By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
Every person deserves to have the ability to enjoy a good quality of life in a safe environment, and the Adult Services Department aims to help Elders, vulnerable adults and their families in the Tribal Membership achieve that.
The department contains three main sections operated by a small group of seven people: Adult Protective Services, Vulnerable Adult Case Management and Victim Services. While each section serves a different need, the department works together to ensure clients are able to access the resources that they need.
Adult Services Director Maria West explained the services the department offers differs greatly from case to case to fit the needs of the client. This can range from light assistance like transportation, meal planning or housekeeping to more involved services like psychological and social support, court-ordered placement and guardianship.
Regardless of the situation, West said the department always tries to ensure the family is involved first when possible to ensure a supportive and comfortable environment.
“We do full guardianship and we do partial guardianships, but we always encourage the family to be guardians before we get professional guardians involved,” West said. “Our case managers can also assist with something as simple as getting a birth certificate, getting them to their appointments or assuring there is appropriate medication management.”
While some clients of the program spend a considerable portion of their life under care, Adult Services Assistant Director Harmony Roebuck said the department also assists those who may only need temporary assistance. The department follows the Puyallup Tribal Code Chapter 7.28 definition of vulnerable adults, which encompasses Tribal Members between the ages of 18 and 54 whose ability to perform normal activities of daily living is impacted or impaired due to mental illness or disability.
“Many of our clients will be with us for a long time because there might not be a cure for whatever is ailing them at that time. But some individuals have short-term disabilities,” Roebuck said. “Maybe they just got out of the surgery and they just need help with recovery. And so, they’ll be with us for a short period of time. Then, after they’re better and able to be independent, they’re back on their own.”
Most clients of the program come from referrals, where an investigator will assess the report before moving forward. Adult Services Investigator Alina Flores emphasized the program is completely voluntary on the client side, but that they do what they can to aid Tribal Members.
“Usually, we get a phone call or an email, or someone will approach us and tell us, ‘Hey, I have concerns about so-and-so,’” Flores said.
She said the most common cases involve financial exploitation or self-neglect, but the department also has the capability to investigate a wide scope of abuse.
“They’ll give us a rundown of the situation, and then we will further discuss if that’s applicable or if it’s not. And if it’s not, we always point people in the right direction. We say, ‘This doesn’t apply for us, but this sounds like a great situation for this, or it sounds like you could benefit from going over here,’” Flores said.
Being able to provide positive change in people’s lives is something that Flores finds especially rewarding about her job and also aligns with her culture and beliefs. Flores expressed the importance of the department was something she hopes the broader community can come to understand more openly.
“It’s really unfortunate the way society sees our people struggling with mental health, because underneath that diagnoses, there’s a very vulnerable person that doesn’t know what they’re doing,” West said. “We have the unique ability to be able to stay with someone and watch them grow and meet their goals and eventually graduate. Or if not, at least become independent and stable. Stable enough to have relationships and to go back to school and do the things that most other people take for granted.”
Whether you need help with victim or medical advocacy, gathering services for a vulnerable adult or making a report, the Adult Services Department is willing to help. If you’re interested in learning more about the services available within the department, checking eligibility requirements or accessing applications, visit the department’s homepage on the Tribe’s website at www.puyalluptribe-nsn. gov/member-services/tribal-communitywellness-division/adult-services/. Alternatively, you can directly reach out to Maria West (253-381-0787) or Harmony Roebuck (253-722-6641) for assistance.
