Letter to Michael D. Weahkee, Director of Indian Health Services - Help Improve Student Health

Letter

Dear Director Weahkee:

On May 3, 2018, we held a meeting at Chemawa Indian School with Director of Indian Education, Tony Dearman, Chemawa administrators, and tribal leaders from seven of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. A number of issues were discussed, including the health and safety of Chemawa students.

As you are likely aware, there have been two student deaths on campus in the last fifteen years and a number of other health and safety incidents. Our understanding is that Chemawa administrators feel like they lack the necessary health information about the students to keep them safe and healthy on campus. Because Indian Health Services' Western Oregon Service Unit is housed at Chemawa and is the primary source of healthcare for students, collaboration with IHS is critical. To this end, our offices would like to ask the following questions:

How can Indian Health Services' administration help Chemawa improve the health, safety, and well-being of the students that attend the school and reside on campus?
Are there healthcare supports that other Tribal Schools receive that could assist Chemawa?
Are there medical, mental health, or substance use screening tools that Chemawa could utilize to improve health and safety?
What policies are in place regarding the sharing of student medical information with Chemawa administrators, particularly those in charge of residential services and acting in loco parentis?
What processes or policies have other Tribal schools implemented that have been successful?

We believe that Chemawa Indian School wants to improve the health and well-being of their students and we support them in this effort. We look forward to working with you, the staff and students at Chemawa, and our tribal leaders as we work toward this goal together. Thank you for your attention to our questions, we look forward to your response.