< PreviousTribalNetAgency Updates - ATNI50Training to Close the Tech Gap in Indian CountryIt’s a known fact that many rural tribal reservations lack access to Broadband or cell phone coverage in the United States. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Telecommunications Committee has been working for many years to overcome this lack of access. In order to build support, ATNI Technology Committee Co-Chairs Andrea Alexander (Makah) and Randall Harris (Tlingit), are using technology training and empowerment as a strategy to continue to push for needed policy changes. The new "Tribal Technology Training Program" or T3, is designed to bring training services to the local community level. One of the primary goals of T3 is the development of a native-led pilot program that will provide technology training tailored to the unique barriers of native people face. This high-impact program will help northwest tribal members improve their local technology infrastructure through direct skill building. The NeedIn 2014 two studies funded by the State of Washington were conducted on the Olympic Peninsula. One led by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Center and the other by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. Both are available at: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/Programs/Infrastructure/Broadband/Pages/LocalTechnologyPlanningTeamGrantProgram.aspxStudy Highlights: • Due to small populations, the large telecommu-nications companies do not find it profitable to invest in infrastructure that will provide full cell and internet coverage. • Lack of access to Broadband infrastructure and basic Broadband technology in rural regions creates educational, vocational, safety and civic inequalities that result in lack of access to basic information that has become a fixture in households and businesses across America.In addition, every tribe interviewed on the Olympic Peninsula reported that: • The lack of funds available to rural communities from State or Federal sources leaves these communities with little access to reservation-wide Broadband development.• Few resources are available to fund expansion of Broadband infrastructure in tribal and other rural areas.• Funds only cover part of the needs of tribes, such as funding construction of the middle mile or the last mile.• Other funding streams can only cover equipment or training.• There is not enough funding to meet the needs! The good news is that new support and understanding from both tribal leaders and the local Congressional Representatives has grown this past year on how to close the service gaps. But all agree that progress will take time and needs focused attention due to the slow process with the current Congress. That‘s why ATNI is working to ensure we have a proactive agenda and systems in place to deploy once funding opens up. The desired outcomes for the T3 Program is the development and delivery of technology training services for Native youth and tribal staff to enhance career development. This technology effectiveness will allow staff to increase their service to the community and grow the tech workforce. This is important due to the limited access to affordable workforce development services as a result of rural isolation, lack of Broadband and higher poverty levels compared to urban populations. Tribal information technology departments also face increasing pressure to design, develop, implement and support more complex and reliable IT solutions to meet the needs of the tribal government and Agency Updates - ATNIbusinesses. This will require that IT professionals have the skills to determine customer and business needs and requirements, manage complex projects, and integrate software and hardware solutions, as well as becoming the trainer to make sure employees understand how to use new and increasingly more complicated systems.In order to build on resources in place, the T3 program will partner with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Library and the Klallam Heritage Center in Port Angeles, WA, to create the pilot program. This location will provide technology training to local tribal members, staff and expand training and services to the nearby Olympic Peninsula ribes. In addition, this will help meet the stated goals of the Elwha Heritage Center to utilize this facility as a training hub in the Olympic Peninsula region. Funds will be used to develop and adopt technology curriculum and teaching methods that meet the learning styles of the local community. Andrea AlexanderEnergy Innovation FoundationP: 425-501-0042Aalexander795@gmail.comSpring 2015Action Needed!We need your help and support by linking us to funding resources that will help leverage funding support to implement this program. Working together as native people will enable us to meet the challenges with proper tools for successful tribal Broadband and telecommunications development. Questions can be directed to:Featured Columns - DevelopmentD.J. Eagle Bear Vanas, Personal Development Expert, Native Discovery, Inc.Attention all leaders, I have a question… Why do your people follow you? The typical answers tend to be, “because they have to” or “I’m the boss”. But why do they really follow you – and why would they follow you willingly? Before willingly following a leader, followers will often ask the eternal question: “What’s in it for me?” When we’re in a leadership position, we must understand that our followers need to gain some benefit in following us – or else in time, they won’t. We should choose, by design, the benefit our people can expect because sometimes, there are other reasons why followers follow – and they can be treacherous. One reason people follow leaders is to curry favor or position. When power or position is implicitly or explicitly promised, it taints the leadership model and can create massive problems including ethical violations, nepotism that destroys an organization, lawsuits and scandal. When people feel they were promised power or position and it’s not delivered, the claws come out and chaos erupts. If power or position is promised and it is delivered, leaders (and the organization) can be ruined. It’s not just politicians and corporate bigwigs who