District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler’s update for July 16 — 2019 Public Service Recognition Award Winners

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July 16, 2019

Please take a moment to read some of the latest news and upcoming events within Coconino County and it’s surrounding areas.
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District 5 Highlights

Coconino County Board of Supervisors receives the State Bar of Arizona Appreciation Award

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors were presented with an award of appreciation on June 28 in Chandler, AZ. This award is presented to individuals who are not a member of the Bar but are recognized for their outstanding service toward the creation of a better pubic understanding of the legal profession and the administration of justice, the judiciary or the legislative process. The Board received this award for their voluntarily change from a partisan-popular elections of superior court judges to a merit selection – judicial retention election.

Congratulations to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors for your dedicated service to the legal profession.

2019 Public Service Recognition Award Winners

On June 25, 2019 Coconino County held the annual National Public Service Recognition Award ceremony in Flagstaff, AZ. District 5 had two award recipients: Miranda Morales, Executive Assistant and Stephanie Nez, Administrative Support II.

Miranda was honored with a team award for her contribution of teamwork efforts in the planning of the 2019 Colorado Plateau Economic Development Symposium. The 2019 Colorado Plateau Economic Development Symposium team consisted of: Carol Curtis, Miranda Morales, Gregory Nelson, Eric Peterson, John Stigmon and Mike Townsend respectively.

Stephanie received an individual award for the multiple public services she continues to provide at Supervisor Lena Fowler’s office in Tuba City.

Thank-You and Congratulations to our 2019 National Public Service Recognition Award recipients!

Miranda Morales (bottom right) alongside fellow Colorado Plateau Economic Development Symposium team recipients and with (back row) County Manager James Jayne, District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler and District 4 Supervisor Jim Parks.

Individual award recipient Stephanie Nez (center) with District Supervisors Matt Ryan, Liz Archuleta, Lena Fowler and Art Babbott.

Supervisor Lena Fowler hosts the 24th Navajo Nation Council – Health, Education and Human Services Committee

On June 24, Supervisor Lena Fowler hosted the 24th Navajo Nation Council – Health, Education and Human Services Committee in LeChee, AZ. During this visit, Supervisor Fowler highlighted her economic development initiatives in the region. She shared presentations on Colorado Plateau Economic Development Alliance, Workforce Partnership between State/ County and Navajo Nation, and Regional Trails Alliance.

Coconino County is currently hiring the following positions in the District 5 region

Bailiff I- Page Justice Court

Detention Officer I: Page- Sheriff’s Office (0719)

For Employment Opportunities: http://www.coconino.az.gov/843/Job-Openings

Coconino County News

At the Board meeting this past week:
No meetings were held this past week.

The Board of Supervisors will be off for the month of July. BOS meetings will resume on Tuesday, August 6th.

County Manager

County Manager appoints new Executive Assistant

The County is happy to welcome Erin Ulloa to our team! Erin is the new Executive Assistant to the County Manager. Erin is no stranger to local government. Before moving over to the County, Erin worked as the Assistant to the Mayor and Council at the City of Flagstaff. She is passionate about providing excellent customer service, the mission of public service to our residents and brings direct experience to our work. We are so excited to have Erin as part of our team!

Welcome, Erin Ulloa!

Human Resources

Job Openings with Coconino County

Click here to find out more info about these County positions

Library District

Bookmobile Schedule for May to October

Parks and Recreation

County Celebrates 70 Years of the Coconino County Fair

In September 1949, the first Coconino County Fair occurred in Flagstaff, with most events being held under a single white tent at Thorpe Park. About four people managed the Fair, which drew an estimated 400 to 600 people.

Now, 70 years later, the Fair is one of biggest events on the County’s calendar. It fills 10 acres of Fort Tuthill County Park each year with exhibits, games, food, carnival rides, vendors, entertainment and more each Labor Day weekend. It takes almost 400 volunteers and staff members to put on the four-day affair that is expected to attract about 40,000 people this year.

This special edition of the Coconino Chronicle takes a deep dive into the details of this year’s event – from basics like when, where and how much (including information on early bird ticket sales) to information about what to expect when you get there and how to be an exhibitor.

Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now

From now until July 31, early bird tickets can be purchased for the fair. There are also discounted carnival wristbands that are available until they are sold out.

Early bird admission tickets will be $5 each for adults and $3 each for youth (ages 6 – 12) and seniors (65 and older), a savings of $2 to $3 per ticket. Children ages 5 and under are not charged admission at the Fair.

Carnival wristbands, which allow fairgoers to ride unlimited carnival rides for one day, are $25 each ($35 during the Fair), while supplies last. There is a limit of ten wristbands that can be purchased at one time. Starting Aug. 1, the wristbands will be available in the County Parks & Recreation Office at 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop while supplies last.

Purchase your early bird tickets or wristband here.

