American Indian Advisory Council s2

American Indian Advisory Council Minutes July 13, 2005

Welcome and Introductions June Kuehn, District Administrator, and Mary Helen Leyva, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Dept. of Rehabilitation, El Monte office.

Guest Speaker Ava Imotichey and Sylvia Wiipple Dept. of Mental Health, Los Angeles County

Ava Imotichey, Psychiatric Social Worker, and Aide Sylvia Whipple, Community Worker, are with the American Indian Counseling Center, LA County Dept. of Mental Health.  Countywide service area, including Lancaster and Palmdale  Many consumer from rural parts of Arizona and New Mexico who relocate to LA area for services  Program accepts Medi-Cal and Path for those without Medi-Cal. n:  Assistance in applying for Social Security disability programs and General Relief  Assistance applying for Section 8 Housing  Children’s services – a unique program in CA, serving children ages 0 – 17 years of age.  American Indian staff serving American Indian consumers  The only program in CA with a Psychiatrist with specific training for working with Native Americans  Consumers are encouraged to consult with the Medicine Man in their culture  Anger management groups  Cal Works  Consumer-run counseling groups, Group Leaders are paid $25.00 per meeting, 3x per month. After 6 months the consumer can apply to DMH for a position as a Peer Counselor. David Guillen and Emilio Diaz Changing Sprits 2120 Williams Street, Bldg 1 Long Beach, CA Changing Spirits is a successful substance abuse treatment program for American Indian men 18 years and older. Participants come from urban and reservation communities all over CA, Alaska, New Mexico, and Montana Treatment program follows the AA 12-Steps with a Native American cultural component e.g. Sweat lodge for Spiritual cleansing and Pow Wows. Curriculum includes:  Physical Education (walking, running, weights)  Parenting Classes (emphasis on American Indian culture)  Anger Management, Individual therapy, Indian Arts and Crafts  Drum and Flute classes available in the evening  Sundays, from 8:00 to 5:00,residents go out in the community, in groups of 2 or 3.

Located in West Long Beach, the facility has:  Bungalow style housing  18 bed capacity with plans to expand for 12 more residents  3 beds are dedicated for those covered by Prop. 36, (for notes on Prop. 36, see AIAC Minutes November 2003)  3 staff Counselors and 2 Program Administrators Since they are located near a Women’s Shelter, Changing Spirits cannot accept anyone with a history of domestic violence

Los Angeles County Alcohol and Drug Administration fund changing Spirits.  The County only covers the initial 6 month program  Drop-outs may return after 30 to complete the program  Waiting list, with priority given to those who are Court ordered or recently released.

Staff works closely with other local agencies such as:  United American Indian Involvement, medical services and Veterans programs  Dept. of Rehabilitation  Dept. of Mental Health (American Indian Counseling Center)  CARE offers outpatient services  Catholic Charities  Salvation Army For more information, call (562) 388-8118 or 388-8115

Guest Speaker Sara Finseth American Indian Chamber of Commerce Main facility is located in El Monte with chapters in San Diego, Sonoma, and South Bay. This is their 10th year of incorporation.

Primary goal is to provide networking and support for American Indian business owners  Provide a mentoring environment  Support entrepreneurial development for Adults and Youth

Sponsoring the 2nd Annual Palm Springs Expo, July 31 thru August 2, in Agua Caliente: . Corporate sponsors – American Honda, SBC, Boeing and more

. Seminars with Corporate and Tribal Leaders re: forecasting career opportunities, and the impact of Indian Gaming and business . For more information click www.aicccal.org  Courses offered by Chamber include: Dress for Success sponsored by Macy’s and, Talks by Tribal Leaders  Scholarships for Youth

Agency Updates:

Southern California Indian Center (SCIC) – 37th Annual Pow Wow, July 29, 30 and 31. This year it will be at the Fairplex (LA County Fairgrounds), 1101 W. McKinley Ave, Bldg 4 in Pomona. Looking for volunteers to work security at the Pow Wow. Sign up at the SCIC web site, www.indiancenter.org Susie Yellowhorse Jensen, WIA Site Supervisor SCIC, is working with the South Bay Center and the National Endowment Center for Economic Development. Program provides training and job placement for American Indians. The SCIC office in Commerce closed last March and they are looking for space in the Carson or Norwalk area. If you know of a space, please call Susie Yellowhorse Jensen ((714) 962-6673.

Dept. of Rehabilitation – Deputy Directors Gary Leete and Luciana Profaca The DOR is seeking ways to increase outreach to American Indians with disabilities. Options being considered include:  Encouraging American Indian community agencies t apply for DOR Establishment grant funding for new programs, services and/or equipment to make their programs more accessible to consumers with disabilities  DOR sponsored conference for staff working with American Indian organizations to focus on outreach methods  An Indian Desk, a suggestion made by Donna Begay during the March 2005 AIAC meeting  Options for recruiting American Indians into Counselor positions . Funding for Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling . Schedule recruitment exams at State Universities with courses in Rehabilitation . Consider ways to get American Indian students to participate in Student Internships with DOR Questionnaire to be sent through Catherine Campisi, DOR Director, to other State VR programs to research methods / best practices in outreach to Native Americans. For more information and to share your ideas, please contact Grace Burque [email protected] or Sarah Asbury [email protected]

For more information and to review previous Minutes, log on to http://interwork.sdsu.edu/aiac/

United American Indian Involvement – UAII will host a free Small Business Training, August 16, 17, and 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: UAII, 1125 W. 6th Street, Suite 103, Los Angeles, (213) 202-3970. Modules developed by Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, www.sisp.bia.edu include:  Small Business Basics  Small Business Opportunities in Procurement  Tribal Business Laws  How to Write a Small Business Plan  Strategic Planning  Marketing  Financial and Legal  Benefits, Compensation, and Wages

UAII also provides programs include Senior Center, summer and Winter Camp, for Kids and Teens, NAVA for Veterans, Alcohol Counseling, Intervention, Grand View Sweat Lodge, and 12 Step program. For more information call Tony at (213) 202-3970. Tony Lil’hawk suggested the AIAC consider developing a brochure to encourage participation and outreach.

Welcome to Judy Aparcana, the new WIA Program Specialist with Candelaria American Indian Council (CAIC), Ventura. CAIC also has a new Executive Director, Ernestine Lopez. CAIC serves the counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey. Judy covers the Ventura office of CAIC, the Santa Maria One Stop located in the EDD office and, Santa Barbara Indian Health Center. Wanda Card covers the Salinas office. For more information, call (805) 650-8352.

The El Centro office of Dept. of Rehabilitation continues to do outreach to the American Indian community. Thank you to Susie Yellowharse Jensen, SCIC, for volunteering to help out the DOR staff.

Thank you very much to Mary Helen Leyva, Angelica Fernandez, and June Kuehn for hosting this meeting.

NEXT MEETING November 9 2005 Greater Los Angeles District