General Council briefed on Social Services

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Social Services Manager Dana Ainam gave the first presentation of the 2025-26 General Council meeting cycle on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Ainam gave an overview of the myriad services her department offers to help the Tribal membership become self-sufficient, which include access to services, supports and cultural connections that help provide and promote wellness.

The department currently offers Tribal members assistance with basic needs, transition services, drug and alcohol recovery support, mental health support, assistance for victims of violence, employment and training, youth and family support, child safety support, unforeseen crisis support, resource connections, transitional housing and financial literacy and wellness.

Ainam noted that the Tribe’s strong relationship with the Oregon Department of Human Services has helped engage the membership with programs beyond Tribal offerings.

“We have our self-sufficiency workers from their offices housed here at Social Services on Wednesdays,” she said. “They can provide things like TANF applications, SNAP benefits, printing cards for people and then on Thursdays, we have family support coaches here to help families that need assistance with parenting and those types of things.”

Ainam listed all of the programs offered within her department. Programs include Emergency Services, Youth Empowerment & Prevention, Family Partnerships, Post Treatment Service, the Warriors of Hope Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence Program, Children & Family Services, Men’s Transition House, the Employment & 477 Program, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Portland Area Office and Community Programs, which includes the Veterans Service Office, Adult Services, Tribal Navigator and Financial Wellness. 

Ainam shared that the 477 Program and Vocational Rehabilitation would be consolidated soon.

“We’re really hoping that it reduces the duplication of services and that it can create a one-stop service,” she said. “We hope it will streamline access and allow for stronger resources. We’ll be cross training our staff so that you won’t have to have two workers if you qualify for 477 and VR, but you would have one worker being able to develop that plan.”

Some highlights from Ainam’s presentation included:

• The Tribal Rental Assistance Program offers Tribal members $4,500 to help with move-in or deposit fees. It can be used once every five years and there are income edibility criteria. During the past year, the program helped 27 Tribal households;
• The Tribal Emergency Assistance/Mortgage Assistance program will provide up to $1,000 to assist with move in/deposit fees. It can be used once every two years and there are income eligibility criteria. In the past year, the program served 35 Tribal households;
• The Enrollment Ordinance change in January after Tribal voters approved lineal descent has had an effect on the Children & Family Services Program, resulting in an increase of child welfare assessments from 10 to 15 a month to 25 to 35 a month as the Indian Child Welfare Act applies to all children who are eligible to be enrolled. Tribal Council supported adding three additional positions to help meet the need;
• Tribal Veterans Service Officer Ramona Quenelle has helped Tribal veterans file 33 claims and 17 were awarded retroactive amounts totaling more than $210,000;
• The partnership with DevNW has resulted in 11 Tribal members graduating from the Individual Development Account program in two years. Each participant saved at least $1,200 toward their goals, which was grant matched with $6,000 per person;
• The department is celebrating 19 years of hosting monthly Sobriety Dinners, with an annual attendance of more than 800;
• Ten youth received Horse Healing Program support through the Youth Empowerment & Prevention Program and more than 100 community members of all ages were supported on the annual Canoe Journey;
• And the Portland Aera Office on Barbur Boulevard has distributed more than 600 food boxes, as well as served 100 community and Tribal families through its food pantry. 

In 2026, Ainam said Social Services plans to expand financial wellness in the community, continue to look for grant opportunities, expand the men’s transitional center with a focus on post-incarceration support, expand the childcare reimbursement program to include non-licensed childcare options and continue to realign child welfare services to manage the increased need.

Lastly, Ainam introduced her management staff in attendance online and in-person, which included Warriors of Hope Domestic Violence Program Manager Cassie Dandy, Employment Program Manager Michael Herrin, Children & Family Services Program Manager Kristi Petite, Youth Prevention Manager Amber Zimbrick, Community Programs Manager Caitlin Zimbrick and Portland Area Office Tribal Services Representative Lisa Archuleta.

After her approximate 40-minute presentation, Ainam fielded four questions and comments from the membership.

“Thank you, Dana and all of the team,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said. “We truly appreciate all of the service that you provide. It’s amazing.”

In other action, Tribal Election Board member Shannon Simi delivered the Tribal Council election results from Saturday, Sept. 6, that saw one incumbent – Kathleen George – re-elected to a three-year term.

Challenger and past Tribal Council member Toby McClary, as well as challenger and first-time Tribal Council candidate Pete Wakeland, were elected to the other two seats. Incumbent Denise Harvey was not reelected.

For more information on the results, see the Tribal Council election story in this issue of Smoke Signals.

Kennedy thanked the Election Board members.

“I want to thank the Election Board for all of the work that they’ve done, starting from the time of nominations,” she said. “I know they worked even before then to make sure packets were ready for that time and then held office hours as well as accommodating our members. We appreciate it.”

The next General Council meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, and feature a report on the Tribe’s various investments.

Debi Bernando, Andrea Knight and Dorothy Leno each won the $100 door prizes. Robert Haller, Mike Giffen, Tamie Spitzer, Robert Wiggs and Shawn Haggerty won the $50 door prizes. 

The meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribe’s website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the Videos tab.