Music, Magic & More at This Year’s Fair

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the country rock band best known for their classic cover of “Mr. Bojangles” and “Fishin’ in the Dark,” will be headlining this year’s Main Stage on Saturday at the Coconino County Fair.

They’ll be joined by a wide array of performers ranging from “groove rock” band Big Chad & the Southern Gentlemen to cumbia dance music from Tropicalisimo Apache Nueva Imagen to the mountain music inspired classic Americana group Thunder & Lightnin’.

On the Variety Stage, magicians will be the stars with The Perspectives and Larry Wilson performing feats of mystery and illusion all four days of the Fair.

There will also be strolling performers and, of course, the 4-H exhibits and livestock shows.

For details and schedules, click here.

Exhibit at the 2019 Coconino County Fair

Do you have livestock, art, photography, crafts, homegrown produce, clothing, quilts or other handcrafts to exhibit at this year’s Coconino County Fair? There’s still time to register.

Participants will compete for red, white or blue ribbons with special awards, including cash prizes. The best part is that it’s free to submit entries (except for open livestock).

The 2019 Fair Book is now online for people to view categories and enter their exhibit information. There are a limited number of printed Fair Books available at the Parks and Recreation Administration office and at many locations in Coconino County as well.

You can also make your entry online at https://www.coconinocountyfair.com/entries.

Public Health

County appoints Health and Human Services Director

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Thomas Pristow has been named the new Coconino County Health and Human Services department Director by County Manager James Jayne. The Board of Supervisors are expected to confirm the appointment during the August 27 board meeting. Pristow will begin his service on August 26.

Pristow will lead the newly formed Health and Human Services department which merged the Public Health Services District, Community Services and the Career Center on July 1, 2019. He will lead staff through the integration of the department, enhance community collaborations, explore service delivery efficiencies and support the County’s mission, vision and priorities.

“We are excited to have Thomas join the Coconino County team,” said Deputy County Manager, Dr. Marie Peoples. “The County conducted a comprehensive nationwide search that resulted in a deep pool of highly qualified candidates. Thomas has an impressive background with a proven track record of leading through transitions, enhancing community collaborations and exploring service delivery efficiencies. His extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities will be invaluable as we continue to reimagine service delivery in the newly united Health and Human Services department.”

Currently, Pristow is the Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. He oversees support services for the state’s Child Welfare, Medicaid, Homelessness, Child Support, Behavioral Health, Child Support and Public Health. He directs over 3000 staff members and a manages a $2.2 billion annual budget. Pristow also served as the Department of Health and Human Services for Cuyahoga County, worked as the Director for the State of Nebraska Children and Family Services as well as human service roles in Virginia and Vermont.

“I’m honored to lead this new Health and Human Services department,” said Pristow. “I look forward to leading the professional staff at Coconino County as we continue to find new ways to serve our most vulnerable populations. Our staff and supervisors will be supported, and I will encourage innovation in how we meet the needs of our communities. We will work with stakeholders, county leadership and our customers to enhance service delivery to make our programs the best in the country.”

Pristow is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and his Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

The new Health and Human Services department integration will improve service connections, simplify intake processes and improve service accessibility by promoting the health, safety and well-being of children, seniors, families, visitors and residents of the County through a comprehensive health and human services delivery system.

Community Bulletin Board

http://www.NAZUnitedWay.orgKinderCamp Page Student Success
2018-2019

KinderCamp™ is a school-readiness summertime intervention focused on helping four- and five-year-old children with little or no preschool experience successfully transition into kindergarten. The program is a partnership between the United Way of Northern Arizona and Page Unified School District (PUSD).

As a result of participation in KinderCamp™, each child will demonstrate:

improvement in the social and emotional skills that support learning
improvement in phonological awareness skills
increased comfort in a formal school setting.

KinderCamp™ accomplishes this through delivery of a culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate curriculum designed by local early childhood experts, with home visitation to support families in the early education of their child using literacy kits that include tools to help them support their child’s preparation for kindergarten.

Eligible children are identified during registration for kindergarten in PUSD using these indicators:

little or no prior preschool experience
highest education level of the child’s parents
the primary language spoken at home
developmental health conditions that are potential barriers for learning success

KinderCamp™ is delivered to the Page community five-hours per day, five-days per week for four-weeks in June prior to the start of kindergarten in August. The program is delivered and supervised by state certified kindergarten teachers and paraprofessionals who are specifically trained in the KinderCamp™ curriculum and participate in regular collaborative discussions with other staff during the program implementation.

During the four-week camp, the child’s teacher makes one home visit to deliver a literacy kit which includes bilingual books and supporting materials that help parents identify and provide additional learning activities at home. The teacher provides one-to-one coaching to the family by modeling appropriate activities and practices that promote literacy development and school readiness.

Student success resulting from KinderCamp™ participation is measured through pre- and post-program assessments using the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS), child behavioral observation by teachers, and parent surveys.