have been burned by this, but also department managers, tribal leaders and committee heads. Don’t imply or promise favors, promotions, etc. to your people or you’ll set yourself and your team up for heartbreak. Sometimes, people will follow a leader to gain friendship. This can be a difficult situation at work as it attempts to melt the personal-professional boundary that enables leadership to be effective. It doesn’t mean you can’t be a friendly leader, but one of the hardest things to do in leadership is to get a “friend” to do something they don’t want to do. It also sets a team up for grumbling and dissension in the ranks. When others see the boss hanging out with their buddy, how do you think that will affect their performance, attitude and belief that they too are a valued team member? It can also spur negative competition where others fight to be your buddy too. Be aware and steer clear of this dynamic. Instead of allowing these negatives situations above to emerge, consciously choose the benefits you’ll provide your followers and do it with intent. One of the best benefits we can provide our followers is a commitment to provide encouragement, support, coaching and sharing our knowledge, lessons, best practices, etc. with them. Offer your time and experience to aid in their development through regularly scheduled meetings, share books and articles that educate, inspire or improve their skill sets. Advise Why Follow the Leader?52TribalNetD.J. Eagle Bear VanasPersonal Development ExpertNative Discovery, Inc.“One of the best benefits we can provide our followers is a commitment to provide encouragement, support, coaching and sharing our knowledge, lessons, best practices, etc. with them."Featured Columns - Developmentthem of trainings that would benefit them. Be willing to link them up with people that have specific and beneficial knowledge or experience. And willingly give praise when they earn it through performance. This taps into the most powerful need in us all – the need to feel valued. Make the decision to provide these as benefits to your people vs. favoritism or friendship. This will boost their careers, establish a powerful mentorship and increase our influence and impact as a leader. After all, the best leaders aren’t the ones with the most followers – they’re the ones that create the most leaders! D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas is an internationally-acclaimed motivator and personal development expert. He is a tribal member of the Odawa Nation, a former military officer and author of the celebrated books “The Tiny Warrior” and “Spirit on the Run”. For two decades, he’s spoken to hundreds of tribal communities as well as Subaru, Costco, P&G, Boston Children’s Hospital and been invited to speak at the White House—twice. He can be reached at www.djvanas.com_____AHD Associates_____ Security & Compliance Consultants We can significantly reduce your risks and your costs while helping to ensure that your organization has the proper policies, processes and methodologies in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your critical information. Even if your Information Security program is already running smoothly, what about all of your Third Party Suppliers (TPS) that have access to your sensitive information or are key players in keeping your organization operating? When that TPS is breached and your members’ or customers’ sensitive information is lost or not available, they will blame you not the TPS and will take their business to your “safer” competitors. Your sensitive information is much too important to be put at risk. AHD Associates’ proven TPS risk program can significantly reduce your risks at cost savings of up to 80%. This now becomes an affordable way to remediate the big gap that really is in YOUR information security program. Let us help – contact Andy DeNovo at 847-922-0543 or adenovo@ahdassociates.com Don’t Gamble With Your Sensitive Information! Reduce Your Risk and Costs With Our Proven Third Party Supplier Risk Assessments Featured Columns - Change ManagementChristopher Luter, Division Director of IT, Forest County Potawatomi CommunityThink about that, change is exhausting, it’s disruptive and it can be confusing for everyone. It’s nice to have standards in place that mean you know exactly what you’ve got. Consistent repetition that minimizes risks and ensures optimal performance is IT’s dream. That though, is how the, “We’ve always done it that way,” crowd ends up in charge.W. Edwards Deming pointed out, change and continuous improvement are fundamental to the modern business. Deming also noted, “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory”. W. Edwards Deming, is considered by many to be the Father of Quality Management and is known for his work as a statistician and management consultant working with firms like Toyota to develop and refine successful continuous improvement models.So, think about that title again, change- who needs it. We do. As IT professionals, our profession is built upon change. How successful would you be if you said to your boss, “Somebody else did that five years ago, you can’t expect me to fix it or improve upon it”? So for us, the challenge shouldn’t be preventing change, the challenge is how to manage, control and if possible, actually lead change to make our organizations more successful.Successful change has a set of repeatable fundamental behaviors that increase the likelihood of success. John Kotter laid out a structural analysis of successful change in his book, Leading Change that presents eight key steps. These steps have been instrumental in my efforts and have helped me to consistently introduce and execute change in the most complex and change resistant environments I have come across. Next time you come across a change initiative you want to drive, consider trying these steps:Step One: Create UrgencyIf you’re looking to create change of some sort, you need people to see why it’s important. Create a sense of urgency in others, without this you’ll have trouble getting the backing you need. You need to strike a chord to reinforce this change has purpose and provides value. Your sense of urgency needs to communicate this is the time to examine the issue and