CEO Message
Happy New Year!
I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Amidst all the struggle, loss, and heartache of the past few years, we’ve been amazed at our community’s solidarity and resiliency when facing such unprecedented times. From continuing to provide quality Whole Person Care and addressing COVID-19 on the front lines to most recently completing the annual but socially distant Holiday Gift and Food distribution. Your support has been encouraging to see and humbling to receive.
While the New Year brings many changes, I believe it also brings hope. I hope you were able to celebrate the holidays with those you love, even if it might look and feel different these last few years. But whether it was in person, by phone, or even via Zoom, I hope you could seize the opportunity to share the joy of the holidays. Right now, it’s time to take a deep breath, take a step back, and enjoy the wonder the new year will bring.
Thank you again from all of us at the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley!
2022 Highlights of what IHCSCV accomplished:
- Received 95% on our Indian Health Service Audit
- Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care recertification
- Transitioned to a new electronic health record system - OCHIN EPIC
- Strategic plan successful completion
- Community Health Quality Recognition Recipients (CHQR) Award
- National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) patient-centered Medical Home designation
- Health Disparity Reducer Award from Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Access Enhancer Reducer Award from HRSA
Advancing Health Information Technology Award (HIT) from HRSA
My Testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 6, 2022) - On November 30, 2022, Sonya Tetnowski, President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) and CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, Army Veteran, and citizen of the Makah Tribe testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs at a hearing on “Native American Veterans: Ensuring Access to VA Health Care and Benefits.” - NCUIH
Here was my testimony representing as CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley:
“I am encouraged by the VA’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Native veterans, including those of us living in urban areas. Natives serve in the military at a higher rate than any other population in the U.S. But we experience some of the largest health disparities when we complete our service. As we all know, housing is a key social determinant of health, and homelessness in our community is a contributing factor to the health inequities Native veterans face. I look forward to being involved in the partnership between urban Indian organizations and the VA, HHS, HUD, and White House Council on Native American Affairs to bring housing resources to urban Native veterans.”
To watch my full testimony, click here.
You can watch the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit - Day 2 (Clip) here.
You can read more of this major milestone in NCUIH's newsletter here.
Joint Press Release: National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
"It was a historic day for Tribal and Urban Indian Leaders across the country. Below is the joint press release from the three Nation Indian Associations."
- Celebrate Historic Inclusion of Advance Appropriations for the Indian Health Service
“Washington, DC | Friday, December 23, 2022 – Congress enacted a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus spending package, including a historic provision providing advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS). Prior to this change, IHS was the only federal healthcare provider without basic certainty of funding from one year to the next."
As CEO of IHCSCV and President of NCUIH, I encourage you all to learn more about Advance Appropriations and its impacts for our greater community.
Lofgren Secures Community Project Funding Totaling $13.6+M for CA-19 in Government Funding Legislation
I am thrilled to share the exciting news that Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s 15 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests were included in the year-end omnibus that passed the House earlier today. The bill is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“When President Biden signs the bill into law, the omnibus package will provide local projects with a total infusion of $13,602,000 from the federal government.”
- The Office of U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)
The Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley’s (IHCSCV’s) Strategic Plan and Community Needs Assessment outlines the importance of this project. National data establishes that AI/AN across the nation have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic due to historic disparities in culturally appropriate health care and community resources. As one of 41 Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) in the United States, IHCSCV is best equipped to address the pandemic relief and recovery needs of the 30,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) living in Santa Clara County by closing the equity gap and providing quality care. The funding provided will allow IHCSCV to expand services and outreach. A goal is to remove the stigma associated with seeking behavioral health support.
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Left Photo: CEO Sonya Tetnowski with Secretary Holland
Right Photo: (from left to right) Arianna Antone-Ramirez, CCUIH; Virgina Hedrick
CCUIH; Sonya Tetnowski, IHCSCV; April McGill, CCUIH
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Commission
I was appointed to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Commission by Secretary Debra Holland in February of 2022. This commission has been working diligently to identify challenges families face regarding reporting and utilizing services. The commission has been reauthorized for another year, 2023, as additional work needs to be completed before a full report and recommendations can be submitted to the commission. I attended the policy summit hosted by the Yurok Tribe in Northern California with homelands along the majestic Klamath River. More than 120 Tribal Leaders, survivors and legislators from across the state attended the Inaugural Statewide Summit on MMIP held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
“The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people has touched every tribal citizen in California and throughout the United States. This has gone on long enough. The time for action is now.” - Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James.
