Karuk Tribal Health Clinic: “We’re here for everyone”

By Brad Smith
Daily News Staff Writer

This week I plan to sort out a puzzle that I have wondered about. Why didn't all of the Indians join the fight in the Indian Wars of the 1850s?

SISKIYOU COUNTY — The Karuk Tribal Health Clinic wants all of Siskiyou County to know that they want to help everyone — Native Americans and non-natives alike.

“Medical and social services, with the exception of dental, are open to the public,” Dr. Jesse Drake said. Drake is a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker at the KTHC.

“Just because the KTHC is owned by the tribe doesn’t mean that we deal only with Native Americans,” Drake said. The client breakdown, he said, shows that 60 to 70 percent are Native American clients, while the rest are non-natives.

“The latter is entirely Caucasian. We currently don’t have any Hispanic clients – but we’re open to them,” Drake said.

Drake said that the KTHC accepts Medi-Cal, Medi-Care and insurance. “We’ll work with those who don’t have Medi-Cal, Medi-Care or insurance, too.”

The clinic is making an effort to let the public know about the availability of the KTHC’s services, Drake said, because he feels that there is a serious need for it.

“We have some serious problems in this county. This is an economically depressed area. Tie that in with substance abuse and an inability to properly interact with family, friends and society in general – you have dire problems,” Drake said.

He said that substance abuse is very damaging since it affects not only the abuser but the abuser’s family and friends as well.

“It’s just not the abuse of substances — it’s how one interacts with family and friends. Society, too, is affected. Some abusers commit crimes,” Drake said. “Other people are some times hurt by those actions. And then the abuser’s family and friends, of course, are hurt again.”

Drake said it is a vicious cycle. However, he added, cycles can be broken.

“That’s what we work on here, breaking that cycle,” Drake explained. “Joseph Snapp is our substance abuse program’s director. He’s done some great work.”

Drake said that Snapp works with more than 40 cases. Six of those individuals are non-native.

“The ages ran from 18 to 83,” Drake added.

He said that Snapp has some counselors working with young people in Orleans’ schools.

“Think of it as a means of prevention,” Drake said. “Children today receive a lot negative messages and stereotypes via the media. We’re trying to counteract that.”

The KTHC, according to Drake, has an array of programs ranging from domestic abuse to relapse prevention. Programs are outpatient oriented.

The clinic works with a number of agencies, including Child Protective Services, Probation and Department of Social Services.

Drake and Snapp both hope that people, Native American or otherwise, will take advantage of the KTHC programs.

“We’re here to help people, regardless of ethnicity or class. We don’t care about that — we care about helping people,” Drake said. “We have a lot to offer, with our medical and social services. All people have to do is walk in and ask.”

The KTHC is located on 1509 S. Oregon Street. For more information call 842-9200.