Canyon Conversations: Service Integration comes to Santiam Canyon
Despite a twelfth consecutive 90-plus degree day in store – breaking the area’s record of 11 set the day before – and wildfire-fed hazy skies all around the region, downtown Stayton didn’t exhibit much of the lethargy often characterized with heat and haze on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Moxieberry co-proprietor Jon Mesa was busy at The Grove, carpentering away on a new bistro. When finished it will afford downtown visitors modestly-priced dining options at the indoor mall marketplace.
Up the street Moxieberry itself hosted a healthy stream of diners, both inside and out on its al fresco option by the creek.
Mark Kronquist, a Stayton city councilor and keeper of the “Castle,” kicked around downtown for a spell to check out the scenes and visit here and there before the warmest of the day’s weather set in.
Meanwhile, communications folks at Santiam Hospital electronically imparted their own enthusiasm directed at strides made via the nascent Santiam Service Integration Team, formerly known as the Canyon Collaborative.
Hospital Marketing Coordinator Lauren Benjamin touted the team's restructuring, noting that it now consists of 28 agencies, all of which provide services to individuals and families around Santiam Canyon.
Polk County has operated a successful service integration team for many years, and the Santiam version was patterned after that program. For those unfamiliar with SIT and what it does, Polk defines its SIT purpose:
“(To) facilitate collaboration among community partners to provide coordinated resources and information for individuals and families. We are agency and community partners expediting solutions by matching resources to clearly defined needs while avoiding duplication of service.”
Santiam SIT echoes that aim as the group states that it will serve as a safety net by facilitating resources and information for individuals and families. The program is designed to coordinate community providers and services, identify needs, find solutions, and avoid duplication of services.
In light of its similar quest, Santiam SIT announced Melissa Baurer joined its program as its coordinator/community liaison. Melissa’s background appears tailor-fit for the position.
Melissa, who has a BA in Sociology with her masters in criminal justice, has attended Polk SIT meetings since 2009. She is the former director of social services at the Salvation Army of Marion and Polk Counties, and she frequently relied on collaboration with SIT partners to serve families efficiently and with dignity.
“My work at Salvation Army helped me become familiar with the Santiam Canyon, but it was more geared towards Salem and Polk County,” Melissa explained. “I am looking forward to learning more about the area -- been taking tours of a lot of the programs in the area this first month.”
In a press release Santiam Hospital officials said Melissa will coordinate Santiam SIT activities while developing resources and communication between partners. It’s a role she welcomes.
“I worked in Dallas right out of college as the Polk County Coordinator for the Resource Center, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. My knowledge of the community was very limited; if it wasn’t for the SIT program, I would not have been able to serve the families efficiently,” Melissa recalled.
“I remember meeting for coffee with the SIT coordinator at the time (Debbie McMillian), and she was telling me about the SIT teams and the funding aspect, and I felt like a child at the candy store! That meeting opened the door for me into collaboration. When I left MWVCCA and went to work at Salvation Army … I knew the value of SIT and the importance of attending the meetings and being involved.”
In addition to her career background, Melissa maintains another quality vital to the Santiam position.
“The small town feel is what I am used to, having grown up in Colton, a town with just (one) small market,” she said. “I feel at home here in the Santiam area. It’s refreshing to be part of a community who cares for their neighbors and shows appreciation for each other through their actions.”
The first Stayton/Sublimity SIT meeting will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Department of Human Services Santiam Center. 11656 Sublimity Road SE, #200.
For information or to become involved with Santiam SIT, contact Melissa at 503-769-9319, mbaurer@santiamhospital.org.
Tidbits
Margie Forrest notified us on behalf of the Lyons Garden Club and the Santiam Hospital Auxiliary.
Lyons Garden Club resumes monthly meetings at noon Wednesday, Sept, 13 at Sue Sutton’s home, 714 Main St., Lyons. Margie said this will be a no-host potluck picnic so bring your favorite dishes to share.
“Sue will give a tour of her beautiful yard and extensive rose gardens,” Margie noted.
She added that planning for the 2018 year and new club books begins now, so bring suggestions for speakers, demonstrations, field trips and other ideas to the potluck as well.
For information or to RSVP the potluck, call Sue, 503-859-2788, or club President John Hollensteiner, 503-508-5913, or Vice-President Cheryl Cappelletti, 503-767-3348.
Santiam Hospital Auxiliary
The auxiliary hosts the annual Harvest Festival breakfast 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 10 in the Sublimity Fire Hall, 115 N. Parker St.
Attendees get all they can eat -- pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, juice and coffee for $6, $5 for ages 60-plus, and $4 for kids age 4 to 10; under age 4 eats free.
Proceeds and donations benefit the Auxiliary Scholarship Program for students interested in pursuing a medical field.
Margie said in 2017 the Auxiliary awarded 10 scholarships for a total of $10,000.
For information call Auxiliary President Char Bartosz at 503-749-2910.
DAR
We’ll hear more about this in the coming weeks, but Linda Banister gave us a heads up that the Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is already planning for the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026, in conjunction with the national DAR.
A little closer at hand: Sunday, Sept. 17, marks the beginning of the national celebration of Constitution Week, which Linda describes as a week-long commemoration of America’s most important document, is one of our country’s least known official observances.
“Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter would like to encourage everyone to ring bells on September 17 to celebrate the start of Constitution Week,” Linda noted. “Join with us as bells will ring at 4 p.m. (EDT) in all time zones so that they are heard simultaneously from coast to coast.”
For information about DAR and its programs, visit www.dar.org or email
Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter (Stayton, OR) abigailscottduniway@gmail.com.
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Next conversation
What: Canyon Conversation
Where: Moxieberry, 429 N. 3rd Ave., Stayton
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23 (second and fourth Wednesdays)
Questions and information: Contact Justin Much, jmuch@StatesmanJournal.com; cell 503-508-8157; or follow at twitter.com/justinmuch
