Announcements

More than three years ago the North Sound ACH team and Board made a commitment to embed equity into the work of our organization and with our partners across the region. We embarked on a Tribal and Equity Learning journey together and have been honored to learn from local, regional and national experts who have enlightened and inspired us to the work ahead. 

Over the past two months the fractured health system has been exposed, and the impact of generations of structural racism are being discussed broadly, but for the most part without any tangible expectations being proposed. We know what the problems are but we are stymied about where to begin to address them. Then we have powerful and traumatic events being shown on every screen. There are too many times that America has been shown that the lives of African Americans are worth less than those of white Americans. We see it, we protest, and then we tamp down the anger. Any therapist would tell you that you cannot tamp down anger and injustice forever without it erupting at some point in time. 

I was raised to turn the other cheek; to be polite and understanding to those who would demean me; to always strive to be a better person; to be the example of how things could be better over time. Within my own mixed-race family there are divergent opinions about what is happening across America and how to address these injustices.  The strategies that arise are different for me as an individual with black heritage than they are for me as CEO of a nonprofit, but in the end it comes down to leadership. And the North Sound ACH cannot be silent about social injustice; not if we want to take our journey and make sustainable and lasting change. Not if we want to create a community where all feel a sense of belonging. 

We continue to turn to the Othering and Belonging Institute for thought leadership and especially want to point you to a blog post by their Associate Director Denise Herd. We can listen to john a. powell in a podcast where he speaks in response to George Floyd’s murder. And if you need a more mainstream voice, Trevor Noah recorded his thoughts on racism, George Floyd and COVID here. For many of you, these will be hard to hear. For me and other people of color, this is our legacy in the United States. 

For North Sound, it is time to take action. We will be making changes to 2021 contracts, adding expectations that our partners add efforts to address racism. Together we are a powerful group of leaders across the North Sound region. Imagine if what happened in Minneapolis had happened in Bellingham or Everett. How would you and your organization respond? Do you feel like you have the tools to address that question? Do protests against social injustice have to be met with force? Are there other ways that those in power can respond to anger, fear, and demands for change? How do we test and develop those ‘civic muscles’? 

Across the state counties are implementing COVID recovery plans. Imagine if the governor added an expectation that each county had to develop an actionable plan to denounce hate and address viral racism. Could advancing equity and wellbeing become an integral part of recovery expectations? If not now, I can’t imagine when it could happen.

I live in a lovely neighborhood, and no longer feel safe walking my dogs at night without my white partner. I fear for my adult sons, who work, exercise, and live in predominantly white communities. That everyday fear, anxiety, and heightened awareness takes a toll on me and others who have learned ‘it’s just part of life”. You can’t tell me that I’m lucky to be here and not there, because what happened in Minneapolis could happen in any one of our communities. It probably does happen. The question for us is what can we do to prevent it, to make investments where needed to prepare ourselves, and to have an agreed upon strategy of how we will respond when it happens. 

North Sound ACH cannot be silent. A man’s life was taken while we collectively watched. The people recording did not intervene, although their videos have catalyzed a response around the world. They felt powerless, but we are not without power to make a change. The question is whether you are willing to stand together to make change here. 

North Sound ACH is working with our CPA colleagues at Larson Gross to answer your questions about federal loans available for COVID-19 relief. Their expertise includes benefits such as the Employee Retention Credit (E7RC), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and the Payroll Tax Delay. Our implementation partners can reach out to Larson Gross free of charge. A comparison chart of these relief options is available here.

Here are some specific ways Larson Gross may help:

• Determine your eligibility and compare the benefits of different relief options.
• Answer questions about what financial information and calculations you’ll need to apply for relief.
• Understand how to utilize the funds you receive to maximize your eligibility for full loan forgiveness.

To get started, we recommend you watch this recorded one-hour session covering the basics of these programs. 

To discuss your specific questions, please reach out to Kelsey or Keaton at Larson Gross and let them know the North Sound ACH referred you: 

• Keaton Wersen: KeatonW@larsongross.com
• Kelsey Bedient: KelseyB@larsongross.com

We’re proud to present our newly published North Sound ACH Annual Report with you! This document serves as a “year in review”. You’ll see the key milestones we met in 2019, read about our emphasis on equity and tribal partnership, and better understand work thus far — what we’ve accomplished and where we’re headed. Please take a few minutes and check it out!

2019 Annual Report

This post was written in part by Lopez Island Resource Center Staff, originally published in an organizational update.

One of North Sound ACH’s partners, Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC), is working with other community partners, to launch an innovative prevention and wellness initiative.  This work is part of their commitment to the Medicaid Transformation Project.

From LIFC’s website:

Given the complexity of our island’s health issues and the unique challenges of being in a rural community, we are implementing a multifaceted four-part approach that challenges conventional thinking in several ways: tackle biases and systemic racism community-wide rather than one individual or organization at a time; use brain research to shift from “top-down” approaches that help people think differently to “bottom-up” approaches that help people cope with their raw emotions; and, use experiential learning and social connections to bring diverse people to build healthier lifestyles.

The program LIFC has decided to adopt is part of Open Source Wellness (OSW), an organization based in the Bay Area with the motto, “Community IS medicine.” Their model creates a community support for those working toward better health through behavioral changes: Leveraging the power of community to transform health outcomes and healthcare: Preventing and reversing chronic disease through a clinically-proven, low-cost, long-lasting behavior change program.

From Open Source Wellness:

For individuals and families who need it most, who struggle with poverty, unsafe environments, and upstream drivers of chronic disease, – there is no affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant delivery system for the behavioral medicine that they need, and as an entire society we pay the price.

