorresHR Generalist, Senior/Compensation Analyst

Below is some information he provided our staff:Be AWARE:• Awareness is essential. Your ability to recognize

possible confrontation will help you avoid them.• The best defense is to NOT be where trouble starts.

Prevent yourself from being in dangerous situations.• Learn to trust your instincts; if a situation doesn’t

feel right, it probably isn’t. • At night always park in a well light crowded area.• Keep It Simple:• If you are being robbed give up your material possessions.

It is only when the assailant is trying to kidnap or move you to another place do you fight back.

• When it is not possible to avoid a situation, you must disable the assailant and escape as quickly as possible.

• A big part of disabling an assailant involves employing simple techniques and tactics. Always attack the vital areas of the body to disable the assailant and escape as quickly as possible. The vital areas are: The eyes, throat, groin, nose, shins, knees, and feet.

SNAP Program Contact Information: (510)719-3514 If you have more questions or need more information please contact Yvette Torres

February AnniversariesThank you for your service to our agency

Darlene Petropoulos Start Date: 2/6/1976Billing 37 Years of Service

Michele Maas Start Date: 2/10/2003SF CWD 10 Years of Service

Monica Marquez Start Date: 2/9/2004Central Registration 9 Years of Service

Rachel Pedamonte Start Date: 2/19/2007Oakland Medical 6 Years of Service

Jacqueline Lomeli Start Date: 2/9/2008SF Dental 5 Years of Service

DeJuana Presley Start Date: 2/1/2009Oakland Medical 4 Years of Service

David Kagel Start Date: 2/10/2009 IT 4 Years of Service

Michelle Shawnego Start Date: 2/17/2009Administration 4 Years of Service

Veronica Shawnego Start Date: 2/1/2010Nutrition and Fitness 3 Years of Service

David Samlan Start Date: 2/8/2010Oak CWD 3 years of Service

Aurora Mamea Start Date: 2/16/2010SF CWD 3 Years of Service

Harold Davis Jr. Start Date: 2/2/2011Maintenance 2 Years of Service

Christopher Alexander Start Date: 2/11/2011SF Medical 2 Years of Service

Yesenia Fuentes Start Date: 2/22/2011Central Registration 2 Years of Service

Barbara Burley Start Date: 2/1/2012Administration 1 Year of Service

Yvette Torres Start Date: 2/27/2012Administration 1 Year of Service

Essie Santana Tuttle, Licensing and Compliance Associate

Administration

Sonia Palencia On Call Registered Dental Assistant

SF Dental

April McGill Program Manager,

CWD SF

Lorraine Harvill On Call Registered Nurse

7D Medical

Cirila R. Perez Registered Dental Assistant

SF Dental

Edris Kareemzadeh Registered Dental Assistant

7D Dental

New Hires @NAHC!

Cris Bissonnette, Nurse Practitioner, On-Call

7D Medical

April McGill Program Manager,

CWD SF

Priscilla Craven On Call Medical Assistant

7D Medical

Lorraine Harvill On Call Registered Nurse

7D Medical

Edris Kareemzadeh Registered Dental Assistant

7D Dental

Shamika Dokes Peer Specialist

CWD

New Hires @NAHC!

I found this image a while ago and it made me think of the ways urban life has impacted generations of American Indians in the SF Bay Area. NAHC finds itself in a position of having to explain its identity and demographics consistently with funders as well as to the community. We aren’t an I.H.S. (Indian Health Service) clinic, although we receive funding from them. I.H.S. clinics tend to have a more homogenous demographic because of their rural locations. Our patients’ tribes span the entire United States and even other places in the Americas. How do urban people keep their tradi-tions and communities alive while still adapting to the cultural demands of life in a large city? What emotions or thoughts does this image inspire?

