The Wellness & Prevention Department was designed to help educate Tribal Members on their health and to encourage healthy lifestyles. This includes health promotion activities, disease prevention, and health education. Many of these activities involve the youth and elders of the Tribe and often focus on illnesses common among Native Americans such as diabetes, improper nutrition, alcoholism, drug addiction, and heart disease. Only Tribal Members and other Natives are eligible.

The Wellness and Prevention program provides health education for Tribal Members in groups and on an individual basis. When special activities and events are held, flyers are mailed to Tribal Members announcing dates and times for each activity. Home visits are conducted for chronically ill Tribal elders as referred by medical providers or family members. A limited amount of transportation is provided to medical and dental appointments as outlined in the transportation policy. Transportation is scheduled by appointment.

Members of our team work with you to help maintain/obtain optimum health. The Wellness & Prevention program consists of Education and Prevention Specialists, a Community Health Nurse, a Food Services Coordinator, two Cook Technicians, limited medical transportation, a Senior Driver and Support Staff. A member of the team will work with your Medical Provider to determine how we can be of assistance or support to you. Examples of Grand Ronde Tribal Member support provided are: health educations, individual and group, home visits for chronically ill, research special health information for uncommon disease or new diseases to our Tribal Members that would add knowledge to the Member and their family so that they can deal with the disease more effectively, prevention education on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, dietitian services, etc. You, your primary medical provider, and a member of the Wellness & Prevention staff will work together to determine the services and a schedule that will work for all concerned. There are times that it may be necessary to refer outside of the Health & Wellness Center for services not provided here. Some services available through outside agencies are based on income guidelines and there may be charges to the Tribal Member for the service. We will be happy to assist you to set up appointments or contacts for the services not available here.

Evaluation and assessments of your medical condition will be performed by your medical provider, who will make a referral to Wellness & Prevention. Our staff will report back to your provider so that he or she is aware of the current health status and outcome of care provided.

The services you will receive will be based on the recommendation of your primary care provider.  He or she and our team welcome your input on the recommended health care plan.  It is important for you to share progress, lack of progress, or why the type of care recommended will or will not work for your particular needs. Health education will be provided with each visit.  The Wellness & Prevention staff will document care and results for your provider on a visit by visit basis.

Confidentiality is important to us. Everyone has privacy rights under a federal law that protects health information. These rights are important to know. The Notice of Privacy Practices for the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center is available to you by following this link. (Click Here)