Open Source Wellness was designed to fill the gaping hole between a doctor’s “behavioral prescription” and the actual experiential fulfillment of that prescription. We are happy when we see people moving their bodies together, eating well together, leaning together, managing stress together, – and developing the skill, power, and agency within their communities to collectively generate health and wellbeing.

LIFRC hired several individuals last Fall to create a coaching team for their organization and community.  The team spent a week of training in Oakland, learning how to implement the program.  Soon after, Open Source Wellness founders came to Lopez Island to host a demonstration event with the LIFRC team. Over 80 people of all ages attended: clients, Latino moms, seniors, kids, EMTs, Hospital District Commissioners, clinic staff, and community members joined together for two hours of learning. Everyone got to experience OSW first hand: dance exercise, stress reduction, group and partner discussion about personal health and wellness goals.

“The goal of OSW is moving from exclusion to inclusion that leads to well-being.  Many people who joined noted they were lonely and looking for connections in their lives,” shared LIFRC’s Executive Director Barbara Schultheiss.

The program launched in January with 22 participants; a new group will start every 16 weeks.  With this train-the-trainer model, graduates will serve as peer leaders for future groups.  LIFRC is researching becoming a Health Care Authority licensed mental health agency for peer support only, which would help support the program long term. 

Schultheiss shared that this model is in line with LIFRC’s vision. “Peer leaders are a part of our equity goals of sharing power and having people with lived experience shape solutions in our community,” she shared.

Learn more about the LIFC coaching team here.

For more information on Open Source Wellness’ model, click here or visit their website.

As we sunrise into 2020 and the new decade, North Sound ACH wanted to update our board, staff, partners, and communities on a convening that North Sound ACH staff were able to witness in the last quarter of 2019.

On November 7, 2019, North Sound ACH’s CEO, Liz Baxter, and project coordinator, Michaela Vendiola, were able to attend the 30^th Annual Centennial Accord hosted by the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs in Shelton, Washington at the Little Creek Casino Resort’s Skookum Creek Event Center. The theme of the 2019 Centennial Accord is: Commemorating 30 Years of State-Tribal Relations. As part of the Centennial Accord updates, the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs developed and provided attendees with a copy of the 2019 Centennial Accord Agency Highlights which is a mandated annual report under chapter 43.376 RCW (Government to Government Relationships with Indian Tribes). Per the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs Executive Director, Craig Bill:

The report summarizes the work that state agencies have completed this past year to strengthen the government-to-government relationships with tribes. Also included are many great examples of successful state-tribal collaboration which have led to positive benefits for all communities.

While in attendance, Michaela was able to actively listen to updates relating to tribal and state level changes in regard to the format of government-to-government meetings in hopes that a system change will assist with synchronizing and streamlining the abundance of State and government-to-government meetings and convenings that elected tribal leaders and representatives are asked to attend on behalf of their sovereign tribal nations. Additionally, Michaela had the opportunity to witness the cohesion of the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council | Washington State Health Care Authority (GIHAC). The GIHAC was developed in accordance with Section 3(3) of Senate Bill 5415 (2019). Per the Health Care Authority’s – Office of Indian Affairs, the GIHAC convenes with the purpose of addressing issues in our state’s Indian health care delivery system. The GIHAC includes representatives from tribes, Indian health, state agencies, and legislators. The GIHAD builds upon the planning work of the Governor’s Indian Health Council created in 2018 through Senate Bill 6032.

Michaela’s Reflection

This is the second time that I have been able to attend a Centennial Accord. Attendance at the 2019 Centennial Accord served as, yet again, another great learning opportunity for myself and in extension, my organization, in understanding the extensive and very intentionally involved process of upholding the government-to-government relationships between the 29 Federally Recognized Tribes of Washington State and the State of Washington. As a young American Indian (Walker River Paiute and Swinomish) professional who was born and raised in the Lummi Nation, witnessing such a gathering between the highest offices of elected leaders and representatives from the sovereign tribal nations as well as from our State, sets a precedence and expectation for how government-to-government relationships should be carried out and built upon for generations to come.

It is of importance to have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the historical and contemporary policy changes (tribal changes and State changes) which have an impact on services and service delivery in both the tribal nations and the State alike. This knowledge and understanding is crucial because the leaders who have set the groundwork for the government-to-government relationships since the mid-1800s have built the foundation for which the next generations will sustain and strengthen government-to-government relationships into the future. 

It is exciting and motivating to see the work being done in the State and at the tribal nations throughout the state and how the work that we do at North Sound ACH can support the building and sustaining of tribal and non-tribal relationships, services, and access in our region. Thank you to the tribal leaders and State leaders who took time to talk with me about the work that we are doing at North Sound ACH while in attendance at the Centennial Accord. I continue to take these learning opportunities to observe and grow from the mass amount of work that has been done, and continues to take place, by the tribal leaders and delegates as well as the representatives from Washington State.

Finally, thank you to Squaxin Island and the staff of the Little Creek Casino for hosting the 2019 Centennial Accord and for your hospitality during the event. And especially thank you to the 2019 Centennial Accord fish cook, Andy Whitener of Squaxin Island Tribe. It is a huge and important lift to cook salmon for and feed the leaders of our tribal nations, our State, as well as several hundred additional attendees.

Hysh’qe (Thank you),

Michaela B. Vendiola, Walker River Paiute and Swinomish
Project Coordinator, North Sound Accountable Community of Health