GenerationsBy, Sandra TavelGrants and Contracts Administrator

The Cultural Exchange was created with the intention of giving Native American youth an opportunity to feel like they belong to something that respects and values their cultur-al identity and the diversity of their lived experi-ence. We wanted opportunities for Native youth to share, through the development of relationships that span across urban and reservation lands. In October 2012, the Yurok tribe welcomed 12 Bay Area Native (NAHC) youth to their home, sharing their food, their culture and their traditions Youtube to video highlighting experience can be found here: http://youtu.be/cNRQ0x0bh9k

On January 31st the Bay Area Native youth welcomed Yurok tribal youth to join in a series of events that intimately revealed the urban In-dian experience. The exchange began at the In-tertribal Friendship House’s Community Dinner, where a group of youth shared a short documen-tary film about Relocation, created from interviews with elders. This project displayed the resilience of Indian people and the importance of IFH in uniting the community.

On Friday, Andrew Vargas lead the morning activities as he welcomed 60 youth, including those from Scotts Valley Tribal TANF’s developing youth program, with articulate words from the heart. Marty Waukazoo addressed the group with encouragement as he spoke about the value of cultural identity and the mutual benefit of developing strong relationships with each other.

In collaboration with Stanford University’s Native American Cultural Center 50 Native American youth were provided with a tour of the campus and an opportunity to hear from a panel of 5 Native American Stanford students about their academic endeavors. The students shared some of the challenges of leav-ing home and the benefits they have found through

The Cultural Exchange Pt. 2

education. From Stanford the youth traveled to UC Berkeley, where they interacted with UC students, who shared the importance of culture and how the relationships they make today will impact their tomorrow. A panel of Native Ameri-can writers; Janet King, Penny Opalplant, Michael Horse, Mica Valdez, Tommy Orange and Shunki-la Black Calf, exemplified the power that comes from one’s voice. The youth were deeply impact-ed by these artistic pieces and openly addressed issues of cultural identity and belonging.

The next day, youth rode BART over to San Fran-cisco to take a ferry to Alcatraz. Nearly 100 Na-tive people gathered to understand the historical importance of this island. Linda Aranaydo, Karen Harrison and Lana Knight shared stories about their time on Alcatraz during the Occupation and the significance of those struggles. Lakota Harding spoke to the youth about Idle No More, and the impor-tance of being proud to be Native. Afterward, the youth were taken on a special tour of Alcatraz that highlighted aspects of the Indian occupation.

Youth Services in San Francisco opened their space for a dinner gathering. One young child asked, “Why are there so many stairs?” which allowed for a discussion about space and the value of having a place to feel safe and belong. Digital stories were shared and youth were able to relax and spend time together.

The Cultural Exchange closed out on Ocean Beach with a circle of youth, parents, and staff gathered around a fire. The youth shared stories, laughter, and free-style rapping. Everyone was given an opportu-nity to express their words of appreciation, words of belonging, and words of hope.

By, Kateri ChiuClinical Coordinator, CWD Oakland

Give Kids a Smile Day 2013 took place Friday, February 1st. It was a fun and successful day for all in NAHC’s Oakland Dental Department. In the morning staff visited 7 schools in our community dressed as dogs and cats and cheetahs, with costumes and painted faces. In all, 450 kids were enrolled at these sights, and all received a goody bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, as well as oral hygene instructions, and information on

Give Kids a Smile Day

GKAS 2013

what good foods and bad foods were. In addition to this, staff provided kids with good brushing techniques, and to teach them how to floss, they utilized Dino the dinosaur and allowed kids to practice while having fun as well.

In the afternoon at 7D, we had a table with educational pamphlets, facepainting, healthy snacks, and a balloon figurine maker named Buster. We saw a total of 38 kids on our site.

The #1 health issue affecting children enrolled in Head Starts nationwide is ACCESS to oral health services. There is an increased risk of dental disease in underserved, low socio-economic populations as a result of shortage to dentists serving the medi-caid population and shortage of dentists serving ages 0-5. In a 2008 survey conducted by California Health reported 24% of all children in California have never visited a dentist and 49% of all children in California have NEVER visited a dentist by age 5. It has always been our goal, in the Dental Department, to see a child by their 1st birthday.

In the Spring of 2012, our services expanded through the partnership with The Unity Council’s Head Start pro-gram, where our services were requested and very welcomed by the children and the community. As a result of our partnerships and expansions, we were able to provide Oral Health services at 30 Head Start/Early Head Start schools and increased access to 561 children.

HeadStart screenings will begin on Monday, February 11th, 2013.