I was invited to be a subject matter expert on the panel, where I shared insights into the process the commission is taking to prepare a recommendation to Sec. Holland.
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Sonya Tetnowski
Chief Executive Officer
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Thanks-Taking Sunrise Ceremony 2022
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Over 400 people gathered in the unceded homelands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday, November 24th, 2022. The community welcomed the new day in solidarity with all Indigenous Nations of the Americas.
We are still here.
We stand for truth, healing, and survival of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.
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2022 Employee Milestone Awards
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Congratulations to all of our staff who were celebrated in the 2022 Employee Milestone Awards! We deeply appreciate all that you all have done and continue to do in providing holistic care to our 22,000+ patients here at IHC.
Check out this video on our Youtube channel if you missed this celebration!
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Transitional Age Youth Workforce Development Camp
On Saturday, December 10th, Counseling Prevention Services hosted their Transitional Age Youth Workforce Development Camp! The program included workshops on resume and cover letter building, financial literacy, wellness in the workplace, and fun team-building exercises.
The youth exclaimed that they felt accomplished seeing each other’s professional growth. Our recent survey of participants at our Workforce Development Camp indicated our program increased our participants’ financial literacy and equipped them with skills to create resumes, cover letters, and interviews for jobs. At the end of the program, 100% of program participants agreed they felt comfortable developing a savings budget. Results showed that programs providing individuals with resources, tools, and strategies for the workforce help them successfully navigate their career paths.
We hope these opportunities will increase American Indian and Alaska Native representation in the workforce.
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Powwow Song and Dance Class
Our Counseling Prevention Services invites community members to join us every Tuesday evening for in-person Powwow Song and Dance classes from 5:30PM-7:00PM back at Roosevelt Community Center. Please bring water and dress comfortably. All ages are welcome!
Note: Song & Dance will be cancelled on January 10, 2023 due to weather. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Please RSVP with jduran@ihcscv.org.
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Community Wellness & Outreach
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December Reflection: CWO hosted another virtual Family Fun Night celebrating the past holiday season, which took place on Thursday, December 15th, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. We had our dietetic intern, Li-Lin, host a food demonstration of healthy holiday-themed snacks to share with participants. She made reindeer apple slices and strawberry mint sparkling water.
We also had another online Fit Kids class on December 22nd. IHC Fitness Coordinator, Marissa Hemstreet, led a group exercise, followed by Li-Lin discussing how eating different colored foods has a different impact on our bodies.
If your family would like to join us for these virtual fitness and nutrition activities, you can sign up for our next class on Wednesday, January 25th, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm via Zoom. Contact Valerie Monteros at 408-960-0644 Ext. 2551. (All ages welcome)
Looking forward to seeing you all in 2023!
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Fitness Center Schedule for 2023
Our hours will be changing for 2023.
- Hours: Mon-Thurs (8 am-6 pm)
- Friday (8 am-5 pm)
Contact
- Phone: 408-960-0662
- Email: mhemstreet@ihcscv.org
*All visits are by appointment only
*Masks are mandatory at all times
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Virtual Fit Kids
- When: January 25, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Location: Virtual RSVP with Valerie
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Produce Mobile
2023 Produce Mobile for January will continue on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays.
Dates are subject to change. Please check back for more details.
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Two Spirit Group
This event is to serve as a safe space for people of the Two Spirit (LGBTQIA) community and allies.
When:
Join us every 2nd Friday of the month
(Except for the varying Fridays in May & November*)
from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
Where:
- In-Person: 602 E Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95112
- Online: Zoom Meeting ID
- 921 2783 4751 (Password provided upon RSVP)
TO RSVP:
Call or email Marissa today!
Call: 408-960-0662
Email: Mhemstreet@ihcscv.org
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Virtual Taking Care of All of You Teen Class
- When: January 23, 2023 to January 26, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Location: Virtual RSVP with Valerie
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Inter-Tribal Resource Department
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IHC Winter Gathering
“The winter gathering was a magical event where local natives and community members celebrated the holidays. It was a night filled with joy and a space filled with smiling faces. Dinner was delicious. Everyone who came went home that night with their bellies and hearts full.” - IHC Board Member Simone Yeager
IHC Inter-Tribal Resource Department along with many helping hands hosted the Winter Gathering on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Over 150-raffle prizes were distributed and dinner for 200 was prepared in celebration of the season. Huge thanks to Fred Mata for always making the most delicious food!
Check out our video below to learn more about this event.
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January 2023 Events
All events are free and open to the public.
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