consider the relevance and the value of this change now.Step Two: Form a Powerful CoalitionYou have to convince leaders and influencers that change is necessary and it has value. It’s rare though that your single voice can carry that kind of power. You need others to help you communicate the need for change. The coalition you form is key. A cross section of individuals who can provide constructive criticism and help you to envision ways to introduce new ideas should be selected. This coalition should help provide multiple perspectives; they may also help you to realize a new perspective to creating organizational support. Remember, the coalition you are forming should be seen as your advisors and comrades. Their feedback is invaluable to you. Leading change requires enlisting the aid and support of others to accomplish a common task. Step Three: Create a Vision for ChangeCreating the vision for change is tough. To do this, you need to examine what it is you are trying to achieve and why, and then encapsulate it into a dynamic set of points to help you get the attention of leadership. Practice, leverage your coalition and practice more. Change – Who Needs it?54TribalNetChristopher LuterDivision Director of ITForest County Potawatomi Community“If you’re looking to make your change successful, make sure you have a series of wins to reinforce successes."Featured Columns - Change ManagementStep Four: Communicate the VisionThis is your “elevator pitch”, but it’s more than that. This is the foundation of your success. You are the voice of change and that voice needs power and passion behind it. You need to be seen as invested so everyone can both see and hear your commitment. This change will also be competing against many other change opportunities; help it stand out.Paint a picture everyone can understand− be honest, be direct, be convincing and be cautious. Your credibility needs to impeccable. Don’t stretch the truth or fail to give alternatives. If you’re talking to senior leaders, be prepared to discuss alternatives. Prove you have thought this through. Don’t kid yourself. Convincing people to change something is a selling process and you need to believe in what you’re selling. If you share this vision properly, you will create advocates.Step Five: Remove ObstaclesChange is going to require constant care and feeding. You will find pockets of resistance, processes and procedures that interfere, obstacles that your well-planned idea didn’t take into account. That’s natural. Work environments are complex ecosystems with interdependencies that aren’t often seen in the initial analysis.Watch for obstacles and remove them. Put people and structure in place in order to help you identify obstacles early and then remove them quickly. Remember your guiding coalition, they should be leveraged throughout this effort, not just in step two.Change is hard, don’t let something you can control make it even harder than it needs to be.Step Six: Create Short-term WinsSuccess breeds success. If you’re looking to make your change successful, make sure you have a series of wins to reinforce successes.Successes also help to show progress, demonstrate value and reinforce the purpose while inspiring commitment from those impacted.Step Seven: Build on the Change80 percent done is not when you declare a win. Short-term wins are only stepping stones, don’t confuse them with finishing your change effort. Leverage your momentum, drive this effort to the end and deliver on your promised vision. This effort was tied to promises you made. Deliver. That last 20 percent is the hardest and you need to be focused. Step Eight: Anchor the Changes in Corporate CultureWhen it comes to being a leader, done is rarely done. Leading means continuous follow-up and follow-through. Human nature will naturally try to back slide to do things the way we’re comfortable. The temptation to backslide will be there, especially at the first sign of trouble. Don’t let the, “We’ve always done it this way,” crowd wrestle control back. Instead, focus on continuous improvement and refinement.Change is hard work. But change can be made easier and more successful with a consistent approach.55Spring 2015Christopher Luter, Division Director of Information Technologies, leads technology operations for the Government and Administration components of the Forest County Potawatomi Community. Christopher has a diverse background in both business and technology operations. His career leading technology operations has spanned numerous business verticals from government to construction and biotech to manufacturing. Christopher has lead teams which have received industry recognition for innovation, value creation through strategic application of technology and execution of leading edge thought of industry specific solutions.Mallory BlackFreelance Writer and ReporterNative Health News AllianceFeatured Columns - Technology ImpactMallory Mallory Black, Freelance Writer and Reporter, Native Health News AllianceThe digital era has increased the speed and access to health care around the world, including in Indian Country. In recent years, investments in health care technology, such as telehealth and electronic medical records, have made care and treatment more cost-effective, specialized, and in many cases more attainable.“The importance of health care technology in American Indian communities is they are much more likely to practice the delivery of health care in pretty remote areas, far from referral hospitals or specialist physicians that are more routine in urban environments,” says Dr. Thomas Sequist (Taos Pueblo), an associate professor of medicine and health care policy at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Because of that, what health care technology can do, Sequist says, is bridge the geographic divide between patient and provider, improving access to care in areas not possible before. Still, there are challenges ahead for health providers working to decrease the health disparities faced in American Indian and Alaska Native communi-ties through technology. Here are some of the challenges in Indian health technology today:Security of Electronic Health RecordsSince introduced, electronic health records, or EHRs, have advanced both preventive and chronic disease care in Native communities, says Sequist, a former Indian health care technology researcher. EHRs have also improved the quality of health measurements, such as keeping better records of American Indian mammogram screenings. “Data can be used and is being used at the local level for registry creation for pre-ventative care or chronic disease screenings,” Sequist says. But now providers are concerned with keeping electronic health records safe.