For more information about this article contact:
Christine Pierce
United Way of Northern Arizona
1515 East Cedar Avenue Suite D-1
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Office (928) 773-9813
www.NAZUnitedWay.org

Source: Page Unified School District; PALS and Behavior Observation Protocol Assessments, 2018 & 2019.

Source: Page Unified School District; 2018 & 2019.

News Releases
July 10, 2019

Tuba City Hospital Is Now Treating Cancer Patients

Last month, Dr. Frank Dalichow and his wife, Dr. Johanna DiMento, began treating the first ever cancer patients on an American Indian Reservation. Thanks to Drs. Dalichow and DiMento and their team at Tuba City Hospital, Navajo, Hopi and Paiute families facing cancer now receive services where they live.

The new Specialty Care Center at Tuba City Hospital, located in the Western Agency of the Navajo Nation, demonstrates that 21st century “tribal health care” can and should provide locally accessible clinical care and patient support cancer treatment.

Dr. Frank Dalichow and Dr. Johanna DiMento with Specialty Care Staff: Jade Eaves, Clinical Nurse; Katie John, Patient Access Specialist; Meredith Highley, Pharmacist; Shantel Holiday, Certified Medical Assistant

Eisai Donates to help Navajo, Hopi and PaiuteCancer Patients Access Care

The cost of a tank of gas is an insurmountable barrier to treatment for many American Indians with cancer. The families of patients who do manage to make the drive often must sleep overnight in waiting rooms and parking lots. The logistics that Navajo, Hopi and Paiute families face are daunting.

But now, thanks to the leadership of Teresa Cronin, Director of Corporate Advocacy at Eisai, and the generosity of the entire Eisai team, patients diagnosed with cancer at Tuba City Hospital will have the resources they need to travel wherever their treatment journey takes them.

On May 23, 2019, Eisai’s presented a $50,000 donation to Cancer Support Community and Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, so that gas cards and lodging may now be provided to Tuba City Hospital patients wherever they receive cancer services, whether in Tuba City, Flagstaff, Phoenix or Tucson.

Cancer Support Community and Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation have partnered to design and administer a travel and lodging program for patients whose remote location, indigenous language and infrastructure challenge make accessing online resources difficult.

Prior to the donation ceremony, Eisai presented a multi-media immersion experience at their annual sales conference about the causes and impacts of cancer on the Navajo Nation, as seen through the eyes of patients, families, doctors and hospital administrators, aptly titled “The Four Directions of Hope.”

– The Tomhave Group

Paul Hawthorne, Senior Vice President, Eisai; Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO, Cancer Support Community; Lynette Bonar, CEO Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation; and Teresa Cronin, Director Corporate Advocacy, Eisai

Cancer Support Community Board of Directors Makes Historic Donation

To really understand the beauty and challenge of life on the largest American Indian reservation, whose demographics are more comparable to Sierra Leone than anywhere else in the United States, you have to visit the Navajo Nation.

On May 22, 2019, Cancer Support Community (CSC) Board Members did just that when they travelled to Tuba City to see for themselves what pioneering cancer treatment looks like in an environment where many families still do not have running water or electricity. Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) has launched their cancer treatment program in a building that is called the Specialty Care Center to avoid the Navajo taboo against giving voice to a disease for fear of invoking it.

CSC Board Members were joined by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Dr. Jill Biden on the site visit to the outpatient oncology program and patient support center, both of which have been established without any federal assistance. TCRHCC’s CEO Lynette Bonar, her Board Members, and project management team shared with their guests what many once thought was impossible – the launch of an oncology program on an American Indian reservation, using only local resources and private donations.

On July 1, 2019, the CSC Board of Directors donated $25,000 to TCRHCC to help advance this ground-breaking effort. This donation supports a vision for tribal health care where services designed by tribal people for tribal people address the most pressing needs of their communities.

– The Tomhave Group

Friend of CSC Marianne Dean, CSC Board Chair Jill Durovsik, Liz Scalet, wife of CSC Board Member Ken Scalet, and Rich Mutell, CSC Board Member

Patient Support Services at Specialty Care Center and House of Hope

The Barbara Bradley Baekgaard Family Foundation grant to Tuba City Hospital enabled TCRHCC to incorporate the Cancer support Community’s patient support services into the planning and design of its cancer treatment program.

Joanie Hall, of the Barbara Bradley Baekgaard Family Foundation, saw for herself how CSC programming has been adapted for Navajo, Hopi and Paiute patients during the May 22 tour of the newly opened House of Hope, a warm and inviting space in a historic home near Tuba City Hospital that provides a sanctuary and resource center for cancer patients and their families.

The Specialty Care Center in Tuba City is the only oncology program in the nation to provide support, education and resources to patients and their families from its first day of operation.

– The Tomhave Group

Tuba City Hospital staff inside the House of Hope: Lynette Bonar, CEO; Tanya Riggs, Director of Program Development; Veronica Hardy-Becenti, Grants Director & Interim Executive Director of the Navajo Hopi Health Foundation; Shayla Ute, Engineering Technician