Rowe updates Tribal members on Health & Wellness Department

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff member

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has become a leader in the state for innovative opioid addiction treatment that includes the most challenging aspects of the disease, Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe told the Tribal membership at the Sunday, April 12 General Council meeting.

As per tradition, the April meeting was held at the Lane Community College Longhouse in Eugene.

Rowe provided an update on the Tribe’s Health & Wellness Department, which included various accomplishments as well as plans for the future.

Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Secretary Jon A. George and council members Pete Wakeland, Toby McClary, Matthew Haller, Tonya Gleason-Shepek, Kathleen George and Lisa Leno were in attendance.

Jon A. George provided the invocation and performed a drum song.

Rowe noted that the department has grown significantly in the years since Restoration and has added a wide range of services, including comprehensive medical care, dental care, lab and x-ray ability, optometry, a pharmacy, an Elder care program, a women’s transitional living center, and the Skookum Health Assistance Program. She said that when the Tribe considers other medical services and programs, it is  always with a view of, “Why aren’t we doing it ourselves?”

The Tribe’s Main Street Recovery House, chaku lush temtem haws, means “get well/become good heart/mind house” in Chinuk Wawa. It opened in 2025 in Sheridan and includes 29 beds available for members of Oregon Tribes recovering from addiction, with priority given to Grand Ronde Tribal members. Referrals come from detox centers, hospitals and Tribal programs. It provides wrap-around care that incorporates Indigenous practices. The average stay at the house is approximately four months.

“This is exactly what we wanted to build into our continuum of care,” Rowe said. “Residents build the tools needed for long term success through life skills development, volunteer service, community responsibility, and support with education employment and housing.”

Wraparound services can be much harder to find in most detox programs, Rowe said, but those services are part of what the Tribe considers vital for success.

The Tribe also provides opioid treatment through its Great Circle Recovery program and Rowe said it has a much higher client retention rate than Medicaid programs.

“A lot of people that were falling outside the system or being sent to places that wouldn't really work … they weren't getting the care that we felt would keep them in program,” she said. “What we see now is a better sense of ‘stick to it.’ They stick to it better and if they do slip off, they're coming back to us faster. We have an advanced recovery mode that supports the whole person and is not seen in many places in the nation.”

Lastly, Rowe said that Grand Ronde received accreditation though the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care in 2025, after an extensive three-year process. 

The meeting was then moved into executive session for 90 minutes to discuss budgeting issues related to Heath & Wellness. Since that portion of the meeting was held in executive session, Smoke Signals cannot report on specific details.  

There were 10 questions and comments from the audience during the executive session, along with comments from Tribal Council members.

During the open session, there were two comments. The meeting adjourned at 1:51 p.m.

The non-executive session portion of the meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribe’s website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the Videos tab.

Tribal members wanting to see the executive session portion should contact Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez at stacia.martin@grandronde.org or call 503-879-2304.

The $100 door prizes were awarded to Tracey Cooney, Dustin Leno and Darla Reynvaan. The $50 door prizes went to Vicky Strickland, Val Alexander, Dan Ham, Tim Fletcher and Dan Stroebel. Stroebel donated his winnings to the Veterans Special Event Board.