“In today’s environment we have accounts being hacked and cloned over the Internet, and medical records are stolen,” says Eric Two Bears (Muscogee), a tribal health care technology consultant. Many tribes often don’t know what services they need to securely protect patient files, Two Bears says. Finding Time to SpecializeThrough the training program Project ECHO, primary care providers present medical cases and receive treatment guidance from medical specialists via video conferencing at the University of New Mexico. The project is made up of 39 provider-to-specialist hubs operating in 22 states and five countries outside the U.S. Between 10 and 15 Indian and tribal health clinics are partnered with ECHO on a regular basis. Several American Indian clinicians come from the Navajo and Cherokee nations and tribes in Minnesota, Montana and Oregon. 56TribalNetMedical specialists with Project ECHO, or the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, train primary care providers and clinicians around the world to treat complex diseases via video-conferencing. Between 10 and 15 Indian and tribal health providers are trained through the project on a regular basis. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine 2011, University of New Mexico.)Technology Offers Hope in Indian Health“The biggest barrier limiting the project, however, is that some primary care clinicians struggle to find time to participate."Featured Columns - Technology ImpactSpring 2015The goal of the project is to boost specialized care in underserved areas, says Dr. Karla Thornton, associate director of the project, which “can shorten the waiting time for patients needing those services by increasing the skills of local primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists.” The biggest barrier limiting the project, however, is that some primary care clinicians struggle to find time to participate. “They have to take an hour or two off from patients to work and learn with us, and many [providers] are in busy clinical settings,” Thornton says, stressing that technology itself is not the issue. Dr. Bruce Struminger, also an associate director for Project ECHO, says part of the problem is that many health facilities are short-staffed. “I think most would like to participate more than they do now, but there’s that pressure where they can’t take that extra hour,” he says. Cost of TelecommunicationsThrough the federal Healthcare Connect Fund, eligible rural health providers can receive a 65 percent discount on their health telecommunications, such as Broadband service, equipment and their connections to research and education networks. Established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, the fund aims to increase connections between rural providers and medical specialists, ease the exchange of electronic health records and encourage remote training of physicians and medical personnel. But Two Bears, who is president of the American Indian Healthcare Technology Council, says some tribes unknowingly pay out of pocket for their health telecom-munications – in some cases upwards of $30,000 to $40,000 each month. Identifying areas to save could allow Indian and tribal health clinics to reinvest in other healthcare technologies, purchase needed equipment or update facilities. Mallory Black, a member of the Navajo Nation, is a San Diego-based freelance writer and regular contributor to the Native Health News Alliance, a news service that focuses on the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.© Native Health News Alliance, a partnership of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA). NHNA creates shared health coverage for American Indian communities at no cost. Registered users can download additional print, web and audio content at http://www.nativehealthnews.com and publish as is or add their own reporting, highlighting important issues within the local Native community. NHNA services are free to all those who think good journalism has a positive impact in the lives of all of our readers, listeners, and viewers. The Native Health News Alliance (NHNA) is a news website dedicated to telling stories critical to the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.NHNA reporters focus on health news from the ground up, fea-turing the voices of those most affected and those at the fore-front of health and wellness. We know the communities. We get the interviews. We report the news that makes a difference. Through the NHNA nonprofit news service, all of our content is also available for download and publishing by Native media, mainstream outlets and other organizations at no cost.Our content is free to all those who think good journalism has a positive impact in the lives of readers, listeners, and viewers. Let NHNA be your source for health news in Indian Country!Want to help us create healthier Native American communi-ties? Support our work by clicking on the Sponsor button at www.nativehealthnews.com.Photo courtesy of Forest James PhotographyAre you sufficiently protected against security threats? Collect the data you need to effectively manage IT security. The new IT Security Diagnostic Program is a low effort, high impact program designed to help IT security leaders assess and improve their security practices. All project success and failure depends on the strength of the underlying core IT processes. 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Discover the power of the NATRC Join today at: www.tribalnetonline.com/natrcOr Call: Erin Font1-888-670-8889 ext. 2772COMING SOON: PROJECTS& ARCHITECTURESTRATEGY &MANAGEMENTVendor Landscape - Resource & Patient Management SolutionsBlueprint - Prepare for a HIPAA Compliance AuditVendor Landscape - Asset/Facilities ManagementNext >